Any good definition of a "hot hive". I know this is somewhat subjective. I also seems to recall that people say hot hives produce more honey- don't know whether it is true. My hive was a pleasure to work last year from June through fall used to sit on a bench within a couple feet of hive and watch them land-- got a bit defensive in late fall but this i understood. I attributed this to dearth and protecting the reserves.
Now it is early April and they are still super defensive. if I go within 3 feet of hive i get nabbed by a couple of bees-- I have been stung more times these last 3 weeks that all of last year. When I opned hive 3 weeks ago they seem to have good population and reserves- at that time I would have 4-5 bees attack my hive tool. For that reason did go too deep in hive. I usually only go in with just a veil and I'm thinking to put the whole Tyvak suit on and gloves to see what is really going on.
dandelions are just beginning to bloom so I would have expected them to calm down a bit.
Any advice?
They may be queenless?
They most likely requeened (superceded) themselves later last summer. Now you've got to deal with the daughter.
Hot is subjective. Being a backyard beekeeper I hate feisty bees. I'd requeen as soon as possible if I were you. It will be a few weeks after requeening that they will start to calm down, so you've got a little while to go yet. Plus they will probably be starting some swarm queens, so it may be a tricky time to requeen unless you can get to it really soon.
to me, a hive is hot if i dread going out to work them.
It is all guessing until you go through the hive. Check all frames and report back. Then maybe we can help.
Quote from: Scadsobees on April 06, 2010, 12:40:22 PM
They most likely requeened (superceded) themselves later last summer.
So it seems. Winterd bees have all dead and now you have late summer queen's workers.
You order a new laying queen and change it.
It takes 2 months that old farts are gone with their hot stings.