i was just curious about what people consider a mean hive. i guess what my question is is this how many stings would be considered mean. i took out a hive out of a house on Saturday and aquired 15 + stings. part of that was that it wasn't totally nice out. i figured i better get it out because i have a line waiting for removal. anyway just got a few stings and was pondering what most people consider mean. thanks
I guess I wouldn't consider a hive mean unless when coming after me they just wouldn't quit. When ever I have upset one of my hives, if I walk away for a minute, they just stop following me and settle down. My husband got stung in the glove probably 60 times while scooping a hive off a tree. So amount of stings wouldn't determine it for me personally.
Beth
Also, if they do it on a pretty regular basis. If a hive stings me a few times every time I inspect it, even in good weather, I think that's a mean hive!
I would agree with Beth. I have a hive that if I don't smoke them they will fallow me for about 125 yards.When I smoke them they are much better behaved and only fallow me for 30 yards or so.I do plan on requeening them in the spring though.
Brian
Your going to wait a whole year to requeen them? Fall queens are usually reasonably priced and abundant. With the added benefit of IMO, fewer bad matings. More consistent weather and all. 125 yards is a long way to be bobbin and weavin.
If I had mean bees, and if I couldn't come up with a queen, I'd get rid of the old one. Her daughters offspring are unlikely to be worse and most likely will be better, but it's late enough you should be able to buy a queen reasonably now.
Mean bees take the fun out of beekeeping.
Yes Micheal it does take the fun out, but not the excitement!
My "mean" Hive would attack any thing that moved over the hive your gloves, hive tool, smoker etc... This came about after I let them requeen there self. So they now have a New queen and all is nice and clam