Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: nadine_9454 on July 06, 2015, 06:12:25 PM

Title: Talking with bees
Post by: nadine_9454 on July 06, 2015, 06:12:25 PM
Does anyone on here talk to their bees, play music for them, put off any kind of intentional sound when working with their bees for the bees? If so, can you give me some details?
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: iddee on July 06, 2015, 10:49:38 PM
I say a few choice words to one when she stings me, but otherwise, I stay sorta quiet.  :angry:    :grin:
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: biggraham610 on July 07, 2015, 12:16:54 AM
Quote from: iddee on July 06, 2015, 10:49:38 PM
I say a few choice words to one when she stings me, but otherwise, I stay sorta quiet.  :angry:    :grin:

:cheesy:

I talk, Im not sure if its to them or myself....... isn't that a sign of something?
Talking down a pissy hive in a dearth does not work. Talking yourself into believing the bees were gentle as lambs during a heavy flow because you were asking them to is easy. Reality, we are always just an intruder letting light in. I think their reception has alot to do with their current responsibilities. Busy= Smooth, Idle= Cranky. G
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: Maggiesdad on July 07, 2015, 08:43:28 AM
I think G is spot on.

If I breathe on them during inspections, they instantly launch and crash into my veil. So, no talking here! 

As an aside, it's interesting the response my body has to them. I got my first sting the other morning, bebopping by the hives to check on them (wearing a black t-shirt) and blammo - right on the neck! Now, if I'm at the hives with no protection and get head butted or hear the high pitched zigzag " you're in our zone - LEAVE NOW" buzz, every hair on my body stands up and I'm covered in goose pimples on my arms, neck and legs.   :sad:  I know they can pick up on the fear response, so I back off,  post haste.
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: Michael Bush on July 07, 2015, 09:06:40 AM
>Does anyone on here talk to their bees,...

I always talk to them.  Most of the time I talk nice to them... sometimes I swear at them...  The best you can hope for from honey bees is that they ignore you.  They will never love you.
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: Hops Brewster on July 07, 2015, 10:46:19 AM
yeah, sometimes.  Things like "oops", "sorry", "dang it!" or  "ouch, *** that hurt!"
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: flyboy on July 07, 2015, 11:13:34 AM
I do occasionally say soft things like explaining that I am going to open the hive etc so they know I am not there to harm them. Hunose if they understand, but I think on some level it prepares me mentally and maybe prepares them. However I am not the "bee whisperer". ;)
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: Hi-Tech on July 07, 2015, 02:12:44 PM
Mostly what they hear from me is.. where did I set that dang hive tool?, Crap!, You better move outa the way, girl!, Ohh, you just got squashed, easy, easy,.. Im almost done!...
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: Eric Bosworth on July 07, 2015, 09:48:20 PM
That sounds very much like what I say...
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: nadine_9454 on July 08, 2015, 11:02:51 AM
These are all great. I caught myself talking to my bees and believe as well that this is more for my nerves. Maybe it makes me feel a little more in control. Like I can reason with the bees and convey to them I'm not a threat. Hehe. Thank you for the great responses.

P.S. If anyone has a problem with me quoting you in my thesis anonymously, please feel free to tell me.
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: BeeMaster2 on July 08, 2015, 12:20:26 PM
Mostly just "ouch".
And you can quote me.  :cheesy:
Jim
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: rwlaw on July 08, 2015, 11:19:11 PM
Calm down, it's your lucky day, I won't split the boxes
I know your PO'd, but your gonna have to put up wid it
I'm so gonna smoke your butts
Seriously, another sting in same spot?
Oh crap!
NOW WHAT!
I will do a full inspection, I will do it, I will do it.
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: GSF on July 15, 2015, 05:23:29 PM
I talk to my goats to calm them down. Most of the time I don't stare straight at them either. This really works. Especially if you are wanting to catch one. We got the predator eyes (in front of our head) and I think it scares them. I also have a distinct call when I want to feed them something. I can take my herd anywhere and bring them back. However I have some that don't care how I act if they think I have some corn. Corn is a goats cocaine.

Talking to bees? Mostly Dang it! Crap!!! Oh shoot! I really enjoy the girls though.
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: Eric Bosworth on July 16, 2015, 06:51:46 AM
Lately I have been apologizing for squishing a few. I don't like to wear gloves but after a few stings I put them on.
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: BeeMaster2 on July 16, 2015, 01:17:44 PM
Quote from: Eric Bosworth on July 16, 2015, 06:51:46 AM
Lately I have been apologizing for squishing a few. I don't like to wear gloves but after a few stings I put them on.
Have you tried smoking up you hands real good? I usually use my bare hands to pack the smoker. I have had bees hit my hands and immediately back away.
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: Eric Bosworth on July 16, 2015, 01:26:03 PM
I'll try that the next time I am working with my bees.
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: BeeMaster2 on July 16, 2015, 01:29:27 PM
I think you will like it. I seldom get stung in the hands and I never wear gloves.

Jim
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: flyboy on July 16, 2015, 01:47:45 PM
Funny thing about getting stung is that when I am relaxed I let them land, walk around and buzz off. If I am tense or in a hurry they seem to sense it and sting. Sometimes I work with shorts and no shirt but now I wear a shirt and sweater and gloves and with one hive I throw on a head cover. That way I can move around a little more quickly.
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: JConnolly on July 16, 2015, 02:15:44 PM
Bees don't have ears.  They can sense vibration, and through flagellum (small hair like structures) at the base of their antenna they can sense some air born vibrations (sound waves).  However the flagellum don't pick up frequencies below 260 hz very well.  So they are deaf to the voice of a male human, but if you are a female soprano and you sing to them instead, I suppose that they might sense your really high notes.   How a bee brain interprets the sensed vibrations is not well understood, but they don't hear sound like mammals hear sound.

This of course completely disregards any self therapeutic effects that may come from talking to your bees.  Or in other words, talking to your bees does them absolutely no good or bad at all, but it might do you some good.

As for me, I mutter to myself.  And I am no better at listening than the bees are.   :cool:
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: Candiebears on July 16, 2015, 03:56:16 PM
I do. And today i had to raise my voice and tell them to knock it the hell off... didn't help.. they ended up chasing me  away a couple times...
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: GSF on July 16, 2015, 10:24:15 PM
They shore hear it when you pop a top off. :angry:
Title: Re: Talking with bees
Post by: biggraham610 on July 17, 2015, 01:50:31 AM
 :grin:
Drying up is it........... lol. Times they are a changin here too. G