Hot hives

[beryfarmer]

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?

[dirtyanklebeekeeper]

They may be queenless?

[Scadsobees]

They most likely requeened (superceded) themselves later last summer.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.

[Kathyp]

to me, a hive is hot if i dread going out to work them. 

[iddee]

It is all guessing until you go through the hive. Check all frames and report back. Then maybe we can help.

[Finski]

They most likely requeened (superceded) themselves later last summer.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.