Think before you do.

[chux]

Think before you do. Please remind me of that later. We need to think about why we are doing zomething, and walk through the process mentally, before follow through. So simple. What dI'd I do? I decided I needed to take a honey super out of the freezer and carry it to a bee yard, just in case the hive needed some honey. Without thinking it through, I put the frozen super in my truck and drove on several errands, giving it time to warm up. You know what happened. Several brittle combs broke. I used rubber bands to put them back in the frames.

Just reminding myself, and everybody, think first. A lot of bad can come from good intentions not thought out.

[Michael Bush]

I could have been worse.  You could have put that block of ice on the hive and froze all the bees...

[jayj200]

good to know
thanks

[GSF]

..at least you didn't grab the hot smoker with your bare hand.

[divemaster1963]

Or popping the lid off a angry hive and forget to zipp your hood all the way leaving a direct line to you neck and chin.

John

[Richard M]

Or popping the lid off a angry hive and forget to zipp your hood all the way leaving a direct line to you neck and chin.

John

Been there done that, read the book, seen the movie and got the T-shirt.

[Michael Bush]

>Or popping the lid off a angry hive and forget to zipp your hood all the way leaving a direct line to you neck and chin.

Yea... it pretty much goes like this.  Zap... you feel the sting and wonder, how did that bee get... zap... another one?  the same spot?  zap... time to back away... and sure enough, it's not quite finished zipping up. and they found the one open spot and followed each other in.  Three stings in a row in the same spot on your throat is not pleasant...

[L Daxon]

That's what this site is for:  to share our boo boos so others don't make the same mistakes.  But regardless, we all seem capable of making new mistakes on our own.

I usually make the same mistake several times, just to make sure it was really a mistake.  I am also a slow learner

[BeeMcq]

Rookie mistake,  One bee got bee under the Vail. First instinct  opened it up to get that one be out.
Should have taken the one sting from that one bee.  While trying to get the one bee out I took 24 stings to the head,  from a angry hive. That was a very quick lesson.

[vmmartin]

Wise decision Chux.  I have learned that beekeeping as in life, is much more productive and pleasant when thoroughly pondered on before actions are taken.  A smart old beek told me once that most problems with your beehives are caused by the person holding the smoker.  I always try to ask myself a few questions first.
What is my goal?
What is the risk vs. reward?
How can I achieve that goal the least intrusive way?

Best wishes.

[GSF]

vmmartin;

Glad to see you made it by! Hope all is well with you and yours.

[Michael Bush]

"There are a few rules of thumb that are useful guides. One is that when you are confronted with some problem in the apiary and you do not know what to do, then do nothing. Matters are seldom made worse by doing nothing and are often made much worse by inept intervention." --The How-To-Do-It book of Beekeeping, Richard Taylor

[stanisr]

Amen, I don't know how many times I have had to walk away to think before doing something stupid. And I don't know how many times I should have walked away and didn't, resulting in something stupid. 

[Michael Bush]

I figure there are two things that require IMMEDIATE action: robbing and swarming.  If they are clustered on a tree, you need to collect them.  If they are being robbed you need to stop it.  Everything else can wait until tomorrow...

[chux]

Words of wisdom, Mr. Bush. Thanks much. I need to write that down for the bee club.