Working Bees in the Spring

bwallace23350 · February 19, 2017, 10:45:03 PM

Working bees in the spring right now I have found to be super easy? They appear active, happy, and calmer than normal? Is this normal? I mean I always where my suite and gloves but since I have an ultra breeze and I am already wearing blue jeans and a long sleeve shirt because of the temps I almost feel untouchable by the bees. Don't want to get to cocky though. As this is my first spring in bee keeping is the normal placid behavior typical of honey bees this time of year?

iddee · February 19, 2017, 11:15:31 PM

I have been in about a dozen hives in the last week. I only wear what I am wearing that day. No veil, no suit, no gloves. The only sting I have gotten is one I picked the bee up and stuck her to me for a sore muscle. "Venom Therapy"

Yes, they are gentle in the spring and early summer until the flowers quit blooming. They get mean during the summer and fall dearth.

Joe D · February 19, 2017, 11:29:26 PM

I have one hive that was mean last spring and during the summer they would buzz you for a good ways when you went by them. This spring I was giving them a new jug of sugar syrup, one buzzed me got in my hair, I didn't mess with her, and she stung me on top of my head. But except for their temperament they are a good producer. The rest of mine are gentle, have thought about changing the Queen but haven't.

Good luck to you and your bees

Joe D

Aroc · February 20, 2017, 12:07:14 AM

When they have something to protect.....such as honey.....they get a bit more cranky

Acebird · February 20, 2017, 08:49:10 AM

Quote from: Joe D on February 19, 2017, 11:29:26 PM
one buzzed me got in my hair, I didn't mess with her, and she stung me on top of my head.

If you get one stuck in your hair or long beard then your only option is to squish her before she stings you. Once they are stuck they are going for skin.

Acebird · February 20, 2017, 09:01:07 AM

Quote from: bwallace23350 on February 19, 2017, 10:45:03 PM
As this is my first spring in bee keeping is the normal placid behavior typical of honey bees this time of year?

The bees don't have idle time in the spring. It is a race to multiply or a race to survive. Once the new field force has been established and the flow tapers off there are a whole lot of grumpy old bees that the colony doesn't need. Busy bees are not grumpy at any age.

bwallace23350 · February 20, 2017, 09:39:01 AM

Good to know about if it get stuck in your hair seeing as how I have thick curly hair.

GSF · February 22, 2017, 03:23:32 PM

I went in three or four hives this weekend. Most were okay but once I got into the brood next on a couple of them they went crazy.

bwallace23350 · February 22, 2017, 03:59:32 PM

By crazy do you mean more or less than 5 stings or did they just cover the veil?

GSF · February 23, 2017, 08:44:43 AM

I took about 15-25 stings on the bare hands over about 3.5 to 4 hours. They should have stung me, I was in their brood nest

bwallace23350 · February 23, 2017, 09:11:47 AM

Good point but that is to many stings for me. I would have wore my gloves.

BeeMaster2 · February 23, 2017, 12:19:49 PM

I have been doing something a little different to open my hives. I smoke them pretty well from the oil pan entrance and then let them sit for 10 minutes before I open it. Even my most aggressive hive has been pretty calm when I do this. I also have a sugar water spray bottle that I use when they are all over the top of the box. They go right back in the hive. Works great to bee able to put the supers back on with out squishing a bunch of bees and causing more aggression.
Jim

Oldbeavo · February 24, 2017, 05:45:04 AM

If I can't work in the brood box in bare hands without getting stung then the queen goes next requeening.
If you are running a few hives then having agro bees does not make the day pleasant. We run mainly Italians and find the strain we are getting very quiet.
Some smoke and gentle handling keeps them and me happy.