to smoke or not to smoke

eddiedlzn · June 27, 2007, 01:06:15 AM

Hello everyone, I am a first year beekeeper and was wondering about smoking the bees. I have not smoked them anytime i have opened the hive. My bees are carniolans and seem to be very gentle. I havent been stung yet. My father kept bees in the 1970's and never smoked his either. I was wondering if anyone else does not smoke there bees and if you think I should start. Please fill me in :?

JP · June 27, 2007, 01:14:22 AM

If you never get stung when working your bees, then I can assume that perhaps you don't need to smoke them. but...I can also assume that the odds are that one day you will change your mind and start using smoke, especially on a truly large , strong hive, that just might want to sting you for whatever reason, windy conditions, queenless, no nectar flow, etc... Opinions will vary, but just my 2cents.

rdy-b · June 27, 2007, 02:11:45 AM

couldn't imagine pulling honey with out smoke RDY-B

amymcg · June 27, 2007, 07:08:59 AM

They may change their behavior as they accumulate more stores. As the season moves on, I wouldn't be opening without having a smoker handy. I definitely wouldn't be taking honey without one handy. They can get pretty defensive.

indypartridge · June 27, 2007, 07:52:22 AM

There have been plenty of times I've lit my smoker and not used it all. Newly-established hives generally are much less defensive. On the other hand, there are times when my usually gentle girls are feeling very, very cranky and I'm glad that I lit my smoker!

Potlicker1 · June 27, 2007, 09:11:25 AM

I've tryed with and without and as the colony grows it becomes more needed as they become more protective of their hard work.

jl · June 27, 2007, 09:22:23 AM

I don't use smoke, but only because the guy that got me into it doesn't use it. However, I wish I had used the other day. Was checking a frame FULL of bees and one side slipped out of my hand and the corner of the frame hit the hive body. I felt like I was in a meteor shower with all the bees hitting me. Luckily I was wearing a veil, No stings! I think I'll get a smoker and a frame grip. Learning alot by trial and error! :-D

qa33010 · June 27, 2007, 01:10:45 PM

I learned my lesson. When I 'just knew' I wouldn't need a veil I always needed it. Same with a smoker. I always keep a lit smoker and a small bottle of sugar water with me now ... as well as armour. Since I am in town I try and take extra care when in the bees so the neighborhood doesn't suffer because of my clumsiness and poor decisions.

eddiedlzn · June 27, 2007, 01:34:27 PM

Thanks for the advice. I was wondering about fuel for my smoker is there anything I can use from around the house or gather in the woods dont really feel like paying for fuel. One guy told me I could use old blue jeans not sur if anyone else has tried it. I would also like to say how much i enjoy having the bees around. They are a true gift. just have one hive set up this year but have enough equipment to set up five or so. I plan on getting many more. I cant believe how they work. the population of my hive has really grow, lots of brood and honey tons of bees. I was able to buy drawn out comb and it really gave them a head start. I live in central illinois and dont know of anyone else keeping bees near me

Moonshae · June 27, 2007, 02:13:14 PM

I dump grass clippings around my hives to keep weeds down, so I don't have to risk making them mad by using the mower or weed whacker around the hives. This has the added benefit of a very handy supply of smoker fuel.

doak · June 27, 2007, 02:15:38 PM

In my seven years of beekeeping I can remember only once or twice I didn't smoke, and that was very early in the spring with a young growing colony.
If you don't have to don't. You'll know when you need to. ;)
doak

Fannbee · June 27, 2007, 02:43:41 PM

Pine needles are the best.

Bennettoid · June 27, 2007, 06:12:13 PM

Don't smoke, Drugs are bad, mmmkay?

TonyBOD · June 27, 2007, 06:33:11 PM

I am a first year beekeeper as well, so I've been learning tons since starting my hive in mid April.

When I first started making hive visits the colony was small and not defensive at all. I think I got lulled into a sense that my bees were super gentle and would never come after me - I found out the hard way that wasn't true when I tried to replace a bottle of syrup in the feeder at high noon when the bees were very active - 2 stings to the face!

I use smoke now when I go into the hive and I am glad. Even with smoke this past weekend they were a bit testy, but they are in the process of building up honey stores and the colony has increased dramatically in size from what it once was. I am not giving up the smoke anytime soon!

As for smoker material, I use dyer lint to get it going and then use wood shavings as fuel (the type used for small animal bedding - you get it at pet stores) - works for me, but everyone seems to have their favorite.

Understudy · June 27, 2007, 06:49:22 PM

Quote from: Fannbee on June 27, 2007, 02:43:41 PM
Pine needles are the best.

I hate to disagree, pine needles are in my opinion one of the worst. The resin that builds up in a smoker and has to be scraped out is annoying. I recommend burlap or sphagnum moss.

I have seen as bees get more established they get more defensive. If you don't have to smoke that is great but that one time you go into a hive and they come at you like a stream you may think again. You don't have to smoke heavily unless they are agreesive bees and you don't want the smoke to get into the flavor of your honey. But not smoking at all can be risky.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Currently in Conshohoken, PA

Bennettoid · June 27, 2007, 07:13:56 PM

Burlap

asprince · June 27, 2007, 07:19:47 PM

When your hives are young you can get by without smoking. But.............. when they get strong you will find that you do not want to be without your smoker. It can be difficut to put the cover back on a hive of 100,000+ bees if you go very deep into the hive. They just keep boiling out. A few puffs of smoke calms them down and drives them down into the hive so you can put the top on without killing a ton of bees.

There was a lengthly thread not long ago about somker fuel. Do a search for "smoker fuel". Lots of stuff will work, burlap seems to be the favorite with the pros.

Steve

annette · June 28, 2007, 12:17:43 AM

Yes, I agree with this last statement. When I did not smoke the bees, I killed way more bees with them boiling out all over. I truly hate the whole smoking thing, and I know the bees hate it, but I am afraid to do it without the smoke.

They seem to recover nicely in a few hours.

I use burlap only. Starts up quickly.

Oh to clean the buildup on the smoker, I have been using a propane torch to burn it off.

Take care
Annette

indypartridge · June 28, 2007, 08:17:02 AM

Quote from: eddiedlzn on June 27, 2007, 01:34:27 PM
I was wondering about fuel for my smoker is there anything I can use from around the house or gather in the woods dont really feel like paying for fuel. One guy told me I could use old blue jeans not sure if anyone else has tried it. I live in central illinois and dont know of anyone else keeping bees near me.

I just tried blue jeans last week after reading about it here. I had an old pair of jeans and cut them up into shreds. I was pleased with how well it worked as smoker fuel. I also like baling twine, when I can find the kind that hasn't been chemically treated.

As for not knowing any beeks near you, have you linked up with any local beekeeping groups?

http://www.hoibeekeepers.org/

http://www.isba.us/ (Note the page that lists a dozen smaller affiliate associations)

wrk4beer · June 28, 2007, 08:46:21 AM

My bees this year are very gentle and I have not had the need to smoke them.
But with the memory of the last group I always have the smoker handy.
I have use burlap and twine before and have started using cedar chips.
Smells good but not sure how thye bees react since the are smokefree so far
:)
Keith