How long will bees stay riled up?

_Brenda_ · April 29, 2008, 01:33:19 PM

I was thinking of checking my queen today, to see if she's been released.
Stupid young cat, thinks grabbing bees is fun thing to do, and he got a few after him. He'll learn. ;)
I put him up, now how long should I wait for them to settle back down, before I access the hive?

Keith13 · April 29, 2008, 01:38:24 PM

Beekeeping for beginners says EHB will stay riled up for 23 mins. I guess that could be a very general number I think it more depends on the hive. I HAD one hive that stayed riled up for well over an hour, they are gone now :evil:, some of my other hives 10 15 mins at most then they are back to normal

doak · April 29, 2008, 01:43:56 PM

How long has it been since you put her in?
Is this an old colony or a new package?
I'd say wait till tomorrow.doak

_Brenda_ · April 29, 2008, 01:49:12 PM

New package. I hived them last thursday.

doak · April 29, 2008, 02:17:33 PM

Should be ok to go ahead after a couple hours.
doak

BMAC · April 29, 2008, 02:21:29 PM

Personally I would give them a full week to really settle into the hive before looking in there again.

Scadsobees · April 30, 2008, 01:21:02 PM

If you are just talking about being upset that a cat was catching them... a few minutes and a puff of smoke. Not too big of a deal.

But you should get in there soon just to check the queen and remove the cage. If you left a frame out they will draw comb in that empty slot really quick. And if the queen's loose lay it up, and it is hard to take out a big comb full of brood. :roll:

Rick

_Brenda_ · April 30, 2008, 01:37:28 PM

I went in today. It was a much better day. Bees were pretty calm, queen was released. I removed some burr comb, and slid the frames together as best I could. The center frames were covered with bees pretty thick. I presume the queen was in there although I couldn't see her, with so many bees.
I did see they were drawing comb on the frames, had some beginnings of nectar (probably syrup), saw some with pollen of their legs.
Overall, it went well.
:)

Michael Bush · May 01, 2008, 07:57:30 AM

>Beekeeping for beginners says EHB will stay riled up for 23 mins.

Wow! That sounds pretty specific. :)

qa33010 · May 03, 2008, 12:46:41 AM

I've had them settle down as I watched (hive was open the whole time). Worked easy and no problems. If I picked a bad day they stayed riled for a bit then settled. Guards were up later that day but never more than buzzed the head. Just depends on type of day, flow/no flow or what kind of a klutz I am at the time, and all tied together.