How often do you smoke?

David LaFerney · June 17, 2009, 12:23:48 AM

Just wondering. My package is really gentle, and I've only used smoke once so far. It seems like more trouble than it's worth until they get more protective.

luvin honey · June 17, 2009, 12:28:58 AM

I've never smoked--it's really bad for you! :-D

I smoked the first few times I went in. I seriously cannot keep that thing lit!! Last time, I used a mild sugar-water spray. They were calmer than ever, but I couldn't keep them off my topbars while trying to close up (probably lapping up that sweet stuff). At a recommendation on another site, I am going to try vinegar-water spray next time and see how that works...

Kathyp · June 17, 2009, 01:09:10 AM

about 10 times a day...used to be 20, but i cut down.

as for smoking my hive...almost never if i'm doing a quick look. if i need to do a deep inspection, i'll light it, but often not use it. kind of depends on your hives and what bothers you.

sc-bee · June 17, 2009, 01:37:50 AM

:-D

Rodni73 · June 17, 2009, 02:44:29 AM

Tough question! I used to smoke once a week... then once every day since the spring. I have not smoked since 2 weeks! I am planing on not smoking period ever.. CIGARS THAT IS..! LOL :-D

Hethen57 · June 17, 2009, 02:58:52 AM

My packages were cupcakes as well...but they seem to get a little more irritable when the hives get bigger. I only light up if I'm pulling some frames down in the bottom brood chamber. It helps to get them to move around so you don't squish any (or many). I don't bother if I'm just cracking the lid to assess buildout or pulling frame from the upper supers.

indypartridge · June 17, 2009, 07:29:14 AM

Quote from: David LaFerney on June 17, 2009, 12:23:48 AM
It seems like more trouble than it's worth until they get more protective.

That's the rub! The time you don't light your smoker will the be time they are really cranky!
It's better to take the time to light it and have it sit there unused than to open a hive and have them come boiing out and not have it handy.

Kathyp · June 17, 2009, 11:17:43 AM

QuoteIt's better to take the time to light it and have it sit there unused than to open a hive and have them come boiing out and not have it handy.

there have been a couple of times that i have gone back to the barn for the smoker. those times have been rare; however, you are right, when you need it.... you need it.

dragonfly · June 17, 2009, 11:51:43 AM

About every 30 minutes or so, except when I'm at work, then it's about every 6 hours. :-D

I don't smoke my bees. They are agressive at all times regardless of smoke, so I don't bother to use it. I just gear up like I'm in a hot zone. ;)

BMAC · June 17, 2009, 12:15:56 PM

I take the time to light my smoker everytime I play with my bees. I have been told by long time beekeepers that sometimes the bees will blame the queen for any disturbance and kill her. Especially true for newly introduced queens/packages. As far as the hot zone goes. Yes your bees will be hot regardless the amount of smoke you use and wow u need protective gear like no one else...

Tip to keep your smoker lit. Use a lighter :-D

Naw just kidding. I always use 1 sheet to newspaper balled up to first get it going, then throw in another crumpled up sheet to really get it hot and burning and then slowly add wood chips to it (I found pellets work well to u know the pellets for pellet stoves) and keep vigorously pumping the bellow until the chips are well lit. Then I fill the entire smoker with fuel and again pump the bellow for about 5 minutes vigorously and it should stay lit for hours if not over night....

vermmy35 · June 17, 2009, 12:31:20 PM

I only smoke them if I plan on pulling frames and even then its just to get them to move so I don't squish any of them. When I was refilling the top feeder I didn't use it, heck I didn't even need my vale. I have noticed that they are getting a little more aggressive with now that I have put the medium super on; nothing bad just bumping me when I get within 2 ft. of the hive.

Robo · June 17, 2009, 12:33:39 PM

As the season moves on, the population grows and as you get closer to winter, they also become more defensive. I use very little smoke in spring and gradually work my way up to smoking everytime by fall.

Eshu · June 17, 2009, 12:52:31 PM

A previously gentle hive can go really nasty if they lose the queen or skunks mess with them or... And you often don't find this out until you lift the cover.

I have the smoker lit during inspections but don't always use it. A couple bad experiences have taught me this. If you can't keep it lit, you need more practice.

Scadsobees · June 17, 2009, 02:08:47 PM

Another thing is that when you have more than 1 or two hives, you can have multiple personalities in the bunch, might as well light up.

A small hive/swarm usually need minimal. A big one? Anytime frames are pulled.

If you can't keep your smoker lit, then you need pine needles/straw. :)

Rick

danno · June 17, 2009, 04:26:29 PM

I smoked everyday back in the early 1970s. Dont really miss it to much. Just gave me munchies :pop:

MustbeeNuts · June 17, 2009, 04:49:12 PM

Ya work made me give up smoking, but I can still use cigarettes. for now. but the bees, I seldom smoke them, they don't burn well and tend to get runny when I try to light them. Seriously I carry it , seldom use it, but better safe than sorry, got stung several times the one day I didn't have it with me. But I do the same just set it in front of the hive.

tillie · June 17, 2009, 05:28:21 PM

The survey seems not comprehensive enough.

Many days I don't use smoke at all. When I do use the smoker, I only smoke with a puff or two at the front door, never when I am pulling frames, never ever when I am taking honey off, mostly the only other time I send any smoke onto the bees is when I've made a beekeeper mistake - dropped a frame, or something equally disruptive - and the bees are rightfully upset. Then I might use the smoker to help calm things down.

Mostly I don't use it but it isn't about believing in it or not but rather that I don't want to puff something into the hive that has a physiological effect on the bees when I don't have to.

Linda T in Atlanta

annette · June 17, 2009, 09:01:47 PM

Quote from: danno on June 17, 2009, 04:26:29 PM
I smoked everyday back in the early 1970s. Dont really miss it to much. Just gave me munchies :pop:

:evil:

beedad · June 17, 2009, 11:07:10 PM

Quote from: luvin honey on June 17, 2009, 12:28:58 AM
I've never smoked--it's really bad for you! :-D

I smoked the first few times I went in. I seriously cannot keep that thing lit!! Last time, I used a mild sugar-water spray. They were calmer than ever, but I couldn't keep them off my topbars while trying to close up (probably lapping up that sweet stuff). At a recommendation on another site, I am going to try vinegar-water spray next time and see how that works...

i use vinegar water too. i like it more than smoke.

luvin honey · June 17, 2009, 11:15:37 PM

Yeah, the vinegar-water worked great! I only got 1 sting tonight after doing some major inspection of the entire broodnest! The kids were sitting on a hive about 3 feet away (despite my asking them to back off a bit) and were perfectly fine.