A little smoke sure did wonders!!

[harvey]

Went through all seven hives today, smoker in hand.  A little puff at the entrance and then one over the frames when I pulled the cover,  girls were all very well mannered today!!!   Not even a headbump!.    My first hive is now queen right!  nice brood pattern, been working all spring to get a queen going in there, now she will have to get her girls busy to establish enough before winter.  Hives 2 and 3 were 3 lb packages this year,  they both have the second deep full and have supers on but are not yet putting any comb on the foundationless frames,  Hive 4 my first swarm of the season had the second deep full and a lot of brood so I added a super.  Hive 5 I just added the second deep today but they look good,  hive 6 is still drawing the second deep and is about half brood.  probably ready for a super in two weeks.  Hive 7 is the last swarm i put in a box about three weeks ago.  Today was the first day I had opened it to check.  It is five frames drawn with brood on all of them very little stores as it is mostly house bees and capped brood,  with the thistle in full bloom I am hoping they all do well.  Sure was nice working them with a little smoke.   Never again will not smoke them.   Thanks all,  Harv

[jgaito]

i added another deep to the "good girls" today.  no veil or gloves, just a little smoke.  that hive is simply a pleasure to work.   the Rastafarian / Africanized velociraptors in the other box is another story.  i'm not sure but i think they have class lll weaponry.

[slacker361]

class III weaponry     I bet they do LOL   :shock: :shock:

[sarafina]

i added another deep to the "good girls" today.  no veil or gloves, just a little smoke.  that hive is simply a pleasure to work.   the Rastafarian / Africanized velociraptors in the other box is another story.  i'm not sure but i think they have class lll weaponry.

Do I ever know what you mean !!    :shock:   I requeened last year and they are now my gentlest hive.

[AllenF]

The class 3 transfer stamp makes them a little hard to get.  I rely on the trusty old blow torch to take out my aggressions on mean bees.   Smells like, victory.   

[BoBn]

The class 3 transfer stamp makes them a little hard to get.  I rely on the trusty old blow torch to take out my aggressions on mean bees.   Smells like, victory.   

I had some tough hives in the 1970's when I lived in Connecticut. They would go after anything that moved. I ended up using ammonium nitrate on in the smoker.  After they were knocked out, I split them up between my other hives.     

[Michael Bush]

Exactly right.  Just a little smoke is all you need.  A lot does not work nearly as well nor does none...

[Scadsobees]

I have a (self-taught beek) friend who was always complaining about how mean his bees were.  When I went over there the first time, I found out he never bothered to light his smoker, wore black gloves(ski) and a black sweater when working the bees!

I straightened him out, and also I gave him some bees, and he was simply amazed at how nice my bees are!   :-D

-rick

[danno]

This time of the year with thistle blooming everywhere they are to busy to worry about me.   I went through all 30 yesterday in shorts and a tank top with just the veil and alittle puff of smoke.   Not a single sting!!    Everything will change when the flow is over