Why are they still so "hot?"

[Davepeg]

We have 5 hives - 4 are standard, one is a top bar.  The top bar has been a very nasty hive all year.  Anytime we open the hive the girls come pouring out on the attack.  Got stung 7 times one day.

Yesterday I decided to go in and quickly remove the top feeders from all the hives as they are no longer taking food.  All were calm and I could see them clustered.  I went to do the same with the top bar and bam.... they came out at me on the full attack.  I can't believe they would break cluster during the colder weather.  I was concerned that too many of the bees would come out and die due to cold so I left them alone.  My husband was able to complete the chore today but they are still nasty nasty girls.  What do you think is going on?

I can't wait until next spring to see if they have improved their disposition.

[Bee-Bop]

Time to requeen, first thing next spring !

Bee-Bop

[JP]

Before you go in you are smoking them first?


...JP

[Jim134]

 I can't believe they would break cluster during the colder weather.  

  What do you call cold  :? My bees and MA. will fly down to about 35F if you open the hive.(if you got sun and no wind)



    BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[T Beek]

Thanks, I thought I was crazy or my thermometers were.  My bees are also out and about in temps in the mid 30's even when windy as long as the sun is shining, but they must be going out on colder days because I'll find dead ones when we haven't been above 20F in days.  They are tougher than we know, hopefully tougher than our continued interference into their world. 

Seems Davepeg may have a queenless hive????

thomas

[Scadsobees]

Could be temperament, could be a hive problem as thomas t beek mentioned.

Either way, you can't do anything about it now.  If it is a hive problem they won't make it, if temperament, then they can survive (whether or not they will ...?)

Come spring there will be a completely new set of bees.  If by late March, early april they are still nasty little bees, then requeen at that time.  There's a good chance you can use swarm cells from one of your other hives at that point to requeen.

Rick