Should I smoke to change feeder?

[DawnS]

Hi,
I am a new beek.  I installed two packages this past Sunday into brand new hives and put entrance feeders on the inside of the hive on top of the inner cover  surrounded by a deep super, (the 2 quart plastic style from Brushy Mountain.) This worked well for others on forums so I figured I'd give it a try.  The girls are loving it, no drownings and they have consumed 2/3 of the containers within a day and a half.  Question is, should I smoke the hive when I change out the feeders, (I have 2 sets of them and I could get the exchange done in about 30 seconds or less) or should I smoke them every time they get their new full container?
Thanks in advance!

[mdax]

I don't but I have no problem getting stung

employ the amount of personal protection and smoke that makes YOU comfortable

[flyboy]

Hi,
I am a new beek.  I installed two packages this past Sunday into brand new hives and put entrance feeders on the inside of the hive on top of the inner cover  surrounded by a deep super, (the 2 quart plastic style from Brushy Mountain.) This worked well for others on forums so I figured I'd give it a try.  The girls are loving it, no drownings and they have consumed 2/3 of the containers within a day and a half.  Question is, should I smoke the hive when I change out the feeders, (I have 2 sets of them and I could get the exchange done in about 30 seconds or less) or should I smoke them every time they get their new full container?
Thanks in advance!

I am in the same boat as you, in that I just got my 2 packages on the 17th of March.. I smoked them when I first installed them, but not since and I feed them daily, but I think I will go with a taller mason jar to reduce the feeding frequency.

I don't smoke them and work around them in shorts and tee shirt. I feel the most comfortable feeding them just before sunset or after sunrise, when they are settled down for the night. Just work slowly and deliberately around them and try not to crush any. I also speak a bit before I start to work so they become aware that I am around. I suspect avoiding the front of the hive is a good idea in case any are flying.

I am going to try and figure out a way of feeding them that does not disturb them.

[MsCarol]

DawnS,

I have fed that way myself. Works well. As far as smoking during the swap, I find a lot depends on the weather. And the individual hives.

If you are a brand new beek and still a bit jittery about getting stung, go ahead and use very light smoke. I am also betting you will drop the use of the smoke because it is a bigger PITA to light the smoker for what 9 times out of 10 is a 10 second swap.

That said, I have one hive that got very defensive of its feeder. NO amount of explaining on my part that I was making it better/full would convince them. I had to smoke. But soon the flow came on and I stopped feeding.

[RHBee]

I don't smoke them but I wear my jacket.

[Better.to.Bee.than.not]

smoke is easy, not really a hassle, you do not do it just for yourself, you do it also for the bees. it makes them less stressed. Most people use entirely to much smoke as it is though, imo. tests show a bee can smell so keenly, they can locate for instance explosives buried 3 ft under ground. They are actually trained to do it. a small puff or two of light smoke not a smoke screen is all that is needed, seriously. and nurse bees won't usually ever do anything to you. their job is staying and doing what they are doing.

[Steel Tiger]

 It's best to have the smoker and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[flyboy]

...tests show a bee can smell so keenly, they can locate for instance explosives buried 3 ft under ground. They are actually trained to do it.....

Thanks BTBTN, Who knew?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T7d0bze4kM

[DawnS]

Thanks for the advice!

[BlueBee]

I agree with BetterBee; smoke is a good idea.  The bees tend to cluster all over the bottom of those top feeders.  Lots of bees.  You never know what kind of mood they're going to be in and if you want to get them off the bottom of the top feeder, you're going to either need smoke or leave the feeder outside till dark.

[AliciaH]

One of my favorite tricks is to staple a small piece of #8 hardwire cloth over the hole on the inner cover.  You can switch the feeder jars whenever is convenient for you without worrying about the bees flying out.  Just make sure the hardwire cloth is on your side (the "up" side) and in direct contact with the feeder lid so the bees don't have any trouble with making contact.

[BlueBee]

Oooops, my bad.  I read the original post too quickly and assumed you were using Miller Style top feeders.  Do what AliciaH says and you don't have to worry about bees and smoke in that case. 

[rookie2531]

I just use a couple of 3/4" x 4" long pieces of wood to keep the lid up off the inner cover and add a full one and come back later with another full one to swap the first, hey you got four corners.

[DawnS]

BlueBee...you were the guy right on the money and understood correctly the first time!  The bees did cluster to the lower part of the feeders.  When doing a check yesterday (after smoking) there were about 30-40 bees that would not leave, however, today when I swapped them out (I did not smoke them, I just had to see for myself, lol) there were SO many bees on the feeders I couldn't even see the liquid level.  I will smoke from here on out.  Thanks so much to everyone.

[RHBee]

Dawn,
I thought you were using the quart jar from a boardman entrance feeder. Are you saying that you put the entire feeder in a deep near the innercover hole? If this is the case, yes, use smoke.
Ray

[AliciaH]

One of my other favorite tricks is to use a screened inner cover over/on a top feeder.  I can refill through the screen and the bees can't fly out.