Bee Brushes

DayValleyDahlias · May 01, 2007, 06:09:36 PM

I am just home from working with bees for my very first time...My mentor is awesome and extememly conscientious AND kind...thank goodness. At any rate, I noticed that we never once used a brush...one just came via UPS to me today from Dadant...

My question is...how often do you all use bees brushes?

Working with the bees was just amazing, I chose not to wear gloves, as even my size smalls were very cumbersome...I got the smoker working right away with burlap and now I smell nice and, well, smokey...

Thanks to all of you for your generous advise...
Sharon

Understudy · May 01, 2007, 06:20:41 PM

I have mixed emotions on my bee brush. If I am in the hive, only when I am getting ready to put the hive bodies and supers on and just a little. I have used them in cut outs but it is guarenteed to make the bees angry.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

sean · May 01, 2007, 06:22:09 PM

the only time i use mine is at extraction time when i am taking the frames that i am going to be extracting from

thegolfpsycho · May 01, 2007, 07:30:56 PM

Proper use of a bee brush requires more of a flick, than brushing them. I'm sure everyone that has gotten into a hive has noticed that if the frames are tight, and crowded, causing rolling and squeezing the bees when removed, you frequently get some angry bees. When you pull a frame, and flick the bees off with quick decisive motions, they are more disoriented than angered. I harvest most of my honey with a bee brush. I have never tried a fume board.

Mici · May 01, 2007, 07:36:39 PM

you mean a "bee-broom"? a brush to brush of the bees?
around here, everyone all the time, some of us perfer to use feathers, they're softer, plus i have a steady source of them-storks :-D

DayValleyDahlias · May 01, 2007, 07:59:26 PM

Stork feathers! Now that sounds nice...

buzzbee · May 01, 2007, 10:19:37 PM

You can findstork feathers on the roof of any home with a newborn baby! ;)

tillie · May 02, 2007, 12:02:38 AM

I use my bee brush often to get the bees out of the way when I am putting a super back on the hive. You do have to be definitive with it - not namby-pamby - or the bees get irritated.

I also use the bee brush when I am getting frames to harvest. I don't use bee escapes or any of the fume stuff.

I take off one frame at a time; shake it really hard at the hive entrance (which gets off most of the bees) and then use the bee brush with vigor to get the few remaining bees to leave the frame before putting it in an empty super with a sheet covering it.

Linda T eager for honey harvest in a few months

Brian D. Bray · May 02, 2007, 12:32:33 AM

Proper use involves a flick and swish, according to Herimone. Any reader of Harry Potter knows that. I use the brush to dress the edges of the boxes as I replace supers, inner tops, and tops so as not to harm too many bees.

Over zealous or heavy handed use will make the bees a bit irritable.

mick · May 02, 2007, 05:06:53 AM

I use a bit of asparagus fern, that looks like a dunny brush. I figure soft plant material, bees are made to take that sort of contact.

DayValleyDahlias · May 02, 2007, 10:39:21 AM

Novel ideas...stork feathers, asparagus ferns, I love this forum...I don't think I will be climbing any roofs looking for the sork feathers though! :)

Michael Bush · May 02, 2007, 10:58:24 PM

>My question is...how often do you all use bees brushes?

It's always in my back pocket when I go to the beeyard. You never know when the bees won't get out of the way when you're trying to put a lid back on or something and you don't want to squish them.

DayValleyDahlias · May 03, 2007, 02:08:18 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on May 02, 2007, 10:58:24 PM
>My question is...how often do you all use bees brushes?

It's always in my back pocket when I go to the beeyard. You never know when the bees won't get out of the way when you're trying to put a lid back on or something and you don't want to squish them.

I sure don't want to squis :'(h anyone...