Advice needed please

[Liz123]

I was given a small group of bees and hive about 6 weeks ago. The queen is working very well and it is now a very large group. The hive is on top of 2 pallets and I am very short therefore have to step up onto the top pallet to remove the roof and inspect My problem is as soon as I step up onto the pallet the bees come all over me and repeatedly sting me. Is this because I jolt the hive getting up and they think they are being attacked? Should I replace the hive onto something much lower. It is making hive inspection almost impossible. Any help would be appreciated, as you can tell I really am new to this.

 

[Millet]

Make a hive stand from some concrete blocks or buy a proper wooden one or make one to the height you are comfortable with..once you have something the right height and strength lift the hive of the pallets move them to one side and put your new stand in the same spot and plonk the hive on top..

 

[Erichalfbee]

Agree with Millet
Breeze blocks or whatever you call them are brilliant pro ten
Over winter you can make a more robust stand but remember the height with 5 supers on for next year

 

[enrico]

Made me smile....... The bees come all over me .......
It sounds as though you may need a new queen to try and quieten them down a little!
E

 

[Anduril]

Your hive has grown from small to large and now you are finding the bees have become tetchy. Even if you use a lower stand you will have the unpleasantness of tetchy bees, the slightest knock will have bees pouring out. To place onto a lower stand I would close up the entrance early in the morning before there is significant activity and strap up the hive securely to move, there is nothing worse than finding out that the straps aren't tight enough when you move it and have bees pouring out. Once it is on a lower stand you may still have the same problem, even cracking open the crownboard. If that happens do you have a mentor who can help you with queen replacement?

 

[Millet]

I have six colonies at the moment that are usually fairly easy on me but at this time of the year and the current weather we are having has livened them up a little..another two colonies with different Queens are also a bit more lively but nowhere near as bad as the others..

 

[Swarm]

Your hive has grown from small to large and now you are finding the bees have become tetchy. Even if you use a lower stand you will have the unpleasantness of tetchy bees, the slightest knock will have bees pouring out. To place onto a lower stand I would close up the entrance early in the morning before there is significant activity and strap up the hive securely to move, there is nothing worse than finding out that the straps aren't tight enough when you move it and have bees pouring out. Once it is on a lower stand you may still have the same problem, even cracking open the crownboard. If that happens do you have a mentor who can help you with queen replacement?

The colony has grown and now they know their strength. Moving them onto a lower stand might help but it will certainly help you. I use the hollow concrete blocks and wooden beams, get them level and they are solid.
Get someone with experience to help with the move and they can assess their behaviour.

 

[pargyle]

I was given a small group of bees and hive about 6 weeks ago. The queen is working very well and it is now a very large group. The hive is on top of 2 pallets and I am very short therefore have to step up onto the top pallet to remove the roof and inspect My problem is as soon as I step up onto the pallet the bees come all over me and repeatedly sting me. Is this because I jolt the hive getting up and they think they are being attacked? Should I replace the hive onto something much lower. It is making hive inspection almost impossible. Any help would be appreciated, as you can tell I really am new to this.

The reality is that some colonies can be aggressive.. we don't always know why .. some are born nasty, some get nasty and sometimes the beekeeper handling and demeanour makes them nasty .. the weather .. the size of the colony ... other threats (wasps, robbing etc) can all contribute to their level of aggression. Sometimes they get better ... sometimes they don't. As a new beekeeper it can be very daunting and disconcerting ... first thing is to make sure you are well protected ... full suit, long sleeves under the suit if they can sting through the suit you have. Marigolds with nitriles over the top .. welly boots with trousers tucked in ... tape at wrists and top of boots if they are adventurous. Once you are confident they cannot sting YOU .. it gets a bit better. If they continue to be the bees from hell ... as has been said .. buy or beg a new gentle queen and the genetics of the colony will change. You may need help as you have to find and kill the old queen before you introduce a new one.

I don't think changing the stand will solve the problem but the more comfortable you are working with the bees the less you will worry and the
Less the bees will sense your fear pheromones...because that can also contribute to a colony being nasty...

Good luck ... most of us have been where you are at some point in our beekeeping- there is no shame in closing them up and leaving them until another day ... sometimes makes all the difference ... patience helps.

 

[Liz123]

Thank you all for the helpful replies. I do wear a full suit and gloves, I am being stung on the hands at the base of the thumb. I need to protect that area more. I understand that it is a young queen. I have a person who is helping me occasionally and they did not present this behaviour when he handled them before giving them to me. I am pretty sure it is my inexperience in handling them which maybe causing the problem.

 

[madasafish]

Do you wash your gloves before inspections? Bees are attracted to the smell of bee venom...

 

[pargyle]

Thank you all for the helpful replies. I do wear a full suit and gloves, I am being stung on the hands at the base of the thumb. I need to protect that area more. I understand that it is a young queen. I have a person who is helping me occasionally and they did not present this behaviour when he handled them before giving them to me. I am pretty sure it is my inexperience in handling them which maybe causing the problem.

Like I said .. Marigolds with a pair of nitriles on top - they won't sting you through that but there is still enough 'feel' to manage an inspection.

The key is to try and stay calm .. open gently, and give them time. Some colonies react to being smoked - try it without - if you are not using smoke - try a little (not great gouts .. just lift the crownboard and a couple of whiffs. Try a water spray or a cloth over the top of the frames to keep them down in the hive. Talk to them - tell them what you are doing (it might not help the bees but it actually relaxes you and has a naturally calming effect) The calmer you are the calmer the bees will be. Have you got a dummy board in the hive (if not get one in) as removing that first gives you space to remove frames of comb without 'rolling' bees.

The age of the queen has little relevance .. if she's producing aggressive progeny and they can't be managed she has to head for the gatepost.

Nucs are often calmer than full colonies so the fact that they were manageable when you got them may not be a true indication of their nature.

My biggest worry is your comment that they are all over you when you tread on the pallets .. if they are coming at you from the entrance this is not good news ... if they are coming at you when you take the crown board off then that is more 'normal' behaviour (although not to be tolerated). Are they following you when you close them up ? .. another sign of an aggressive colony.

Give them some chances ... if they react badly, close them up .. if it happens every time you really should look at getting a better queen.

 

[drex]

In answer to the first post. Jolt any hive and the bees will come out to investigate. I would put them on a separate stand.

 

[Liz123]

Do you wash your gloves before inspections? Bees are attracted to the smell of bee venom...

No I haven’t washed them but will from now on, thanks for that tip

 

[Ian123]

Best bet is join a local club sort out a course and if possible get an experienced beek out to help maybe other than the guy that sold them to you.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Ditch the leather gloves asap

 

[enrico]

Even the way you lift the lid can make bees techy . They will get better with your experience