Bees furious after extraction last weekend

[Queen Brenda]

Up till now our bees have been completely docile, productive and lovable. Last weekend we extracted 2 supers of honey, leaving them with a 3/4 full super and a new one with a mix of new and drawn out foundation. I've had a few stings over the last couple of weeks, always on my Rt thumb around the elastic which loops from the suit over my thumb. Unfortunately I react badly and whole Rt arm swells up and sleepless nights due to itching and swelling.

Today we went in to put bee escapes under the wet frames and do a proper inspection of the brood and the bees were really nasty, bombing us, stinging through my new gloves and chasing us around the garden for 1/2 an hour. We're gentle, talk quietly, don't bang anything and now I 'm frightened to go near the hive. Last week I. Was stung on the face while minding my own business in the garden.

Have they turned nasty permanently? Do they remember us stealing their honey? I'm washing my bee suit but we also use soda on our gloves and tools. I'm getting discouraged. Can anyone out there help?

 

[ellypatt]

How do they look in the brood nest - any chance they might be queenless? Or have they recently requeened, perhaps with a q who is more aggro or had mated with some nasty drones?
I've never had any trouble caused by honey removal.

 

[Queen Brenda]

No, I don't think queenless, eggs, larvae all ages, it looks like a thriving colony. We've never met the queen, inspite of usual search methods. Brood and a half and humming with bees.

 

[enrico]

Oh Brenda, I sympathise so much. I nearly gave up thirty years ago when my new bees reduced me to tears. A few things you have got to get sorted. First of all a bomb proof bee suit and gloves, even if it means layers underneath and you sweat like a pig! Secondly you are going to have to look for an out apiary if at all possible. Bees can make your garden a living hell. I have kept them in my garden for years and know the pitfalls. Bees have bad hair days, weeks or even months for a range of reasons and for so e that you will never discover or understand. If you can't live with it then you have to let them have those bad moments somewhere else! Then again they can go for years with no problem at all. They can be horrible one day and fine the next but if they are making you want to give the whole thing up then you need to rethink how you are going to continue. That is if you want to.
If you do continue you will look back on this as a steep learning curve and shrug it off but right now it is real and you have to deal with it. Get an experienced beek to look at your colony and see that everything is ok, reduce the size of the entrance, the wet supers may have caused robbing, but most of all try and keep smiling.
E

 

[theeggman]

Up till now our bees have been completely docile, productive and lovable. Last weekend we extracted 2 supers of honey, leaving them with a 3/4 full super and a new one with a mix of new and drawn out foundation. I've had a few stings over the last couple of weeks, always on my Rt thumb around the elastic which loops from the suit over my thumb. Unfortunately I react badly and whole Rt arm swells up and sleepless nights due to itching and swelling.

Today we went in to put bee escapes under the wet frames and do a proper inspection of the brood and the bees were really nasty, bombing us, stinging through my new gloves and chasing us around the garden for 1/2 an hour. We're gentle, talk quietly, don't bang anything and now I 'm frightened to go near the hive. Last week I. Was stung on the face while minding my own business in the garden.



Have they turned nasty permanently? Do they remember us stealing their honey? I'm washing my bee suit but we also use soda on our gloves and tools. I'm getting discouraged. Can anyone out there help?

"Brenda". Sorry you're showing gender as male on your profile!!

From your post, do you have your beesuit outside of your gloves?
We have the thumb 'strap' in use under marigolds and then use "cotton" gauntlets, fairly cheap form the big T, to bridge the gap from cuff to sleeve.

I'm puzzled over bee escapes under wet frames. If you've extracted the honey just put the supers back on top so they can clean them up, wax and honey wise, if needs be over an OPEN feeder board if you don't want to leave the supers on.

 

[Dishmop]

One thought is that they might be pretty p****d off that they can smell those wet super frames and cant get to them........

 

[theeggman]

One thought is that they might be pretty p****d off that they can smell those wet super frames and cant get to them........

Very fair point Dishmop.

How are you doing health wise?

Tim.

 

[Fatbee]

Do you take anti histamines? I used to swell up but they work wonders if you can take them as quickly as you can. Loratidine. Available in all chemists.

As far as temper I usually find mine get grumpy at extraction time. Season is early, forage will start dropping away compared to the peak but bee numbers are high. The weather this week may be playing a part.

Do you have an experienced beek who could come and take a look and help you on bigger manipulation? They will also be able to advise on temperament

Where thicker gloves to get your confidence back. Stick in there and good luck!

 

[Queen Brenda]

We put the escapes on to clear the wet frames, no? I want to take them off for the winter. When we went in this afternoon, we hadn't put the bee escapes in, we had given them a week to clean up the wet frames, which they did beautifully, but now we want to get the bees out to remove the super. They will still have 2 supers left with stores.

Yes maybe the overcast day. I've got wopping gauntelts to wear and I'll do that for confidence next few times.

 

[Moggett]

If you want to be a beekeeper you need to accept that it will not always be the gentle pastime promoted by books and TV. Bees can be very aggressive and intimidating and it goes with the 'job' of beekeeping to manage the problem (not with petrol however).

Keeping bees at home is risky unless you have a huge garden where they can be kept in isolation. I kept some at home for years but no more. They can be unpredictable and turn aggressive due to various factors.

See this as part of the hobby. Learn how to manage them and find an out apiary so you can enjoy your garden without being attacked.

 

[Dishmop]

We put the escapes on to clear the wet frames, no? I want to take them off for the winter. When we went in this afternoon, we hadn't put the bee escapes in, we had given them a week to clean up the wet frames,

Yes, sorry I didnt read properly that they were nasty when you went to put the escapes in, but they may have thought you had come to steal anything else that was left. Victims waiting for the burglars to return..

 

[Dishmop]

Very fair point Dishmop.

How are you doing health wise?

Tim.

Feeling better now I am on less viscious anti-biotics..
The ones I was on not only clear the nasties out of the bowels but anything esle that goes in... quite quickly..

First time in 2 months that I havent had any tubes anyhere...

 

[Queen Brenda]

Dear Eggman, thank you for pointing that out. I've adjusted my gender, I'd hate anyone to get the wrong idea. It won't happen again!

 

[theeggman]

I hope the operation wasn't too painful

Tim.

 

[Jimy Dee]

Brenda
If there is one annual reoccurring trait that ALL BEES I have ever worked with is that they get protective (aggressive) in the fall of the year and taking honey off the hives seems to accelerate this protectiveness. It is part of beekeeping. I have stopped believing keepers who tell me their bees are quiet ALL the time - absolute rubbish, dont believe them. Put plenty layers on and make sure the stings cannot get to you - double up on gloves when they turn aggressive.
Please stick with the bees, they are a great hobby.
Jim

 

[sharonh]

Hi Brenda,
Don't give up yet. I keep my bees in my garden and regard them as docile.
Never had any problems with them except when queenless, they were terrible. Darting at me. Even attacking me when well away and minding my own business.
Weather can also change their mood, in particular thundery weather.
The only other time I saw similar behaviour was when I had my inspection tray under open mesh floor. Some bees got trapped and died under mesh floor on tray. I pulled out tray and the smell of the dead bees was awful. As soon as I removed it, the bees behaviour & temper went straight back to normal. So you see, it could be something simple causing the change in behaviour .
You mentioned, you wanted them to clean the wet super so you could remove for winter.
Where are they going to store honey if no super left to them. It's early July, they need space for summer stores.
As others said, wear extra layers under your bee suit and double up on gloves until you get your confidence back.
Whatever is causing their behaviour, it could go back normal as quick.
If not, and it continues on, that you can't deal with them. The next option maybe to requeen.
See how it goes in next few weeks. Don't give up as its a lovely hobby.
Sharon


Love Beekeeping <3