- Joined
- Feb 21, 2017
- Messages
- 1,081
- Reaction score
- 151
- Location
- Pensilva, East Cornwall
- Number of Hives
- None, ex-beekeeper
Opened my two hives today. Schrodinger (my older colony by three weeks) is heavy with bees and honey, Heisenberg not so much but bees are far more aggressive as for the second week I haven't been able to get more than halfway through before I lost my nerve with bees ramming my hands.
S has filled a super in just one week, indeed I thought the bees had stuck it down somewhere where I couldn't get my hive tool. It was only when I gave it a good heave that I realised there was about 15kg of honey in it and that it was practically full up. When I put the hive back together I added another super.
H has bees that don't like me. For two weeks running they have rammed my hands and since I got stung last time I wore heavier gloves and I could see them trying to sting every time I reached for the frame lugs. I only got halfway through the inspection before I lost my nerve and pulled out, I added another super just in case and left it at that. H is really putting me off but I suspect that what I might call aggression other beekeepers would call mildly irritated. Next time I go in I am going to wear ear defenders under my veil as it might be that I'm getting stressed because of the noise; I hope this is the case. I haven't seen the queen since I put them in their hive after receiving them in a nuc but I know she is there because of the dramatic increase in numbers over the last three weeks. It's not that they are concerned that the top is off, indeed if I open the hive and do nothing they don't bother, but as soon as my hands touch the frame they are off only to relax again if I take my hands away. I have even thicker gloves coming so I think that will help.
I am getting a big honey flow though, so that at least is a triumph, however more woes than triumphs for the time being.
Hey ho, onward and upward.
S has filled a super in just one week, indeed I thought the bees had stuck it down somewhere where I couldn't get my hive tool. It was only when I gave it a good heave that I realised there was about 15kg of honey in it and that it was practically full up. When I put the hive back together I added another super.
H has bees that don't like me. For two weeks running they have rammed my hands and since I got stung last time I wore heavier gloves and I could see them trying to sting every time I reached for the frame lugs. I only got halfway through the inspection before I lost my nerve and pulled out, I added another super just in case and left it at that. H is really putting me off but I suspect that what I might call aggression other beekeepers would call mildly irritated. Next time I go in I am going to wear ear defenders under my veil as it might be that I'm getting stressed because of the noise; I hope this is the case. I haven't seen the queen since I put them in their hive after receiving them in a nuc but I know she is there because of the dramatic increase in numbers over the last three weeks. It's not that they are concerned that the top is off, indeed if I open the hive and do nothing they don't bother, but as soon as my hands touch the frame they are off only to relax again if I take my hands away. I have even thicker gloves coming so I think that will help.
I am getting a big honey flow though, so that at least is a triumph, however more woes than triumphs for the time being.
Hey ho, onward and upward.