thedeaddiplomat
House Bee
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2009
- Messages
- 498
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- cornwall
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- sadly, no more!
This year, I have had one colony that has tended towards aggression. At one stage, I was going to re-queen but it began to calm down a little. By October, they were relatively well-behaved, but still inclined to anti-social behaviour if I tried for more than a very quick peek at the hive.
I put this down, in part to my second year heavyhandedness, and a tendency to crush more of this colony than of the others due to anxiety. But also in part to a hint of bloodymindedness in the hive (though all my Queens are from the same stock).
What would the experts do? Is it worth giving them another chance in the Spring, in the hope that I have learned a little more gentleness in my handling? Or would you assume that these particular leopards cannot change their stripes (if they have any), and plan on an early re-queening?
I put this down, in part to my second year heavyhandedness, and a tendency to crush more of this colony than of the others due to anxiety. But also in part to a hint of bloodymindedness in the hive (though all my Queens are from the same stock).
What would the experts do? Is it worth giving them another chance in the Spring, in the hope that I have learned a little more gentleness in my handling? Or would you assume that these particular leopards cannot change their stripes (if they have any), and plan on an early re-queening?