does anyone keep aggressive bees

[farbee]

I am surprised at peoples patience with Irishguy. He just simply does not seem to listen (or at least listen properly and process the info).

 

[AndriusMasa]

Acctualy, thouse who say that agrresive bees makes more honey they say true.

I believe that, bad beekeper who goes every day to check families, and disturb them usualy gets less honey, because of his direspect for a family.

So if bees are agrresive , beekeeper do not whant tho chek them every day;D
So bees can work and make honey as usual, then rather fix all the time what beekeeper did.

Acctualy I am keeping buckfast bees, and im using hives which in my opinion is good for this breed. So if i notice that hive becomes agrresive, i accept this as brood loos and i change qween.

 

[BeeJayBee]

P, I can guarantee no one will be anywhere near he aggressive hive I'm wanting. Its a very isolated spot where I'm wanting to keep it.

I hope you don't go ahead with this.

I would also hope you wouldn't let your children go anywhere near an aggressive colony. There's no guarantee that even the most expensive suit will protect from bees that are determined to attack.

 

[Swarm]

Well nine pages in I'd say carry on, you'll learn.

 

[irishguy]

I am surprised at peoples patience with Irishguy. He just simply does not seem to listen (or at least listen properly and process the info).

O I'm listening alright and I'm taking all information in from this thread and if you read it all again, you'll see there's some in here that backs up what I thought about aggressive bees, they are better at keeping varroa mite away and produce more honey. IMO, (and this is limited to being a beginner beek) man has a lot to answer for for dumbing down bees and has a major part to play in the varroa mite problem in bees. Think about if all aggressive males where culled from mankind and we were left and only the femine type where aloud to flourish, we'd be truely in **** creek then. Same for the bees IMO! People have to start thinking outside the box if they truely want bees to survive and be mite free.

All I'm wanting to do is keep one (or2) hives well away from humans to see for myself how they get on. I have a high fear tollerence and can deal with them, if I think in anyway the bees aren't for me, sure I'll just requeen or destroy the colony and no harm done to anyone.

TBH, I can't see much problems with keeping aggressive bees. Its in their nature to be aggressive and I want at least one aggressive hive. Is it against the law to keep aggressive bees, No!
Is it in mans best interests to keep bees, maybe not.
Is it in the bees best interests for us to keep aggressive bees, well with them being better honey producers and better at keeping varroa away well IMO for now it is!.

 

[irishguy]

I hope you don't go ahead with this.

I would also hope you wouldn't let your children go anywhere near an aggressive colony. There's no guarantee that even the most expensive suit will protect from bees that are determined to attack.

Beejoyful, can you please do me and yourself a favour and re-read this thread, read every single post and you'll see that I mention 'IF' I do have a very aggressive hive, I 'won't ' have it anywhere near my kids or any other person for that matter. It'll be in a very isolated spot well away from human activity!

 

[Jonathan]

I for one don't think aggressive bees are either better honey collectors or more able to deal with Varroa. Sure some aggressive colonies have collected lots of honey. I've experienced that but also have experienced the same with gentler strains. As for Varroa aggressive bees are no better at dealing with Varroa than gentler strains. I am going back to 1997 when I first got hit by Varroa and believe me the mite did not discriminate nor was it better dealt with by aggressive hives. It killed all just the same. I have no reason whatsoever to believe anything has changed.

 

[midnight sun]

Does anyone else keep thinking we have here a future winner of the Darwin Awards?


http://www.darwinawards.com


Dusty

Just had a look at the shortcut you posted.
Makes me feel almost intelligent! LOL

 

[irishguy]

I for one don't think aggressive bees are either better honey collectors or more able to deal with Varroa. Sure some aggressive colonies have collected lots of honey. I've experienced that but also have experienced the same with gentler strains. As for Varroa aggressive bees are no better at dealing with Varroa than gentler strains. I am going back to 1997 when I first got hit by Varroa and believe me the mite did not discriminate nor was it better dealt with by aggressive hives. It killed all just the same. I have no reason whatsoever to believe anything has changed.

Well what I've been reading on the internet suggests different.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

can you please do me and yourself a favour and re-read this thread, read every single post ......

Give the girl a break - I think reading it the once was painful enough.

 

[pargyle]

You just don't get it do you ? Regardless of what YOU think and YOU want it's just totally irresponsible on a load of levels.

The worst thing is introducing aggressive genes (as a result of the drones the hive WILL produce) into the beekeeping area. Unless, of course, you have the only bees in about a 10 mile radius with no chance of feral bees in the area as well.

Start thinking about sensible and responsible beekeeping and forget the stupid ideas. For sure there are some people who 'believe' aggressive colonies are better honey producers but they are in the minority and I've never seen any real evidence that aggressive colonies handle varroa better ... bit of bunkum IMO.

 

[irishguy]

Give the girl a break - I think reading it the once was painful enough.

Never knew BJ was a ghirl. But to be fair, just a few posts back I clearly mention I won't be bringing kids anywhere near the aggressive hive so why even post what she did when I clearly mentioned it.

 

[Swarm]

Let him get some highly 'defensive' (not aggresive) bees and when they 'do their thing' and it scares seven shades out of him, perhaps then he will understand.

Good luck IG, be sure to let us know how it goes.

 

[irishguy]

You just don't get it do you ? Regardless of what YOU think and YOU want it's just totally irresponsible on a load of levels.

The worst thing is introducing aggressive genes (as a result of the drones the hive WILL produce) into the beekeeping area. Unless, of course, you have the only bees in about a 10 mile radius with no chance of feral bees in the area as well.

Start thinking about sensible and responsible beekeeping and forget the stupid ideas. For sure there are some people who 'believe' aggressive colonies are better honey producers but they are in the minority and I've never seen any real evidence that aggressive colonies handle varroa better ... bit of bunkum IMO.

Pargyle, how can you say that when you beeks don't give the aggressive hive a chance. Yous cull the Queen not long after knowing the hives aggressive.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I think you are confusing the whole honey yield and aggressive/defensive bees with Africanised honeybees. totally different species and in reality no more heavy yielders than any other bee

 

[Jonathan]

Well what I've been reading on the internet suggests different.

I read crap on the internet everyday.

 

[Ely]

O I'm listening alright and I'm taking all information in from this thread and if you read it all again, you'll see there's some in here that backs up what I thought about aggressive bees, they are better at keeping varroa mite away and produce more honey. IMO, (and this is limited to being a beginner beek) man has a lot to answer for for dumbing down bees and has a major part to play in the varroa mite problem in bees. Think about if all aggressive males where culled from mankind and we were left and only the femine type where aloud to flourish, we'd be truely in **** creek then. Same for the bees IMO! People have to start thinking outside the box if they truely want bees to survive and be mite free.

All I'm wanting to do is keep one (or2) hives well away from humans to see for myself how they get on. I have a high fear tollerence and can deal with them, if I think in anyway the bees aren't for me, sure I'll just requeen or destroy the colony and no harm done to anyone.

TBH, I can't see much problems with keeping aggressive bees. Its in their nature to be aggressive and I want at least one aggressive hive. Is it against the law to keep aggressive bees, No!
Is it in mans best interests to keep bees, maybe not.
Is it in the bees best interests for us to keep aggressive bees, well with them being better honey producers and better at keeping varroa away well IMO for now it is!.

None of this can be taken seriously. You are forming opinions out of thin air. No experience to back it up. Totally devoid of facts, evidence or logic. Why did you join the forum in the first place if you choose to ignore sensible advice? It is if you are purposefully choosing the wrong course of action for any given advice. Do you really have bees or are you just here to wind beekeepers up with your stupidity?

 

[pargyle]

Pargyle, how can you say that when you beeks don't give the aggressive hive a chance. Yous cull the Queen not long after knowing the hives aggressive.

Rubbish ... I know several beekeepers in my local association who have suffered aggressive bees ... the sort that will chase you across the field and try and get inside your suit and have just one desire - to kill you ... I know one in particular who kept a vile colony for two years (through one supercedure which did not improve them one bit !) before finally squishing the queen and changing the nature of the colony completely

You have no idea ... read my last post ... you are just irresponsible even thinking about keeping aggressive bees DELIBERATELY.

 

[maddydog]

I‘ll take a lower yield and increased vigilance against varroa, thanks. Even if it is true!

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Seems to me there are two kinds of first year BeeKeepers.

Those who look, listen ask questions and take advice....

and those who know it all.

The first group are a delight.

Dusty.