First inspection with bare hands

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I'm still on the leather gauntlets and in my third year beekeeping without a sting yet, call me a wimp but I don't relish the idea of being stung. I can also manipulate everything just fine with the leather, they are a good snug fit. Hats off to anyone doing it bare handed, I just couldn't..

Blimey! Well done. Your lack of relish is right.

 

[madasafish]

In all seriousness, I recommend ensuring you are stung at least 15 times a year to build up an immunity to bee venom (unless you are susceptible of course).

The reason? some day when beekeeping you will eventually be stung a lot of times in a short period of time : accidents will happen.. A degree of immunity will ameliorate the impact and get over the effects quicker.

When I started my fingers used to swell after a sting. And for two years my arms did as well. Now stings hurt a bit but the swelling is minimised and lasts about 30 minutes at most. A 1% hydrocortisone ointment helps as well..for the delicate parts - neck, soft arm tissues, between thumb and first finger.

As I have TBHs, most stings happen when trying to replace topbars and landing the furthest side of the bar on top of a bee- which naturally objects.. Stings on the ends of fingers are an easy way to gain immunity - less swelling, and tougher skin so less sting penetration.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

So the queen + colonies came out sting first? Not mixing your + and -?

Thanks

No; read from the beginning.

 

[Adie]

Try Baby powder, seems to work for me?

Although both could be a placebo, giving confidence to handle with confidence!

Just rub some grass on your hands and smoke them.

 

[lebouche]

No; read from the beginning.

Yes I suppose it's clear. I just thought its q- colonies that are supposed to be grumpy. Interesting to hear they go for other queens. Guess that is a good test you have there! How do you stop the dead queen rotting? Do you have to change her yearly!

 

[Travelator]

have done inspections twice now with bare hands and got stung both times - the last on my finger tip was a really hot sting.

Im gonna try out surgical gloves next time

Surgical gloves do nothing whatsoever to prevent you getting stung, in my experience. One advantage is that if you do get stung, you can get the sting out of your flesh very easily by yanking the glove - it's much quicker than locating it and scraping it out with a fingernail.

There are other pros and cons. My biggest problem with surgical gloves is that I often get the fingertips trapped underneath frame lugs causing them to get ripped or torn off.