Moody bees today :-(

[steve56616]

Inspected hives yesterday and all good. Today though they are not happy with me at all. I go and sit and watch almost everyday with no problem. Today they hate me and chase me off. Came indoors with a huge swollen lip
What's wrong with them today?

 

[Hivemaker.]

What's wrong with them today?

Maybe you squished their queen yesterday.

 

[steve56616]

Maybe you squished their queen yesterday.

I hope not. Im always mindful where she is but its always possible. Not like mine to be like this.

 

[Russel]

Payback, probably got the hump because IMO it's still a little cold to be doing full inspection from the bees point of view after someone took their home apart and let all the heat out! Check in front of your for discarded larva.

 

[MartinL]

Inspected hives yesterday and all good. Today though they are not happy with me at all. . . . . . . . . . . . and chase me off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What's wrong with them today?

Perhaps they remembered that you ripped off their roof and poked them about for no good reason????

 

[steve56616]

Some people are strange lol.
I moved home and took my hives and had to combine six down to 3. Was a bit of a rushed job so wanted to go in and tidy up and check all was well. Anyway the weather here was a lovely warm day so I did it!!!
You know what ever you ask on here there is always someone makes wise cracks lol

 

[Erichalfbee]

You know what ever you ask on here there is always someone makes wise cracks lol

And long may it continue.
The answer will always be there. Sometimes straight away, sometimes you have to look for it and sometimes you have to decide which of the solutions might work for you.

 

[steve56616]

And long may it continue.
The answer will always be there. Sometimes straight away, sometimes you have to look for it and sometimes you have to decide which of the solutions might work for you.

Just getting a bit old for playing games but I understand some do

I like answers from more experienced people than myself but I expect sarcasm from this site now, its just a part of the norm

 

[Rich0909]

I think inspections can raise the level of defensiveness with some colonies for a day or two afterwards, nothing obviously to do with temperature though - just due to the disturbance.
Whilst I wouldn't normally inspect this early this is far from a normal season, temperatures here in the east have been 15+ several times already and we hardly had a frost all winter. Willow, cherry plums, damsons and many others in urban areas are all producing pollen and/or nectar. On checking colonies for the first time on Thursday the full colonies had brood boxes packed with a combination of left over winter stores, nectar, pollen and brood - in one colony the queen had been reduced to laying little patches of eggs in gaps in the stores. More space needed urgently so glad I looked, oil seed rape top flowers now starting to open...

Rich

 

[davnig]

Just getting a bit old for playing games but I understand some do

I like answers from more experienced people than myself but I expect sarcasm from this site now, its just a part of the norm

just put certain individuals on ignore and it's a much more pleasant experience

 

[steve56616]

I think inspections can raise the level of defensiveness with some colonies for a day or two afterwards, nothing obviously to do with temperature though - just due to the disturbance.
Whilst I wouldn't normally inspect this early this is far from a normal season, temperatures here in the east have been 15+ several times already and we hardly had a frost all winter. Willow, cherry plums, damsons and many others in urban areas are all producing pollen and/or nectar. On checking colonies for the first time on Thursday the full colonies had brood boxes packed with a combination of left over winter stores, nectar, pollen and brood - in one colony the queen had been reduced to laying little patches of eggs in gaps in the stores. More space needed urgently so glad I looked, oil seed rape top flowers now starting to open...

Rich

Mine were the same. Full of stores BIAS and was going to ask the forum when to put a super on. I know its too early before people jump down my throat!!! but as you say it has been mild and probably a month ahead of last year (and know it can change). I was also worried about space as mine have brood in both brood boxes.

 

[HM Honey]

Payback, probably got the hump because IMO it's still a little cold to be doing full inspection from the bees point of view after someone took their home apart and let all the heat out! Check in front of your for discarded larva.

Its not too early at all Russel. If the temperature is high enough (as would appear to be the case here) and there is a reason to inspect (again, as would appear to be the case here) then there is absolutely no reason why not to.

In answer to the original post.... Mine are always a little crankier the day after an inspection but if this is unusual behaviour for yours, then the squished or damaged queen could be a slim possibility. Give them a day or so and they will probably settle down.

 

[steve56616]

Its not too early at all Russel. If the temperature is high enough (as would appear to be the case here) and there is a reason to inspect (again, as would appear to be the case here) then there is absolutely no reason why not to.

In answer to the original post.... Mine are always a little crankier the day after an inspection but if this is unusual behaviour for yours, then the squished or damaged queen could be a slim possibility. Give them a day or so and they will probably settle down.

Mine are not usually like that although they were cranky at the end of last yr while being plagued by wasps constantly. I went back out to them later this afternoon and all was fine. Fingers crossed all has settled

 

[MartinL]

Its not too early at all Russel. If the temperature is high enough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15 degs???
at the highest, dropping to what? <2 at night?????
Of course they're P!$$£d OFF!

The whole idea of waiting for temperatures to rise is that;
By Late March / mid April the night time temperatures are rising and there's less chance of a frost.

What time of year would you not worry about your central heating breaking down? Not to mention having some fool lift your roof off and rip your home to bits?????
I'm keen to peek at them and see what's going on. However, for now I'll settle for hefting, examining the varoa board and watching then come and go. Got a sting in my jeans today as I watched, (so they too were a bit tetchy)!

 

[alldigging]

What time of year would you not worry about your central heating breaking down? Not to mention having some fool lift your roof off and rip your home to bits?????
I'm keen to peek at them and see what's going on. However, for now I'll settle for hefting, examining the varoa board and watching then come and go. Got a sting in my jeans today as I watched, (so they too were a bit tetchy)!

Dismantling it and leaving the beading out from around the windows...

 

[thorn]

They've been undisturbed for a while. Suddenly the roof is taken off, and a strange creature is hauling them about.
Put yourself in their place.
The first inspection of the new season is always traumatic. They'll calm down once they get back into the routine.

 

[pargyle]

Inspected hives yesterday and all good. Today though they are not happy with me at all. I go and sit and watch almost everyday with no problem. Today they hate me and chase me off. Came indoors with a huge swollen lip
What's wrong with them today?

Bit of a groundhog day going on here:

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=24433

 

[steve56616]

Well last year was my first yr. I think I did very well. I managed swarms and splits and went up to 6 hives due to the swarmy nature of Carnolian's. Now only have Buckfast!!!
I moved and relocated just around the corner ....less than 1 mile. Got two full hives and a nuc through the winter without any need to feed.
I got told and made to feel stupid at times asking questions on here, but here I am 1 yr later with 3 buckets of honey still to jar plus 72 jars I did jar up and sell and three healthy colonies.
So I would like to thank all those who did help with nice comments and good job I took no notice of the not so nice comments (and there was a few!!!)

 

[Swarm]

What's this? The vent thread?
It seems to me that you pretty much answered your own question anyway.

 

[pargyle]

Well last year was my first yr. I think I did very well. I managed swarms and splits and went up to 6 hives due to the swarmy nature of Carnolian's. Now only have Buckfast!!!
I moved and relocated just around the corner ....less than 1 mile. Got two full hives and a nuc through the winter without any need to feed.
I got told and made to feel stupid at times asking questions on here, but here I am 1 yr later with 3 buckets of honey still to jar plus 72 jars I did jar up and sell and three healthy colonies.
So I would like to thank all those who did help with nice comments and good job I took no notice of the not so nice comments (and there was a few!!!)

Not a nasty comment from me ... I recalled your problems with swarms last year and the fact that you had cause to complain about your bees being tetchy then, I followed your threads as a fellow newbie ... but strikes me your bees are taking after the beekeeper or as a result of him !