Pretty hopping mad :(

[kazmcc]

Just venting really. On Wednesday, we went to inspect the girls as normal, but we are without our mentor now...he trusts us lol. So doesn't come for every inspection. Anyway. The "creosoter" decided he wanted to rejoin and attended. As I was looking through the brood box we came across one of the outer frames with queen cells on, 3 of them. They were a bit more than cups, but not much, so, after getting someone on the other side of the frame to check in case, like I've read, she slips round the other side while looking, we looked for Madge and couldn't see her and it was quite sparse with bees in comparison to the inner frames, so to get a better look I gave the frame a shake to get some of them off and see. Nothing happening in two, an egg in one so broke them and replaced the frame. Did the next one....nothing. The creosoter was eager to have a go at this point and must have thought, huh, if she can do it, then so can I.....and gave the frame one almighty forward shake, without checking what was on there. All the bees fell on the floor outside the hive. I was livid. I swear if Madge was on there and she's damaged, I will kick him, hard. I had to explain, calmly, that I have been shown by our mentor, many times how to shake bees off and why. You can't just lash them off into the grit for any reason! Hmmmm. Liability? Do ya think?

 

[BeeNice]

Nice story, but who is the 'creosoter'. I think I missed that feed. Sure your bees are fine and if you have capped QC's then Madge has flown (maybe). I learnt this year that as long as I have QC's and no queen things should sort themselves out. Had a hard time trying to get on top of all the qc's that keep happening. Not worrying anymore about the bees. Got 2 lovely fully capped super we are takening off this weekend, looking forward to doing the 'honey spin'. good luck with your ladies.
regards
Steven

 

[kazmcc]

Sorry, in my rant I didn't explain properly lol. We did an AS when we saw the first billion QC's, but they keep doing them. Mostly cups, but these were slightly more developed if you get me, cups, but longer. We definitley have a queen, she's laying eggs and we have grubs of all ages, capped brood etc. The creosoter is a guy, who took it upon himself to creosote the hive....with proper creosote from about 20 yrs ago....with the bees in residence. It was very traumatic, and after being told, he decided he didn't want to be part of the group anymore. I was quietly relieved, but he's decided to come back

 

[psafloyd]

Sorry, in my rant I didn't explain properly lol. We did an AS when we saw the first billion QC's, but they keep doing them. Mostly cups, but these were slightly more developed if you get me, cups, but longer. We definitley have a queen, she's laying eggs and we have grubs of all ages, capped brood etc. The creosoter is a guy, who took it upon himself to creosote the hive....with proper creosote from about 20 yrs ago....with the bees in residence. It was very traumatic, and after being told, he decided he didn't want to be part of the group anymore. I was quietly relieved, but he's decided to come back

Tell him he has had his final warning and if he transgresses again, he will be binned once and for all.

 

[Queens59]

Kazmcc - you never fail to surprise me how well you care for things that used to absolutely terrify you! Well Done, just keep him under the thumb and he'll walk...sounds like he doesn't want to be told anything.

 

[fredbloggs]

Oooer

Kaz

Thought you should know. There's a new user just signed up to the forum? Bit of a coincidence but his user name is "MisterCreosote"

?



FB

 

[YorkshireBees]

I'm sure you know but just to say if you have to shake bees off of a frame do it over the BB then at least 99% of them just fall into the hive.
Or was it just the other person doing it not over the hive?

In terms of finding play cups / slightly developed QC's there is no need to worry, it's natural for them to build them for practice. Unless they have a grub and some royal jelly then they haven't declared an intention to swarm / supersede.
I do regularly remove them myself, but more for the reason of being able to spot new ones on the next inspection.

 

[Midland Beek]

If I was a mentor I would never advoctae the shaking off of bees from brood frames for the sake of having a better look. I would only sugest shaking bees off if there were concerns about disease, and where it is imprtant to get a good look, as in a look without your veil on 10/20 meteres from your hives.

If the frames are swimming with bees and you need, for example, to find queen cells, I use smoke. And I mean good smoke - not your hot or sooty stuff.

 

[psafloyd]

Kaz

Thought you should know. There's a new user just signed up to the forum? Bit of a coincidence but his user name is "MisterCreosote"

?



FB

I'm sure that is a MP reference...

 

[CB008]

If I was a mentor I would never advoctae the shaking off of bees from brood frames for the sake of having a better look. I would only sugest shaking bees off if there were concerns about disease, and where it is imprtant to get a good look, as in a look without your veil on 10/20 meteres from your hives.

If the frames are swimming with bees and you need, for example, to find queen cells, I use smoke. And I mean good smoke - not your hot or sooty stuff.

My mentor said to always shake the bees off (into the hive) or you will miss QC's

 

[madasafish]

I don't shake bees off frames for inspection purposes: I brush them off : with a turkey feather.

Like dusting your best china..

 

[Midland Beek]

My mentor said to always shake the bees off (into the hive) or you will miss QC's

Shaking frames is a sure fire way of ending up with damaged queen cells, as in a dislodged pupa. But of course this is not an issue if they are going to be destroyed.

 

[YorkshireBees]

Good point, I tend to either blow on them gently to move them from the part I want to check or brush them gently.

 

[Stiffy]

If I was a mentor I would never advoctae the shaking off of bees from brood frames for the sake of having a better look. I would only sugest shaking bees off if there were concerns about disease, and where it is imprtant to get a good look, as in a look without your veil on 10/20 meteres from your hives.

If the frames are swimming with bees and you need, for example, to find queen cells, I use smoke. And I mean good smoke - not your hot or sooty stuff.

A gentle blow through your veil is usually enough to clear the bees sufficiently to see whats beneath, doesnt spook them too much either.
S

PS Oh Buxxer, behind Yorkshire bees with same advice!

 

[drstitson]

YB - she clearly knows how and where to shake bees. It's the creosoting KIA who doesn't and seems a liability and needs shot of pronto.

 

[drstitson]

seems we also have another creosoter - see new beginnings post.

 

[kazmcc]

Good idea to use a feather, although I have tried to brush the bees away from the edges of the hive so I don't squish more than I have to, and every time they went mental, flying straight up at me. This frame had three on it, and I couldn't see anything for bees. I feel dead bad dashing them off the frame, and watching them land on their backs wriggling about lol. Poor bees