reassurance needed please!

[bushman1872]

hi freethorpe I am fairly new and I have used both marigolds and these http://www.beebasic.co.uk/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=24 although I think the price has gone up. The marigolds are pretty good and cheap however I did get stung through them, these blue ones however come on and off without too much hassle and still leave you with a reasonable amount of dexterity. I have pick up clumps of bees when removing a colony from a compost bin and have not been stung through them. I would not recommend trying very delicate operations with them but for those you could revert back to marigolds.

Good luck

 

[susbees]

Flippin' heck Bushman, you must be making posh honey at that price. Maisemore's are what we use with certain hives:

http://www.bees-online.co.uk/view.asp?ID=843 and a fair bit cheaper, not let a sting through yet but the photo makes them look very odd, have to say!

 

[Nellie]

The best thing I ever did was switch to using nitrile/latex gloves. If it's a colony I know is a bit feisty I might use a pair of marigolds, but I find the thinner gloves that much easier to work in and I crush less bees and get the colonies as a whole less worked up as a result.

I'll be the first to admit that it was with a degree of trepidation that I first tried them out but since switching I get stung far less than I did even with marigolds in fact the only time this year I've been stung so far was using thicker marigolds.

As for nerves, it's only really this season ( my second) that I've started to find my confidence and as that's come I think I'm becoming a better beekeeper as a result. That's not to say that I still don't make mistakes, but I'm far less "twitchy" during inspections than I was last year and the bees are a lot better behaved because they're not being bashed around and I'm not flapping my hands over the open hive as much as I was last year.

 

[bushman1872]

as i said when i bought them they were not that price and the link was more to give a picture of the gloves.

 

[freethorpe bees]

Hi Tony Bloke

Yes I am a member of the Norfolk Beeks.

FB

 

[tonybloke]

Hi Tony Bloke

Yes I am a member of the Norfolk Beeks.

FB

probably see you at some of the club events later this year, then!!

 

[Roy S]

I am using kidleather at the moment, and they are a very snug fit, and I find I can do almost any job that I can do with thinner gloves. I keep propolis problems down by wearing large latex or nitrile gloves over the top of them and chucking them away when I finish.
I think most people wearing leather gloves end up with massive things that cut down their dexterity hugely.
Once you've been keeping bees a while, the nervousness will hopefully subside and the enjoyment will take over. I really enjoy my time with my bees now, and it chills me out greatly, to the point I now go through my bees to relax me, especially after a stressful or bad day.
You have to remember you are doing something that basically goes against everything your body is telling you...not only do you go near bees you actually start taking their home apart and handling them!!!...it takes a little while for your head to get used to this I think no matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise.
As for dropping a frame of bees.....uh....yep...I think we've all done that...if not worse, in my case a hive strap failing while bringing back bees from the heather. I came off a lot worse than the bees!

Bees have to go through a fair bit of truama in the wild too so they are pretty robust.

Just take things slowly, and dont rush....enjoy your time with the bees

regards

Roy

 

[milkermel]

So how did it go freethorpe?? Im just going into my second year and finding it very entertaining!! Forgott to wear my baggy overtrousers (too confident) and got a lovely sting 2 weeks ago on my leg and backside! leg has only just gone down! I got stung last year on my hand which swells up well especially as had to go milking cows for 4 hrs straight afterwards!!! However I use marigolds - cheap and disposable. I havent been stung through them yet so fingers crossed.

Just as an aside with the way i react to stings I have found out this last time that best thing for me is to get some fresh alovera on it. improved things drastically within 6hrs of using.

 

[freethorpe bees]

Didn't go in the hive yesterday - the day was quite windy and dull so thought it best to leave it until tomorrow or Sunday. I am trying to convince myself I'm not just putting it off!

It is true that you are going against your natural instincts when you take apart the hive but I look forward to the day I am doing it as a way of relaxing and not getting het up about it!

 

[susbees]

Just as an aside with the way i react to stings I have found out this last time that best thing for me is to get some fresh alovera on it. improved things drastically within 6hrs of using.

Interesting...will try that (as we have several plants for mossie bites etc). Got a sting to the back of the arm above the wrist this week - my fault, glove to cotton gauntlet join had concertina-ed inwards and poor thing got stuck. Stupid beekeeper.

Thing was just a dot for several hours then got worse for two days and only going down now. Not milking cows that's the issue (only llamas and sheep here )...but it trapped my ulnar nerve making my arm (once again) useless! Still getting over the shoulder injury that started it...

 

[madasafish]

As a beginner who had not been stung for 30 years, I waited to see how I reacted to stings.

I find that if a antihistamine pill is taken within 4 hours of the sting.. and two more taken within the next 24 hours, I have no swelling .

I just wear nitrile or latex gloves: score so far:
1 sting on neck - entered improperly fastened veil.
2 stings on fingers.

Attempted sting on leg failed - crawling up trousers... .. caught in time : I now wear wellies all the time I handle bees..


Best advice I had from a beek was to wear light gloves but be prepared for the worst and take thick gloves in the event of accidents...which will happen..

 

[Hebeegeebee]

freethorpe bees
If you're worried about a sting reaction, you might like to take an antihistamine before you open the hive.
If you want to use leather gloves, thinner 'kid' gloves are definitely better than ones I have seen which are thick and 'orrible.
If you've been to the NBKA meetings they use marigolds - you are not allowed to use your own gloves. I think marigolds are much much better and you don't drop things with them!

Adam. (Great Yarmouth)

 

[Rosti]

I've been through many glove types now and my preference is actually a combination.

When I know there is a potentially higher risk (e.g. queenless hive)
Bottom Layer: Marigold black garden gloves, close fitting, hard nitrile, good sting protection but retains feel, no lumps of leather left under a frame when you replace it!
Top Layer: Marigold yellow general purpose (same size as bottom layer), performance as above but doesn't give meaningful sting protection on own.

Both gloves are the same price and I dispose of the outers as required.

General use, perceived normal risk
The garden gloves on their own (turned inside out they are white) and generally fine

In one hard attack from a queenless hive the single layer was insufficient to protect. The combination gives good feel and excellent protection. From a disease control viewpoint they are cheap to throw if you are in doubt, you cant say that for leather.

Disadvantage, hands sweat in nitrile gloves so need to wash outside,then reverse and wash again.

 

[Lois]

If you need a buddy and don't live too far from me, I would be more than willing to come over. I tried to pm you but it doesn't seem to have gone.

 

[freethorpe bees]

Hey Adam - you're not far from me so watch out!

Lois - I have sent you a pm back - let me know if you haven't got it. Have to sort something out about coming over - any helping hand is very appreciated!

FB

 

[freethorpe bees]

Rosti - are you the same Rosti as the one on the Springwatch message board?

FB

 

[Lois]

still not good with pm's Freethorpe. I sent you my phone number but cant' seem to find it in my sent box! bloomin computers.

 

[freethorpe bees]

I've got your message thanks Lois - will be in touch soon.

fb

 

[Rosti]

Rosti - are you the same Rosti as the one on the Springwatch message board?

FB

No, not me! But I feel compelled to go and have a look now!

 

[BKF Admin]

still not good with pm's Freethorpe. I sent you my phone number but cant' seem to find it in my sent box! bloomin computers.

In your control panel tick the box to "save a copy of sent messages"

Admin.