Shaking Out DLQ Hive

[Karsal]

I decided to shake out a DLQ hive at 4 pm today. Closed the hive and carried it up the field 40 yards and placed it on the ground.
Went back to the apiary and removed the hive stand. On returning to the hive I gently removed the top and the crown board and carefully lifted out a frame of bees. The moment I stepped away from the hive a cloud of bees erupted from it and just attacked me en mass. They were very aggressive stinging me all over.
Walked 50 yards away from the hive and hundreds were still following me.
Needless to say that I have retreated and may try again another day. I did go back ten minutes later to pop the lid on but they were waiting to attack again.

 

[oliver90owner]

1600h? Possibly not a good time as most of the complement may be at home. Bees will beg entry far more easily if they are returning laden with nectar or pollen. Also not surprising they were a bit miffed, being carted 35m or so and leaving blocked them in, then opened up.

Secondly, I am wondering why you are shaking them out. With only one hive for them to gain entry, it seems simpler to arrange a unite. Nothing to be gained by shaking them out, except not finding the queen and maybe a few days. Simply moving the colony would result in the foragers returning to normal base, especially if all thecapped brood id drone.

A mystifying decision, given the circumstances.

 

[itma]

Why shake out a "DLQ" hive?

Laying workers are very different, but a Drone Laying Queen just needs replacement - nothing wrong with the rest of the colony.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Why shake out a "DLQ" hive?

Laying workers are very different, but a Drone Laying Queen just needs replacement - nothing wrong with the rest of the colony.

My first AS split this year ended that way.
Just found the queen and re-united. Simple

 

[Karsal]

A lesson learned.

Hive closed back up with only one frame missing. Will unite when settled down.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Great. Hope the unite goes OK.
Prepare the colonies in the day and unite in the evening when they have all stopped flying.

 

[Thymallus]

1600h? With only one hive for them to gain entry, it seems simpler to arrange a unite.

How on earth have you deduced there is only one other hive for them to return to from the original post?

 

[Tremyfro]

How on earth have you deduced there is only one other hive for them to return to from the original post?

'Coz he only has 2 hives...sez so on the left!

 

[Thymallus]

That would explain it......

 

[Hawklord]

'Coz he only has 2 hives...sez so on the left!

And 1 nuc, so bees might have 2 options.

 

[For want of a better word]

Perhaps the intention was to loose the queen and allow all flying bees to go home!
Would have made a great vid for yoove been framed tho!


Yeghes da

 

[Finman]

.
When I started in this forum very many years ago, shaking was common operation to nurse what ever problem. Now it is rare.

Now encouraging is quite often the reason when someone is doing something strange.

 

[Eyeman]

Am I missing something.
Why are you recommending a unite without first finding and removing the DLQ?
In my books the DLQ needs to be removed before uniting with a queen right colony.

 

[mazzamazda]

Am I missing something.
Why are you recommending a unite without first finding and removing the DLQ?
In my books the DLQ needs to be removed before uniting with a queen right colony.

Exactly my thoughts, best way to lose your existing laying queen!

 

[Obee1]

If you read through this thread everyone who suggests uniting mentions finding the DLQ first.

 

[mazzamazda]

Why shake out a "DLQ" hive?

Laying workers are very different, but a Drone Laying Queen just needs replacement - nothing wrong with the rest of the colony.

I always shake out DLQ's, too much time required looking for the usually difficult to find queen. If I have a weak hive with a good laying queen I'll put that in place of the DLQ's hive, a little smoke and shake out the DLQ hive, the bees are 99% accepted and I usually dont lose my good laying queen.

 

[itma]

I always shake out DLQ's, too much time required looking for the usually difficult to find queen. If I have a weak hive with a good laying queen I'll put that in place of the DLQ's hive, a little smoke and shake out the DLQ hive, the bees are 99% accepted and I usually dont lose my good laying queen.

Which just goes to show how different the approaches need to be for the beekeeper with "300" hives and the beekeeper with two.

 

[Mrs Shoot]

Better to find and dispatch the DLQ and unit the hive. If you shake out there is always a chance she will find her way to a hive and kill the queen in that hive. Just me, but I wouldn't take the risk.

 

[Hawklord]

Usually with a shake out any laying queen would be lost. The worry I have is the amount of bees going into a strange colony. It is this reason that I do the shake out gradually over a few days.

 

[mazzamazda]

Which just goes to show how different the approaches need to be for the beekeeper with "300" hives and the beekeeper with two.

To be honest the number of hives I have is irrelevant, I have just about always shaken out queenless hives, probably the easiest way, I've seen so many beekeepers struggling on with queenless hives, unsuccessfully introducing queens, frames of eggs etc. I give them one chance with eggs and then they are out.

Combining is the best option at this time of year but the importance of finding and killing the queen must be a priority to Karsal, I think that point was missed, its difficult if its a horrid hive. If you have any old comb try smoking them out with that, I find it helps.

I was sticking up for Karsal as we all learn as we go and critical negative messages certainly don't help from people who don't always give out the correct advice IMO!