Spring Prep

[masterBK]

Must have had hundreds inside my veil over the last 56 yrs. If you turn to face the sun they usually fly to the front of the veil where you can get at them and crush them between finger and thumb. I learnt early on not to panic. When I was 15 yrs old ended up with over 300 stings when a hive that was being carried by two of us was dropped and fell apart . Stupidly I tried to put it together without a veil (no bee suits in those days). Afterwards in the bath I counted all my stings after removing them and placing them along the side rim of the bath. Had to have a couple of days off school as within hours I swelled up & looked like Michelinman, all round my eyes was so swollen I couldn't see out of them for at least a day.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Tremyfro and I are seemingly not so brave.
Perhaps we should give up beekeeping

 

[Millet]

Must have had hundreds inside my veil over the last 56 yrs. If you turn to face the sun they usually fly to the front of the veil where you can get at them and crush them between finger and thumb. I learnt early on not to panic. When I was 15 yrs old ended up with over 300 stings when a hive that was being carried by two of us was dropped and fell apart . Stupidly I tried to put it together without a veil (no bee suits in those days). Afterwards in the bath I counted all my stings after removing them and placing them along the side rim of the bath. Had to have a couple of days off school as within hours I swelled up & looked like Michelinman, all round my eyes was so swollen I couldn't see out of them for at least a day.

I hope you where wearing a Nappy, i would have blown the back end of my trousers out in that situation..

 

[REDWOOD]

People who fear being stung perhaps shouldn't keep bees but many people do just that.

Its not the fear of the sting just the fear of getting anaphylactic shock and unable to keep bees


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[Tremyfro]

Tremyfro and I are seemingly not so brave.
Perhaps we should give up beekeeping

Ah but if we give up keeping bees...these boys will have no one to keep them in check...can you imagine!

Multiple stings are not very nice. I got about 15 stings the first year we kept bees because we tried to put a wet super back on the hive...at the end of the day of extracting. Not my finest hour...I must admit. Most of the stings were on my head as the bees got caught in my hair. We were on our way out for dinner...if I recall...and during the evening we both slowly became more and more mishapened. Lying in bed that night was tricky because it didn't matter how I placed my head on the pillow...I was lying on a large lump!

 

[user 6228]

On the taster day at buckfast when she started thinking about beekeeping, elaine got a bee inside the veil. So she just carefully took veil off and let bee fly away . When we got home we ordered some bees.u

 

[Michael Palmer]

Kork and I were remembering a stinging incident just the other day. Happened back in the 80s, in the Lucas yard in Perry Mills, New York. We were reversing hives at dandelion bloom...beautiful weather, good flow on, bees in a pleasant mood. We had two trucks in the yard, sideboards and equipment spread out on the ground. We were both in tee shirts, no veils.

The yard was almost finished, when the first colony reversed, fell over. As it hit the ground, the boxes separated and the frames fanned out, spilling the colony’s guts out across the grass. Instantly, a cloud of angry bees erupted from that hive. Did you ever ride a motorcycle? Have a stone fall off a truck up ahead of you? As you and the stone approach each other, the stone seems to travel in slow motion...until it hits you. Then it's going full speed...wham!

Well, those bees erupted out of that hive in slow motion in a cloud that engulfed both of us. I never had a chance to take a step in any direction. They were on me like...every inch had a stinging bee. I tried to wipe them off, and they were back two fold. We looked at each other...did you ever see horse's eyes when they're freaked out. Well, Kork had horse eyes. I ran for one truck, and Kork the other. Bees filled the cab of my truck, stinging everything...in my nose, in my ears, on my face and arms; even stinging the truck.

We met down the road in a turn off and pulled stingers. I could certainly never forget how my whole body buzzed...beyond pain. Eventually, I was able to drive the hour to home, but couldn't touch anything...lean back in the seat, or put my elbow on the window opening: Just my hands on the steering wheel.

We laugh about it now.

 

[Madge]

... I could certainly never forget how my whole body buzzed...beyond pain. ...

Phew. And I thought I was brave when I counted only eleven stings after I've returned to an angry stinging colony that had chased me away to close them up. I stupidly wore soft black T_shirt material trousers, and they've discovered that my legs were vulnerable. I was still new to beekeeping then.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Kork and I were remembering a stinging incident just the other day. Happened back in the 80s, in the Lucas yard in Perry Mills, New York. We were reversing hives at dandelion bloom...beautiful weather, good flow on, bees in a pleasant mood. We had two trucks in the yard, sideboards and equipment spread out on the ground. We were both in tee shirts, no veils.

The yard was almost finished, when the first colony reversed, fell over. As it hit the ground, the boxes separated and the frames fanned out, spilling the colony’s guts out across the grass. Instantly, a cloud of angry bees erupted from that hive. Did you ever ride a motorcycle? Have a stone fall off a truck up ahead of you? As you and the stone approach each other, the stone seems to travel in slow motion...until it hits you. Then it's going full speed...wham!

Well, those bees erupted out of that hive in slow motion in a cloud that engulfed both of us. I never had a chance to take a step in any direction. They were on me like...every inch had a stinging bee. I tried to wipe them off, and they were back two fold. We looked at each other...did you ever see horse's eyes when they're freaked out. Well, Kork had horse eyes. I ran for one truck, and Kork the other. Bees filled the cab of my truck, stinging everything...in my nose, in my ears, on my face and arms; even stinging the truck.

We met down the road in a turn off and pulled stingers. I could certainly never forget how my whole body buzzed...beyond pain. Eventually, I was able to drive the hour to home, but couldn't touch anything...lean back in the seat, or put my elbow on the window opening: Just my hands on the steering wheel.

We laugh about it now.

Classic! What are known at your side of the pond as Pissy Bees.

 

[Erichalfbee]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dLjNzwEULG8

And Mike... all I can say is I'm speechless

 

[Tremyfro]

Ah Mike...that sure had the hairs on my arms standing up!! Scary stuff. I dropped a frame last year...right by my feet. I just stepped back. All the bees did was climb back onto the frame ready to be lifted back into the hive...that's Carniolans for you...

 

[alldigging]

Its not the fear of the sting just the fear of getting anaphylactic shock and unable to keep bees


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There were 3 people out of about 14 on the GH course recently who had epi-pens.

 

[enrico]

I am sure most of you remember my pack of cards trick a couple of years ago. This isn't one upmanship as I am suitably ashamed, one stack of supers from a hive being inspected fell onto one hive which fell on to the next one and then a third. All three hives were on their sides including all the supers full of bees. It wasn't the sickening smell of almonds that frightened me or even the bees getting in my suit so quick and me running down the hill in panic. It was the thought that I had to go back up there and put them all together again. The frames got all mixed up, I had broken frames and box's I had every opening on my suit taped up and my whelies stuffed with newspaper. The amazing g thing was that in the process I managed to get one queen in each box and none perished. I left them to calm down for two weeks before going and tidying the frames up properly. I very nearly called it a day. I can honestly say.... I shed a tear at the thought of going to tidy the original mess up. I was stung many times but for some reason I had little reaction for the first time in 35 years and haven't had any since....must have been the adrenalin! I will never forget that smell of almonds though..... absolutely overpowering.
I still keep bees but the hives are now well spaced apart... Once stung twice shy!
He he
E

 

[Tremyfro]

I am sure most of you remember my pack of cards trick a couple of years ago. This isn't one upmanship as I am suitably ashamed, one stack of supers from a hive being inspected fell onto one hive which fell on to the next one and then a third. All three hives were on their sides including all the supers full of bees. It wasn't the sickening smell of almonds that frightened me or even the bees getting in my suit so quick and me running down the hill in panic. It was the thought that I had to go back up there and put them all together again. The frames got all mixed up, I had broken frames and box's I had every opening on my suit taped up and my whelies stuffed with newspaper. The amazing g thing was that in the process I managed to get one queen in each box and none perished. I left them to calm down for two weeks before going and tidying the frames up properly. I very nearly called it a day. I can honestly say.... I shed a tear at the thought of going to tidy the original mess up. I was stung many times but for some reason I had little reaction for the first time in 35 years and haven't had any since....must have been the adrenalin! I will never forget that smell of almonds though..... absolutely overpowering.
I still keep bees but the hives are now well spaced apart... Once stung twice shy!
He he
E

We sure do learn from mistakes like that. I'm hoping to avoid any major mistakes this year. Dropping a full frame of bees last year was bad enough. Luckily, after stepping back...rather sharply....we stood and watched in wonder as all the bees climbed back onto the frame. I then picked it up and put it back in the hive...rather gingerly. Not one bee flew up.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I am sure most of you remember my pack of cards trick a couple of years ago.
E

I certainly do
There is stuff of nightmares on these pages.
We've all dropped frames..but some of this is extreme beekeeping

After one inspection in the summer there were thousands of bees under the OMF (learnt how to avoid this now, by the way) the following day, so Stan thought he might tidy up for me while I was away so tipped the hive forward to sweep the bees off the floor. Three supers and one 14x12 brood box slid off the floor onto the ground. He didn't tell me till the next inspection when we found the queen!

 

[Tremyfro]

I certainly do
There is stuff of nightmares on these pages.
We've all dropped frames..but some of this is extreme beekeeping

After one inspection in the summer there were thousands of bees under the OMF (learnt how to avoid this now, by the way) the following day, so Stan thought he might tidy up for me while I was away so tipped the hive forward to sweep the bees off the floor. Three supers and one 14x12 brood box slid off the floor onto the ground. He didn't tell me till the next inspection when we found the queen!

You don't need Hygienic queens....you have a husband to do the job for you...lol. Bet he was living on his nerves til you saw that queen!

 

[Michael Palmer]

We sure do learn from mistakes like that. I'm hoping to avoid any major mistakes this year. Dropping a full frame of bees last year was bad enough. Luckily, after stepping back...rather sharply....we stood and watched in wonder as all the bees climbed back onto the frame. I then picked it up and put it back in the hive...rather gingerly. Not one bee flew up.

When you handle as many frames as I do, dropping happens. What you did was exactly the correct thing to do.

 

[Tremyfro]

When you handle as many frames as I do, dropping happens. What you did was exactly the correct thing to do.

Why ....thank you kind sir! It was a langstroth frame...and as you would know...the ends of the top bars are tiny...unlike my other hives which have BS frames.

 

[For want of a better word]

Ah Mike...that sure had the hairs on my arms standing up!! Scary stuff. I dropped a frame last year...right by my feet. I just stepped back. All the bees did was climb back onto the frame ready to be lifted back into the hive...that's Carniolans for you...

Vicious bees if crossed out... lucky you had your usual 2 suits and a pair of extra thick leather gloves on!!


LOL
Yeghes da

 

[Tremyfro]

Vicious bees if crossed out... lucky you had your usual 2 suits and a pair of extra thick leather gloves on!!


LOL
Yeghes da

Lucky me...that someone told me about that....as I only have one beesuit and no leather gloves at all....