Very sticky hive problem

[angeJ]

Can anyone suggest a remedy for propolis making inspections difficult? Before I'm half way through the BB frames my fingers are so stuck with propolis I can hardly manipulate the frames. The only thought so far is changing my gloves half way through. Also how can propolis be cleaned off marigolds?

 

[sjt]

Washing soda solution cleans propolis as well as killing off pathogens, add a little washing up liquid to the mix and it works even better.
I think propolis production in excess is down to the genes of the queen. I have this problem with one of my hives and I'm hoping to re-queen sooner rather than later.

 

[Heather]

Totally agree. Washing soda is the way to go. ..
I had one colony that was so difficult to manage as strength was needed due to excessive propolis.. I gave it away to a new beekeeper and he grins every time he sees me... they are a great colony otherwise, non swarmy, honey galore .. and gentle. I could have requeened but lost an otherwise good queen.. so his gain.

 

[Arfermo]

Can anyone suggest a remedy for propolis making inspections difficult? Before I'm half way through the BB frames my fingers are so stuck with propolis I can hardly manipulate the frames. The only thought so far is changing my gloves half way through. Also how can propolis be cleaned off marigolds?

Try dusting gloves with talc during inspections?

 

[dexter's shed]

it still happens to me, but my mentor showed me, when inspecting a hive, always use your hive tool to scrape it off, not cleaning only makes it worst the next time

 

[pargyle]

One of my colonies could propolise for England, what I tend do do is wear marigolds with a pair of nitriles over the top ... you can change the nitriles very easily if they get sticky and put a fresh pair over the top of the marigolds without exposing your hands. On the occasions where I've had a really sticky hive to deal with (brace comb with honey in it) I've put two or three pairs over the top of the marigolds and peel them off as they get sticky, they are quite thin so it doesn't limit your 'feel' of the hive. The Blue nitriles I buy are sufficiently robust to put them back on after the inspection and wash them in washing soda and washing up liquid to reuse them. Don't try and wash them without putting them back on though ... If you are affluent they only work out at a few pence a pair and you can just chuck them away ..

I find that the blue nitriles will stand up to propolis - I tried putting the cheaper latex ones over the marigolds but as soon as they get stuck to something with propolis they rapidly tear and then it's a real PIA to put another pair on.

 

[YorkshireBees]

My colonies vary hugely from those that appear to keep the frames pretty clean to those that glue everything together with double amounts the second I put the crownboard back on after an inspection!!!

I use nitril gloves so it's not a problem and as suggested washing soda clean propolis.

 

[kazmcc]

At Dusty's apiary, we have a tub of water and washing soda mix to wash hive tools and stuff between hives. It also comes in handy when removing brace comb and getting sticky, we just wash out hands in it with gloves on.

 

[angeJ]

Thanks for all your suggestions - I used them all and it definitely made it a bit easier- especially the extra glove layer. I also read up in Alan Campions 'Bees at the bottom of the garden' to use methylated spirits which is quick and effective - obviously could be a bit of a hazard near the smoker!

 

[thenovice]

Have you checked your hive construction? Often excessive propolising is caused by wrong beespace. check your frames are fitting snugly in the box and are centered. Also, as suggested, scrape off propolis as it will mess up beespace and only make it worse...

I had this with my first hive where the rails where slightly miss-posisitoned. Problem was solved in spring when I changed the box over.

 

[Swarm]

And there are those bees to whom beespace is something to be disregarded, or at least that's how it feels sometimes. I once had a colony that was a treacle factory, peeling the crown board off left long strands of propolis and the end lugs were lost in pools of the stuff. The inside of the hive was a beautiful reddish colour and the smell was amazing.

 

[angeJ]

Have you checked your hive construction? Often excessive propolising is caused by wrong beespace. check your frames are fitting snugly in the box and are centered. Also, as suggested, scrape off propolis as it will mess up beespace and only make it worse...

I had this with my first hive where the rails where slightly miss-posisitoned. Problem was solved in spring when I changed the box over.

Thanks for this. It makes sense too. Im sure I do have the wrong beespace. They are not snug as they are a mix of older ones my original nucleus arrived on which have plastic spacers on (plus some propolis) and my own new manleys. Also because it's all sticky it's hard to push them snugly together without jarring and winding up the bees. I clearly need to give bee space more care.

 

[psafloyd]

Washing soda solution cleans propolis as well as killing off pathogens, add a little washing up liquid to the mix and it works even better.
I think propolis production in excess is down to the genes of the queen. I have this problem with one of my hives and I'm hoping to re-queen sooner rather than later.

I don't see propolis as a problem –-it's just anther harvest.

 

[psafloyd]

Can anyone suggest a remedy for propolis making inspections difficult? Before I'm half way through the BB frames my fingers are so stuck with propolis I can hardly manipulate the frames. The only thought so far is changing my gloves half way through. Also how can propolis be cleaned off marigolds?

Try having a bucket of water with a soda solution with you as you inspect.

But do scrape off the propolis as you go if possible and save it. Someone will be glad of it even if you are not.

 

[pargyle]

But do scrape off the propolis as you go if possible and save it. Someone will be glad of it even if you are not.

I do it every inspection on the colony that really does like to stick everything together - it's not too bad when it's still gummy and the hive tool will remove it .. leave it for a week or two and it goes really hard. You can see why it was used as a varnish ... and still is by me !

 

[KiwiLad]

Any particular concentration of washing soda solution? Optimum ratio of soda to water?

 

[B+.]

Any particular concentration of washing soda solution? Optimum ratio of soda to water?

1Kg to 5 litres of water http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=711

 

[KiwiLad]

1Kg to 5 litres of water http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=711

Thanks for the reference. I'm now not sure which is the key element for removing propolis. The posts here seem to suggest it's the soda, but the NBU say "...with a dash of washing up liquid to help clean off propolis". Or am I misreading this, and it's the combination of soda and detergent that does the trick? I'm asking because washing soda is proving damned hard to find here.

 

[MuswellMetro]

i have one hive like that and agree it is dififuclt but i change all the brood frames each year, first inspection after winter is a nightmare! but i did a bailey this year (on OSR) and will do a shook swarm next year as i have it to a non OSR site

i also find Fairy bathroom (with bleach) spray very good for field cleaning of plastic gloves and hive tools then a rinse in the soda bucket

 

[B+.]

which is the key element for removing propolis.

washing liquid won't do it by itself