thorn
Drone Bee
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,472
- Reaction score
- 487
- Location
- An Essex boy stranded in Leeds
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- It varies.
What a difference a week or two can make. Two weeks ago, when we were having to time our inspections to avoid the rain, one colony was extremely nasty, boiling up when we inspected, and with half a dozen bees or more following us back to our cars. Two or three other hives also let us know they didn't like being inspected, although not to the same degree.
We made arrangements to move the angry lot but the bad weather and my bee buddy being poorly caused a delay. When I checked on them last week they seemed calmer, though I didn't do a full inspection. We decided to see what they were like this week.
On going to them yesterday they were as nice as pie, ignoring us as we went through the hive and just getting on with bringing the harvest in. The other grumpy colonies were the same.
Better weather, different forage, different gloves, who knows? But it shows that if possible an angry hive should be given a few days before an intervention.
We made arrangements to move the angry lot but the bad weather and my bee buddy being poorly caused a delay. When I checked on them last week they seemed calmer, though I didn't do a full inspection. We decided to see what they were like this week.
On going to them yesterday they were as nice as pie, ignoring us as we went through the hive and just getting on with bringing the harvest in. The other grumpy colonies were the same.
Better weather, different forage, different gloves, who knows? But it shows that if possible an angry hive should be given a few days before an intervention.