Basics: Stacking Supers

[Hobie]

Does anyone have any good techniques for restacking supers without squishing the bees between them? Seems that, after I smoke, brush, whatever, they run back out in the time it takes me to pick up the super. I try lowering gently and moving the super back and forth to give them time to leave, but I alway seem to crush a few, and I'm guilt-ridden.

[Pete0]

If I have a lot of bees on the top bars and edges of the supers I'll set the box on diagonally and then slowly rotate until in line with the box below. Most times you'll only lose a few. It is impossible for me to even open a hive without killing some bees. Good thing there are so many of them!

Good luck,

Pete0
Bena, VA

[Dwight]

In populous hive its near impossible not to kill a few. But considering thousands emerge from cells everyday the three or four you kill occassionally is inconsequential.

[ScadsOBees]

Keep in mind, too, that each bee in and of itself isn't a whole organism without the hive, it is more like a cell in your body. Kill a cell or a few and you are fine. Sure, it may hurt a little.

They only live a few weeks anyway, so you aren't doing any significant damage.

(doesn't help you not kill any but maybe it will help the guilt)
-rick

[chemistbert]

I never have time to worry too much. Just remember they are insects after all. If I don't get the queen I figure I am doing OK.

[Hobie]

I guess it's the Buddhist in me... I just want to do no harm to creatures that have done nothing to me. Mosquitoes and deer flies, on the other hand, are a completely different story.

[beegee]

I hate the sound of crunching bees, but it's best to just go ahead and set the super on there and move on.

[DChap]

I start the box on one edge and then push it forward, if the bees don't move out of the way they are just pushed over the front edge.

Blessed Bee
Doug

[Michael Bush]

If you cock it a bit skewed so it only contacts on four spots and set it down and then slowly slide it back straight you will squish less. Slow, of course is the name of the game. A smoker and a brush also help to move bees out of the way when they are really thick.

[sierrabees]

Before you get too guilt ridden, remember that if that bee got it in her head to sting you she would also be dead. If it matters so little to her it shouldn't matter that much to you.

The previous response about the diagonal approach and rotating the super into place works pretty well and rarely kills manny bees, especially if you take your time rotating it and give them a chance to get out of the way.

[Hobie]

All good advice, thanks! The whole thing hit me hard last time when I saw a bee frantically trying to "save" the backside of another that was protruding from between the supers. Broke my heart.

Just received my Apiguard in the mail, so I will get a chance to try the diagonal/rotate method if it ever stops raining.

[ August 30, 2006, 07:28 AM: Message edited by: Hobie ]