mean hive ,

[scottybee]

Hi all:
My hive turned mean this spring, when I say mean Really mean.Smoking helps but when I take off the inner cover about 30 to 50 of the girls hit me in the veil and begin stinging my gloves and don't let up.So I requeened on april 25th . Question : HOW LONG does it take before they calm down again?
scott

[Michael Bush]

It depends on the cause. If they are mean because a skunk bothers them every night, then it's until you shoot the skunk. If it's because they weren't happy with the queen sometimes they settle right down in a week or so. If strictly because of genetics it won't be until the new bees emerging are taking over as gaurd bees. I figure it takes about 3 days for the queen to get organized and start to lay. 21 days for those eggs to emerge. and 20 days before those bees start to be the guards. That's 44 days and you should notice a siginicant difference for sure.

If you're impatient, split the hive. A smaller, weaker hive is always less reactive than a stronger one.

[scottybee]

thanks michael!