View Full Version : Bad bees?
I installed a new package last spring and the bees were so docile I could give'm a little smoke and work them without a headnet or beesuit...in a short sleeve shirt sometimes!
This year I have the Jim Fischer "Kamakazee" bees and been stung more times than I like to think about. I now wear full gear and they are chewing at my suit to get in and sting me.
I'm getting real tired of this! I am about to "burn" that hive. No fun anymore. :mad:
oregonsparkie
04-05-2005, 08:42 PM
When bees get aggressive many times it is an indication of something wrong in the hive.
One thing you can do is re-queen.
Michael Bush
04-05-2005, 08:52 PM
Requeening will take care of it almost all the time, unless it's a skunk, a opossum or kids throwing rocks. Look for scratches and little wet piles of bees in front of the hive. A skunk will get them in a frenzy like that.
I would not tolorate bees like that. You need to do something and if there's no sign of other problems such as skunks I would requeen immediately, or as soon as you can get a queen. they COULD be queenless or they could have a failing queen or they could just be mean genetics.
No animal problems. I just did a detailed inspection of this hive and the queen is there but she's not doing so good in my book. I really think they are upset with the queen. I did try to find a queen but if the commercial guys haven't bought them all up or put a reserve on them its just too early to get them in my area, or extremely expensive for one $40.00, (Hawiian queen).
I guess I will just have to armour up until I can re-queen...or again...burn the hive!
I have to go lick my wounds...one got me in the ear tonight.
oregonsparkie
04-06-2005, 07:14 AM
Is the queen laying at all?? Is so how much is she laying??
If you can not find a queen then you can always try raising your own, but this will take some time.
SuperBee
04-06-2005, 07:48 AM
Hey Jeff,
Sorry to hear your bees have turned mad. Your message reminded me of a friend who upon having his bees turn mad took out the queen and stomped her. Burning the hive was probably high on his list as well.
power napper
04-06-2005, 08:44 AM
Hello Jim
You do not say whether or not you have another hive, if you do and all is okay you may want to consider combining the nasty hive (after killing the queen) with a pleasant hive(with a newspaper between colonies). Just a thought to get you through the "no queen availabe" situation, when you can get a new queen just shake off a swarm and introduce your new queen for a new hive. Just a thought.