ooops, started war of the hives :(

[DRJCKB]

Boy, I think I made a big boo boo :( Last Thursday I manipulated my hives (swaped the deep brood chamber with the upper deep) I took a few frames of honey (they were full). I extracted honey and then put the frames in front of my hives (5) to let them clean it up.... it has been very dry here, but beautiful... and NOW my bees have been very very very aggresive. They have been attacking my neighbor while he is doing his yard work and have tagged me a couple dozen times as I make my way by the colonies to the chicken coop.

Last year there was no problem, in fact no one was stung, let alone tagged as they walked by.

The queens are the same as last year, yada yada...

Do you think it is the honey I took and/or put in front of their hives for clean up? (promoting stealing)

Do you think it is the dry weather?

Just curious... and if anyone has made this mistake or had this happen- how long will it take to settle down, normally?

Thanks,

DJ in Pittsburgh

[onlygoodSHBisdeadone]

Are they robbing?..active fighting with bees dragging intruders out of hive? If not sounds like you may have done a queen in now they are restless because one is queenless. I.D. hot hive and inspect for eggs/young larvee or q-cells on comb face. If they are not actively robbing frame should be cleaned in a day and any ill effect done with. If you ever need to leave frames out to be cleaned and not put in a temp box on a hive be sure to place it 100 yards or so from apiary so robbing is less likely to get started.
If they are robbing and no steps are taken to stop it will continue till hive is robbed out or something better,, sweeter gets thier attention.

[ May 01, 2006, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: onlygoodSHBisdeadone ]

[power napper]

The girls lose their manners if robbing starts, it is nasty for sure.

[DRJCKB]

I have seen a little dragging about.... I saw the queen before reassmebling- I may have squished her when putting hive back together.... another lesson learned, keep the frame with queen in a box so you know where she is... always learning, but I sure hope they settle down so I don't have to move them- my neighbor is starting to whine (I don't blame him, actualy)

[Michael Bush]

Sounds like there was robbing going on. Minimize the entrances. Split the hives and they will calm down a lot. Small hives are never as defensive.