Do you Smoke your bees?

[LeonardS]

My installation of two packages last weekend, ended up to be a "real cluster"! The only good thing seemed to be how tame the bees were. When I do my inspections, do you think its necessary to use smoke if they continue to be so calm? With only two hives, it will take me longer to get the smoker going than it will take me to do the inspections and refill the top feeders.

[beeware10]

the bees will let you know when smoke is needed. as their numbers increase so will their defense nature.

[sqkcrk]

As beeware10 implied, listen to your bees. They will tell you what you can get away with. Have your smoker lit and at hand. If you don't have it, when the bees tell you that you should have used it, it will be too late.

To me, a Beekeeper w/out a smoker is like a Carpenter w/out a hammer. You don't always have to use it, but if you don't have it, and have it lit, you can't use it. You need to learn how to use your smoker. How to light it and keep it lit. How to use smoke when working your bees. How much is too little and too much. It takes practice.

[Island Apiaries]

I agree with sqkcrk. A smoker is an invaluable tool when used properly and I won't open a hive without having one ready. Using your smoker properly is very much a learned skill. A lot of new beekeepers use too much smoke. It does not take much to calm them down. I would advise finding an experienced beekeeper in your area that might be willing to let you work hives with them. A good mentor is one of the best resources a new beekeeper can have.

[indypartridge]

I've never found it necessary to have a smoker when installing packages. I always have the smoker lit and ready when inspecting hives.

[Adam Foster Collins]

I think a beginner is wisest to use smoke consistently for two reasons:

1 - You have it when you need it, and you learn to recognize those occasions.

2 - You get good at lighting one and keeping one lit along the way.

After a while, you really know how to use smoke, and can then make wiser decisions on when it's not necessary. Start by learning to use it well; then decide when not to use it.

How would you rather run into your first nasty hive? - with a smoker lit, or without one?


Adam

[LeonardS]

Thank you for all the good advice. I have not met any other beekeepers in my area, but will be attending a Bee Equipment Auction on Saturday, so I should be able to find some experienced people there. I bought 5 bags of smoker fuel/cotton from Mann Lake and will practice lighting it on Friday.

[sqkcrk]

Smoking bees is good for the beekeeper. If one reacts to bee agression by picking up ones smoker and puffing smoke at the offending bees, the least one is doing is not reacting to the bees by jumping around slapping at the bees. Having something to do, like smoking bees w/ a smoker calms the beekeeper. Some times as much as the bees. Which calms the bees too.

[LeonardS]

I have the Mann Lake vented suit so I am not worried about stings. The suit allowed me to concentrate on what I was doing while my package installs were not going well. The only thing I don't like is squishing bees when trying to add the feeder or cover. I would brush them off and by the time I would get the feeder ready to set down, there would be 3-4 more on top of the box. Maybe a little smoke would keep them from landing/crawling up on the box.

[eqnox]

Smoking the bees when installing packages isn't a good idea. Smoke drives them to find honey. Packages don't have a food source so it can upset the bees if you smoke them. A light spray with sugar water works if it isn't too cold out.

[Tom B]

Using a smoker has added to the adventures that I like to call "mistakes of beekeeping", of which I am the master. I have all out-apiaries so I carry all of my beekeeping equipment in the back of my pickup, which has a cap over the bed. Between bee-yards, I stuff some grass into the end of the smoker so that it is ready to go when I get to the next yard. Occasionally, I don't use enough grass or it falls out, and then the whole back of the truck fills up with smoke and billows out behind me while I am going down the road. People point and shout and I wave back and smile!

[hpm08161947]

Smoking the bees when installing packages isn't a good idea. Smoke drives them to find honey. .

Don't believe there is any real evidence for that.... just hearsay. I know they stick their heads in cells... but not to eat honey.

[StevenG]

For your smoker, use the fine paper that is between your foundation in the box of foundation, as a starter. I also use burlap, get the smoker going first time, quickly, every time. If you don't use foundation and have that fine paper, try a piece of newspaper as your starter. Lightly crumple it in your smoker, put a match to it, when it gets going good, add your fuel carefully. You'll be an expert in no time!
Regards,
Steven

[NasalSponge]

Ditto to Steven! Burlap and newspaper works every time. And to the OP's question.....almost always!

[max2]

"Do you Smoke your bees? "

Now that was a new one to me - never tried. Givin' up smoking 25 years ago.

[LeonardS]

I figured that comment would be the first one I received.........