This is my first year beekeeping. I bought a single package of bees in april. The bees have been slow getting started, and with only one hive, there has been little I could do to help them. Last week, a local commercial beekeeper sold me 5 8-frame established, strong hives. I immediately added supers. The brood supers are in rough shape, but I plan on building new ones. I went to do an inspection, and it is obvious that these hives havn't been inspected recently. The frames are all glued together. It is also important to note that I put all five hives right next to each other. There is almost always a lot of activity in front of the hives, but it doesn't appear to be robbing. I planned on taking a few strong frames from these new hives to help boost my original hive. Not far into the inspection of the first of the new hives, I was stung 5 or six times within a matter of minutes through my clothing. I didn't do anything unusual to provoke them. I closed up the hive and aborted. They seem to be extra aggressive. My first thought is to requeen, but I don't know how the heck I am going to find the old queens without having a sting-fest. My second thought is that the hives are too close together, and they need to be moved farther apart because it is possible that I tried to inspect during a robbing situation, even though I don't believe that was the case. These hives also seem to be trying to rob my weaker hive, which I have averted by reducing the entrance. Any suggestions on what to do? I thought I might just get some thick coveralls and use my gloves and suck it up and have a queen killing party.
Eric
Eric