[Dale]

Trying a few different things with a Queen rearing Nuc this week and only needed to open that Nuc today. Didn't light the smoker so lit another Cigar. Not the usual brand I use with them. A puff at the entrance and a puff on top when opening.

One thing I learned, they don't like Phillies Cigars, a few nailed me in the neck. Had a stiff neck today, the kind you get when you sleep wrong. My neck does feel better now.

 

[Fred Bee]

Smoking cigars is apparently hazardous to your health in more ways than, previously thought. I say go back to using a traditional bee smoker.

 

[G3farms]

I used to have some of the really cranky little black german bees and one old beek told me to roll up a tobbacco leaf or two in my smoker material to help calm them down. It seemed to help a little bit anyway.

Now nobody around here raises tobbacco anymore including us.

G3

 

[Hambone]

Try Blunts.

 

[bruce todd]

Very funny. Hambone.

 

[Countryboy]

Bees hate exhaled breath. They may have been responding to your breath, even though you were puffing smoke.

I have heard of old time beekeepers who just used their cigar as a smoker. I'm guessing they just let the smoke from the cigar waft across the bees, rather than blowing on them.

Too much tobacco in your smoker can knock the bees unconscious.

 

[ehallspqr]

Thanks Dale I was thinking about trying this but your experience changed my mind. :scratch: Seriously they do hate being blown on. Its the Co2 in your breath, its makes them crazy. Their instinct tells them its a large animal coming to rob their honey. Many insects can detect Co2. Thats what mosquitoes use to home in on you for a meal. Bees, it just makes them mad and you end up with a stiff neck.

 

[Batman]

Ham,
I had heard that burlap has trace of hemp in it.

Craig