To avoid using sugar-water that encourages robbing...
i stopped smoking ..... i knew i could do it
never even started smoking !!!!! thank god !!!!!
but really - i tossed the smoker about 1 1/2 years ago and never started it up again !!!! i just take a squirt bottle with sugar water and a few drops of LGO in it and spray the surface bees - i can work the hive and not get stung - they are so busy cleaning themselfs that they cat be bothered and also ---- why would you want to smoke the bees ??? this makes them Run upstairs - load up on honey - which is thick and takes time to suck up - for the third time - just to have them run back up in 20 minutes and put it back ????? seems redundent -
this way im not making them work at the same tasks over and over and over
i give them a treat and they are buzy cleaning themselves also they have a better chance of pulling mites if they are cleaning off sugar water
is there anyone else that has kicked the habbit???
but really - i tossed the smoker about 1 1/2 years ago and never started it up again !!!! i just take a squirt bottle with sugar water and a few drops of LGO in it and spray the surface bees - i can work the hive and not get stung - they are so busy cleaning themselfs that they cat be bothered and also ---- why would you want to smoke the bees ??? this makes them Run upstairs - load up on honey - which is thick and takes time to suck up - for the third time - just to have them run back up in 20 minutes and put it back ????? seems redundent -
this way im not making them work at the same tasks over and over and over
i give them a treat and they are buzy cleaning themselves also they have a better chance of pulling mites if they are cleaning off sugar water
is there anyone else that has kicked the habbit???
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What is the recipe for the sugar water/lemon grass oil? Have you tried just using water?
havent seen much robbing going on - i use maybe 3 squirts per hive -
its about 1 part sugar to 5 parts water
i havent tried just wanter - ??? seems like they can shed water off pretty quick - sugar seems to slow them down
i havent tried just wanter - ??? seems like they can shed water off pretty quick - sugar seems to slow them down
I add a little HBH to my water/suger as well....bees are calmer....but I do smoke them a little with a little juniper bark and thyme. Helps with the mites.its about 1 part sugar to 5 parts water
I wish I could quit smoking again, and I'm not talking about my bee smoker. Stupid, stupid, stupid...
Might try electronic cigarettes. It lets you get all the things you like about smoking without the carcinogens. I haven't had an analog cigarette in 6 months, and I can now "smoke" (vaporize) indoors in restaurants, bars, even hospitals.I wish I could quit smoking again, and I'm not talking about my bee smoker. Stupid, stupid, stupid...
Not to hijack the thread, but I seen these awhile ago in a truckstop... How are they?
How many hives are you working?
You can spritz if you want, but if I am going into a yard with multiple hives, I want smoke, especially if they are in a dearth.
You can spritz if you want, but if I am going into a yard with multiple hives, I want smoke, especially if they are in a dearth.
I wonder what the bees would do if I just lit up a Camel on the way to the hive? (besides sting the hell outta me?)
After all these years with the bees.....I will keep my smoker, thanks!
I am looking into getting a big propane powered smoker... I like smoke, especially on my hot hives that send out 50 guards as soon as you walk up to them. I can lay down a smoke screen and get to work. I haven't tried to squirt individual flying bees so I can't comment on how well that works.
I've never seen bees injured by smoke. I've seen lots killed by syrup... I guess you take your choice... but people h ave been using smoke for at least 6,000 years that we know of and probably a lot longer. Why? Because it works really well.
sooner or later you'll open a hive fighting a mouse, or one that ***** or possums have pestered all night, and you'll remember why folks use smoke. good luck, and be safe,mike
I wonder what the bees would do if I just lit up a Camel on the way to the hive? (besides sting the hell outta me?)
I've heard stories of old-timers who just used their cigar as their smoker to work bees.
It should be noted that tobacco smoke can knock foundress mites off bees. Too much tobacco smoke can knock your bees out though.
I've heard stories of old-timers who just used their cigar as their smoker to work bees.
It should be noted that tobacco smoke can knock foundress mites off bees. Too much tobacco smoke can knock your bees out though.
and the price of tobacco... - might consider ganja as a cheaper alternative
I'm not aware of dope having any beneficial qualities or abilities to knocking foundress mites off bees.
Tobacco is a LOT cheaper than dope. Throw a couple seeds in the ground, and have all the chemical free natural tobacco you want. Throw some dope seeds in the ground and you'll be feeding Bubba his cornflakes.
Tobacco is a LOT cheaper than dope. Throw a couple seeds in the ground, and have all the chemical free natural tobacco you want. Throw some dope seeds in the ground and you'll be feeding Bubba his cornflakes.
You can get a cheap cigar for a couple bucks, and it will last like 45 minutes. The government doesn't tax cigars as much as they do cigarettes and chewing tobacco, probably because rich people smoke cigars.and the price of tobacco... - might consider ganja as a cheaper alternative
Google up Dathe pipe. In Germany and Holland they used to use a pipe like device to puff smoke into the hives.
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