Liquid smoke
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I have no experience with it, but it reminds me of an aerosol smoke that used to be sold in the 1970's, or thereabouts. Idea was you simply sprayed the "smoke" and it calmed the bees. It was convenient, but didn't really work all that well, and was more expensive than a regular smoker. I've read that some beeks use HBH in a sugar syrup spray to calm their bees. Don't know about that either. I'm too cheap to use anything but smoke. :shhhh:
Regards,
Steven
Regards,
Steven
I just placed an order from Brushy Mtn. yesterday and included 2 tubes of this product. I thought it may be worth a try - I have some out yards in CRP. It always makes me nervous playing with fire in that thick, tall grassland; all I need is to start a prairie fire. Also I remember the one time I thought my smoker was extinguished and completely smoked up the interior of my Blazer. At least I was using hickory pellets and it smelled a little like bacon being processed... well, sort of. I'll let you know in a few months if it works.
Someone asked me about the effectiveness this product today. I've never used it. Has anyone had a chance to try it during their early season inspections yet?
I was thinking it would be useful when we had red flag warnings for wildfires last week.
link to Brushy Mtn catalog:
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Liquid-Bee-Smoke/productinfo/470/
I was thinking it would be useful when we had red flag warnings for wildfires last week.
link to Brushy Mtn catalog:
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Liquid-Bee-Smoke/productinfo/470/
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I've used it and have found it handy for quick inspections. A little goes along way. It's also handy if it's a bit breezy.
I still fire up the smoker if I'm going to do a lot of manipulation.
According to 'Beekeeping for Dummies' it'll stop a robbing frenzy instantly but I've not had the occasion to try it for that yet.
Thankfully.
I still fire up the smoker if I'm going to do a lot of manipulation.
According to 'Beekeeping for Dummies' it'll stop a robbing frenzy instantly but I've not had the occasion to try it for that yet.
Thankfully.
I tried it, but I didn't like that the hive smelled like smoke a lot longer and it didn't seem to work quite as well as a smoker.
Real smoke is preferential, but during fire season for some locations, liquid smoke works well enough and is a definite peace of mind. Some land owners are very particular about fire risk for good reason. Hickory or mesquite from the grocery store works just fine when diluted.
Same experience as Michael. Its kind of like Fisher Bee Quick - it kind of works but not nearly as effective as butyric. I have considered spraying some on a cloth and then setting brood boxes on top for frame manipulations. Butyric is too strong but liquid smoke may be just strong enough to prevent the bees from clustering on the bottom of boxes and then getting crushed when placed back on top of another box.
I think if I was concerned about fire hazards I would keep a tin box or ammo box handy and be certain to top off the smoker with a little wet grass to act as a filter by holding back any embers. When you set the smoker down it could be placed into a tin box or ammo box. I use an ammo box because they seal hermetically and therefore extinguish the smoker without stinking up the truck.
I think if I was concerned about fire hazards I would keep a tin box or ammo box handy and be certain to top off the smoker with a little wet grass to act as a filter by holding back any embers. When you set the smoker down it could be placed into a tin box or ammo box. I use an ammo box because they seal hermetically and therefore extinguish the smoker without stinking up the truck.
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A lot of people are using water mist instead of smoke. Some with a bit of apple cider vinegar. I've never done it myself, but many do and argue that it works as well as smoke.
The forum at biobees.com has a lot on the subject.
Adam
The forum at biobees.com has a lot on the subject.
Adam
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297 Posts
One use I found for the stuff is if I lightly mist MYSELF with it before working the bees they tend to keep their distance from me. Really.
>A lot of people are using water mist instead of smoke. Some with a bit of apple cider vinegar. I've never done it myself, but many do and argue that it works as well as smoke.
I always wonder if the people who think this is as effective ever mastered using smoke properly. Smoke should be cool, not a flame thrower, should be used judiciously, not filling the whole hive. If used judiciously I have never seen anything (and I've tried them all) work as well as smoke.
I always wonder if the people who think this is as effective ever mastered using smoke properly. Smoke should be cool, not a flame thrower, should be used judiciously, not filling the whole hive. If used judiciously I have never seen anything (and I've tried them all) work as well as smoke.
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Interesting. I have read about the use of water as I mentioned, and of course I was intrigued, as it would be a lot easier.
But I just can't bring myself to switch. The smoker has always been a part of beekeeping as I know it, and it works. Some proponents of water will argue that smoke is so tough on the bees. But I don't get that sense. - unless, as you say, you over use it. And you can tell when you've gone too far.
Adam
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I tried using a mister once. The bees took absolutely no notice of it whatsoever. Not a pleasant experience for me or the bees!
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Forgive my ignorance, but how exactly do you mist with water without first opening the hive? Even if it worked perfectly, you'd have to hit the bees with it before being stung. It would seem one of the advantages to smoke is that you put a few puffs at each entrance and then wait a couple of minutes before opening the hive and setting off the alarms?
I have heard of success with misting with very light syrup when relocating a swarm. It supposedly keeps them busy cleaning each other in transit and not as likely to fly off when re-established. I've never done it, but I can see where this could be helpful.
Four hives, two 10-frame & two 8-frame boxes. Two screened bottoms, two solid - all doing well!
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I have used light sugar syrup in a pump bottle with some success. You turn it to the finest mist and spray the entrance area first, including the bees. Very quickly, the bees will be focused on licking up the syrup and getting it off of each other. Then you gently open the top cover and mist all the bees on top of the frames. Again, they get to licking each other, and stay pretty calm.
In my opinion, it will not slow down a hot hive, but if you have pretty calm bees, it does work. But it is not as effective as a smoker. With a smoker, I can drive the bees down before putting a super on or whatever, whereas they don't run from the sugar spray, they just lick everything like crazy. Might be worth trying, if you are in a hot, dry location. Bringing a small extinguisher might be a good idea, too!
In my opinion, it will not slow down a hot hive, but if you have pretty calm bees, it does work. But it is not as effective as a smoker. With a smoker, I can drive the bees down before putting a super on or whatever, whereas they don't run from the sugar spray, they just lick everything like crazy. Might be worth trying, if you are in a hot, dry location. Bringing a small extinguisher might be a good idea, too!
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