An ancient beekeeper advised me that "Smoking is bad for both bees and keeper."
Sadly, I've lost touch. He's probably propping up a bar somewhere. Or dead. Or both.
Showing posts with label smoker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smoker. Show all posts
20 June 2017
Smoking kills
An ancient beekeeper advised me that "Smoking is bad for both bees and keeper."
Sadly, I've lost touch. He's probably propping up a bar somewhere. Or dead. Or both.
11 June 2011
New learnings
Sneaking a couple of cigarettes into the smoker is the latest Top Tip. Apparently the nicotine stupefies the bees super-fast.
These New Learnings - research-based, apparently - immediately raise questions. Who on earth thought of trying nicotine as a smoke additive, and which tobacco brand works best?
01 September 2007
Super duper
Picked up the top super full of honey and miraculously empty of bees - the Porter escapes had actually worked.
There were a few dopey-looking bees still on the comb, but a quick blast from the smoker (and a few unfortunate gouts of flame, but there you are) and Hey Presto!
The advanced kit list for transport included two black plastic bags and an old wine box, which seems to work well. I replaced the super with one filled with blank foundation. Something tells me that this may be a mistake, as the bees may now expend their remaining energies trying to build up stores when there really isn't any pollen or nectar at this end of the year.
14 April 2007
Bees in the Antipodes
Ngaio has sent me a link to her excellent site "Bees in the Antipodes."
She asked me "You sound like me - I am still trying to sort out how to hold smoker ( preferably going),hive tool and camera, with huge bulky gloves on whilst opening hive.. any ideas ?"
Well, speaking from a position of profound Incompetence, (a) I forgot the camera last time anyway, and (b) I wear lovely yellow Marigold brand washing-up gloves, so it's a bit easier - and I use a tripod for the camera.
The secret to the smoker is cardboard, and LOTS of it. When we caught the swarm, Peter (formerly a Regional Bee Inspector) stuffed his smoker with cardboard and had a mini-inferno on his hands before closing up and smoking with it.
By the way, Ngaio is in Aotearoa, New Zealand. How about that!
09 April 2007
Time to read up
Along with Colony Collapse Disorder and the Spring Dwindling, I had been expecting the hive to be less busy, or even dead... No way!
During an early inspection this hot Easter weekend (8am - the bees fairly sluggish), I found (a) bees building comb up the outside of the hive between the lifts and the boxes, (b) the super with foundation added last week almost completely built up into comb and (c) the brood and super, acting as a combined brood box, absolutely jammed with brood.
This was a full inspection, right down to brushing the hive floor, examining the brood comb and generally sorting out stuff. As far as I can tell, the main problem is that there is no problem. They are BUZZING!
Time to read up on what's happening. I have a sneaky feeling that they are about to swarm. Lots of drone cells, though I could not find any queen cells. To keep them busy, I have replaced one brood frame with a new blank frame of foundation.
Disappointingly little comedy Incompetence. I managed to gas myself with the smoker, with no effect on the bees, and several times had to traipse back to the shed having forgotten some key piece of equipment. No pictures this time, I forgot the camera.
During an early inspection this hot Easter weekend (8am - the bees fairly sluggish), I found (a) bees building comb up the outside of the hive between the lifts and the boxes, (b) the super with foundation added last week almost completely built up into comb and (c) the brood and super, acting as a combined brood box, absolutely jammed with brood.
This was a full inspection, right down to brushing the hive floor, examining the brood comb and generally sorting out stuff. As far as I can tell, the main problem is that there is no problem. They are BUZZING!
Time to read up on what's happening. I have a sneaky feeling that they are about to swarm. Lots of drone cells, though I could not find any queen cells. To keep them busy, I have replaced one brood frame with a new blank frame of foundation.
Disappointingly little comedy Incompetence. I managed to gas myself with the smoker, with no effect on the bees, and several times had to traipse back to the shed having forgotten some key piece of equipment. No pictures this time, I forgot the camera.
20 November 2006
Of mice and men - and bees
Finally got around to putting the mouse guard in place at the front of the hive.
It was a very cold day, around 10C or lower, and there were no bees flying at all, and I couldn't see or hear any bees.
The mouse guard is the normal entrance bar, reversed. This meant first unsticking the entrance bar, by giving it quite a clout and prying it free with the hive tool (the bees had glued it in place with propolis).
As soon as I hit the hive, a great blob of bees appeared at the entrance, looking for trouble to guard the hive from attack.
Fortunately, it was so cold that the bees were very lethargic, and though they were flying up to attack it was a bit half-hearted.
Once again, though, the smoker went out!
That's it for the winter now. Fingers crossed, they will survive the winter and will be happy and healthy in March or so.
It was a very cold day, around 10C or lower, and there were no bees flying at all, and I couldn't see or hear any bees.
The mouse guard is the normal entrance bar, reversed. This meant first unsticking the entrance bar, by giving it quite a clout and prying it free with the hive tool (the bees had glued it in place with propolis).
As soon as I hit the hive, a great blob of bees appeared at the entrance, looking for trouble to guard the hive from attack.
Fortunately, it was so cold that the bees were very lethargic, and though they were flying up to attack it was a bit half-hearted.
Once again, though, the smoker went out!
That's it for the winter now. Fingers crossed, they will survive the winter and will be happy and healthy in March or so.
25 August 2006
First time hive inspection
Completed my first solo hive inspection, and nerve-wracking it was too...
After checking ten times that I had done the suit up properly, when I got to the hive I found I had left the right legging unzipped. Bugger.
When I had taken the roof off, taken the feeder and crown board off, and taken the super off... the smoker ran out of smoke. Buggeration.
The next-door neighbour then made a point of shouting at her dog, "Come away Pebbles, you've already been stung once." At this point I rushed a bit, and the bees went potty. It's all going Pete Tong.
The bees had a good old go at me as I checked a few frames, and generally made me want to go away - probably exactly what they wanted, too. They look happy enough though, no queen cells and lots of new foundation being drawn out with honey in them.
Good grief it's hot in a full bee suit!