Thanks for the compliments, but I am just learning. On the Ammonium however
I have more than 5 years of experience, and it works ... The only draw back
is the smoker. The ammonium generates lots of heat that end up destroying
the smoker. Our smokers last for a year and end up in owfull conditions.


> Could you please explain in detail how you do it?
>


>
> What is already in the smoker
>

You have to have a well light smoker.  We use pine needles or eucaliptus
barks.


> How much ammonium nitrate to add
>

A soup spoon full (20 gr?). In reality we put two times what ever ends up in
equilibrium on the tip of the hive tool.


> How to know when things are right to puff
>

You start hearing like bubbling inside the smoker and the smoke turns very
dark.

On smoker will last for some 10 nucs (5 frames ones). Therefore we work in
batches. We place 10 caged queens, then sleep the 10 nucs, then free the 10
queens, then light the smoker again for the following batch of 10.


> How much to smoke the hive and when to stop
>

We place the virgin queen in a cage. The cage on top of the frames. Lid on
top of all this.

We puff a couple of times in the entrance plus a couple of puff under the
lid. You hear "silence" after some 30 seconds of application.


> How to know when they are 'asleep'
>

silence is our sign, but if you open the lid you will see them all dead
(sleep).


> How long they take to recover
>

They recover in between 5 to 10 minutes. It is important not to take frames
out or do any manipulations because you risk of crashing the bees.


> Any adverse effects
>

I haven't notice any.

As th gas that is liberated is nitrous oxide better not to inhal it or you
will end up laughing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous_oxide#Production



> What happens if you use too much
>

The first time I tried it I sleep 12 times the same hive during a day. Af
the 12th time I start noticing some of the older bees dead. I think is quite
secure. You will only use it once in the bees life.



> Do the bees lose their sense of location?
>

I think so.


> Any mortality?
>

No if you use it once.



-- 
Juanse Barros J.
APIZUR S.A.
Carrera 695
Gorbea - CHILE
+56-45-271693
08-3613310
http://apiaraucania.blogspot.com/
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