When starting out allways use smoke. Smoke the entrance and under the lid. When opening the top listen and observe. With smoke and careful motion all the bees have still got their tails in the air this is a bad sign. If a little smoke gets their tails down and everything seems ok but when you go to remove a frame and they make a slight roar this is a bad sign. Allways work from the outside to center to keep from mashing queen. Try not to mash any bees. Don't force frames down in the hive. Adjust the frames so the frames will slide in without mashing bees. If you are working your bees and many are buzzing and hitting your veil this is a bad sign. If everytime you remove a frame bees are flying up in your face this is a bad sign. Smoke any stings you recieve even if on your suit and you didn't feel the sting. Bees can be worked with all of the above carefully but if you are starting out best left alone to another day. Beekeeping should be a rewarding and pleasant experience. I have had the experience of cleaning up bear damage. Those bees are in a foul mood for weeks. If a beginner treats his bees with rough handling by dropping frames etc. then those bees will be in a bad mood next time the hive is opened if a few weeks haven't passed. Usually a bright sunny day is best and the middle of the day when the field bees are gone is best but use the above as a test of their mood before proceding. Many times beginning beekeepers blame the bees for their mistakes. Happy Beekeeping! Bob Harrison U.S.A.