Tim said:
  NEVER try and open a hive in
the rain.  They boiled out, up the arm and now the wife has 7 stings in the
face/head/neck area.

I work hives in the rain every time we get a wet spring. This spring we
moved bees into and out of Apples in the rain (open entrances). Installed
queens and fed in the rain plus a bunch of minor chores. If I did not work
in the rain I would be farther behind than I am.

I do  wear a veil on a rainy day as the bees can be testy on a cloudy rainy
day. When the rain is really coming down we sit in the truck but when the
rain slows we go back to work. Several days this spring I have had to get
out of wet clothes at lunch and change to a dry bee suit.

I try to not make splits in the rain but have done so when the temperature
is warm and only a light mist coming down.

Use smoke and smoke the entrance. Crack the top and lightly smoke. Wait a
minute and then slowly lift the lid.

Without smoke on a rainy day the bees will roar when the lid is opened and
many times put their stingers in the air and many will fly out to sting you
or your suit.

Bob

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