BEE-L Archives

Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

BEE-L@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
TxBeeFarmer <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 9 May 2003 09:27:53 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (29 lines)
While I'm far from an expert, I've successfully requeened SERIOUSLY
aggressive colonies somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 times.  Were they
AHB? Probably - or at least a mix.  I like Peter Edwards method of moving
the colony so you only have to deal with younger bees.  Will have to give it
a try in the future.

To begin, get suited up to the max with an extra layer of clothing under
your suit!  Don't do this alone and have your car close by in case you get
into trouble. Using smoke and sugar water to calm the bees doesn't help a
great deal, but it does help a little.  I wouldn't advise doing this to more
than one colony in a day.  The experience will be very intimidating.  Choose
your assistant carefully.

Here's how we did it.  Simply take the brood chamber frames and shake them
out onto a piece of plywood in front of the hive - boxes and bottom board
too.  The queen is usually easy to find as they all march back to the hive.
Once the hive has been open for a while and several frames have been shaken,
the bees tend to "reduce" their attack.  After finding the queen, put the
hive back together and wait 3 days before introducing a caged queen.

I can hear a lot of you saying this won't work and they will reject the new
queen.  What can I say, it has worked for me.

(West Texas) Mark

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

ATOM RSS1 RSS2