Author Topic: Installing Package Bees (Read 10264 times)

LazyBkpr · « **on:** May 18, 2014, 08:58:06 am »

Installing packages the Outyard way.

A video put together for my getting started web page, complete with getting stung and swearing.... maybe it should be om AFV?

Make sure to watch all the credits!

tefer2 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2014, 10:15:10 am »

Where's your smoker? I always smoke my hands and exposed body parts if going in without any protection.

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2014, 10:18:55 am »

Package installation is one of the few times I don't smoke. I want the workers focused on her. They usually are disoriented enough as it is.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2014, 11:23:20 am »

If you watch the vid you will see me use it on myself. I did smoke my hands, face and clothing VERY well before starting.

tefer2 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 18, 2014, 09:59:11 pm »

Just using on your self, great job on the video!

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #5 on:** May 18, 2014, 10:42:29 pm »

Yes, just on myself... there's something about smoking bees trapped in a cage that just seems fundamentally wrong to me. They cant engorge on honey or nectar and prepare to flee because they are stuck in the box... That would be enough to really make my adrenalin go... Apparently bees have adrenalin as well... You can tell when it hits... When a bee lands on you, or flys past, there is a distinct hum, add bee adrenalin and that HUM increases in pitch.. IE a bee determined to drive you away or sting you... I call it bee adrenalin... Anyhow... I use the thin syrup to take their minds off the situation as they clean up and leave the smoke for me...
I should have known the package with the dead queen was going to be a bit testy. The wifes nose didn't swell, she had a small lump on the back of hr neck, but the stinger in the nose I had out as soon as she snorted the bee OUT of her nose, THEN I took the stinger out of her neck... She might have continued to video, but I told her to put on her big girl panties and stop whining... No, you cant see my black eye through the veil. Veils have more than one good attribute.

blueblood · « **Reply #6 on:** May 18, 2014, 11:10:32 pm »

Good stuff Scott! For goodness sakes, where your Ultra Breeze and some gloves all the time! Suits are good....

Jen · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2014, 11:48:11 pm »

I don't mind letting my hands get stung, sure helps with arthritis ~

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #8 on:** May 18, 2014, 11:56:10 pm »

I dont mind two or three stings as long as its not in the face. After that I opt for putting the suit on. I was just being a bit stubbern. First few packages went quite well, and of course, as soon as the wife started to record Murphy arrived... I am going to get some of those rubber gloves and try them.. after so many years of NOT wearing gloves they make me feel quite clumsy when I do put them on.. I wear gloves doing a cut out, more for the sticky mess than the stings.

Jen · « **Reply #9 on:** May 18, 2014, 11:59:39 pm »

Well Scott! If you hadn't helped me so much over the last months with my bee issues I would say bravo to your black eye. But I won't because I consider you my friend. Surely tho, you have been stung in or on the nose after all these years. I have been nailed three times inside the right nostril this spring ... my sympathies to your wife. And by the way She did a real good job on taping this vid and I enjoyed hearing the mower in the background. Good Job here to both of you

PS. Your hand will feel great this coming week

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2014, 12:02:22 pm »

Nice video. One dead queen out of 10...that should make a newbie feel better if it should happen to them. Thanks for posting.

If I had taken all those stings, I would look like the Michillen Man.

CpnObvious · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2014, 12:09:30 pm »

Lazy,

You advised me to watch this in one of my posts... I've actually watched it twice now. The first time was at about 12:00am EST this morning before I went to sleep. Don't get too "weirded-out", though... You weren't the last thing I saw before laying down... I did some banking/bill-paying, then cried myself to sleep over that.:

:'(

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2014, 02:10:57 pm »

As long as your not dreaming about me..... or at LEAST don't tell me if you do, we will get along fine...

Jen · « **Reply #13 on:** May 29, 2014, 01:46:43 am »

Scott- "If you watch the vid you will see me use it on myself. I did smoke my hands, face and clothing VERY well before starting."

Hey Scott! While I was watching your 'Installing Packages' vid, it occured to me to try using some of my propolis tincture on my hands and arms while in my hives. The best opportunity came when I went and helped our friend straighten out all the comb that was attached to his hive lid.

Comb Attached To Lid

My thinking is: Why mask our scent with smoke, when We Could Smell Just Like Them!

I used about 3-4 drops in the palm of my hand and then briskly rubbed my hands and arms. I did have my bee shirt/veil on, but my hands and upper arms were exposed and I had on capri pants with rubber bands around the hemline at the knees, lower legs exposed. One sting, and that was my fault. And these bees were not happy that we were tearing down their house ~ I'm going to send you a small bottle of my propolis tincture... just because... well your my friend... and the next time you do a vid you won't have to cuss and swear like the pirate that you are... which of course to me is pretty darned cute... just sayin'

anyway be expecting a package at the post office.

Give it a try and get back to us.. K? Thanks

tbonekel · « **Reply #14 on:** May 29, 2014, 07:25:11 am »

Speaking of exposed legs Jen, early on I didn't use a jacket/veil combination while I was inspecting and I seemed to always be a little "on edge". I started using protection and it makes me feel so much more relaxed while I'm in the hive. The last inspection I did, I put on my jacket, zipped up the hood and began inspecting. It wasn't long until I felt something crawling on my leg. I looked down and realized I was wearing shorts. Seems odd that I had so much protection on from the waist up and then naked legs. It didn't bother me too much though, except for the fact I was concerned they would crawl up my shorts and we certainly don't want that!

Zweefer · « **Reply #15 on:** May 29, 2014, 08:39:43 am »

great video Scott!
One question for you - I see you have some new foundationless frames you are installing - is there any rhyme or reason to where these go? I thought on the first one they went between drawn comb, which is what i would expect, but on the second install you had two next to each other?

CpnObvious · « **Reply #16 on:** May 29, 2014, 08:55:08 am »

I'm not quite sure how many times I've watched this vid, as well as countless others.

Lazy. In the video you wrote: "Without the hole in it (the candy) it will take up to a day longer to release the queen."

I opted NOT not poke a hole in the 3 I installed because I was using all virgin foundation and I wanted to give the bees a little longer to build some comb up before her release. Not sure if this has any impact, +/-, but I'm just throwing out my thoughts for future readers.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #17 on:** May 29, 2014, 09:27:59 am »

I do try to break up the new/empty frames between frames of drawn comb, but I don't always have enough drawn comb.. Sometimes I use wax foundation, sometimes I use plastic foundation, and sometimes I don't use any foundation between foundation-less frames

Breaking up the big open spaces just aids the bees in drawing comb where I want it.

Cpn.. That works. Usually in packages the bees have been together with the queen a few days, so they have "usually" already accepted her by the time they get hived. The stress/excitement of hiving them winds them all up again so having the queen safely in a cage is a good thing. I know quite a few beekeepers who pop the screen off the side of the cages and direct release the queen when they install packages, claiming the candy is for introducing NEW queens...

The beauty of beekeeping is that you can do what makes you most comfortable. Those folks that laugh at me can go right ahead and laugh. The tables usually turn when they have a greater rate of lost queens than I do. I have no argument with NOT poking a hole in the queen candy. Or even leaving the corks in and direct releasing when the bees appear to have accepted her. Syrup and smoke instant releases scare me, but others "claim" great results....
We each find our own little warm spot where we are comfortable, and to me thats what its all about. Being comfortable and content beats the heck out of worrying and getting ulsers for several days while we wonder....
"Man...... I hope that worked!!"

CpnObvious · « **Reply #18 on:** May 29, 2014, 09:40:33 am »

Absolutely understandable, and I agree. I just wanted to say what I did so that other newbees have something to think about and can figure out what they might bee comfortable with.

Either way, I'm still worried about Her Highness!

Jen · « **Reply #19 on:** May 29, 2014, 12:09:50 pm »

Tbone- "It didn't bother me too much though, except for the fact I was concerned they would crawl up my shorts and we certainly don't want that!"

There is a thread on this forum where some of us were telling our stories about the bee up the pant leg, myself included, and some bees actually reached their destination. I don't mind if bees are on my legs, I have yet to get stung on the legs, simply because there isn't any reason for a bee to sting there. But when your arms and face are in their home... well of course!