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Offline tedh

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pissy bees
« on: June 11, 2014, 01:03:45 pm »
I think I understand now what people meant when they said that.  There I was, sitting quietly.  No, wait.  Let me back up.  I was weed eating out by the hive (15 or 20 ft. away), cutting tall grass, raking it up, cutting more, a little more raking, when all of the sudden bees where dive bombing me!  I thought to myself, "well, I am kinda in their flight path, I'll go get my veil".  Which I did.  After I was done cutting and raking I thought, "I'm gonna sit quietly and watch the bees awhile".  So, off goes the veil, I light a smoke and there they are buzzing all around me!  Lazybkpr had mentioned the bees make a different buzz when they're upset and now I think I know what that sounds like!  They were pinging off me right and left!  I took a couple stings and got the @#!% out of there!  I'm not sure what's happening in the hive and it's pretty obvious they don't want me to know.  Maybe it's the weather.  Good news is I put some chewed up plantain on one sting and left the other go as an experiment.  I will say the poultice took the stinging out of the sting within a minute.  While the sting that was left alone continues to...well...sting.  I think this is good to know.  I guess it was an all around good learning experience.  I haven't been stung that I know of for many, many years.  Lazy:  Does that make me a beekeeper?  Ted
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Offline CpnObvious

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2014, 01:10:16 pm »
Quote from: tedh on June 11, 2014, 01:03:45 pm
Good news is I put some chewed up plantain on one sting and left the other go as an experiment.

I haven't chewed it, only crushed/worked it to get it's juices flowing... How's it taste?
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Offline tedh

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2014, 01:27:53 pm »
Kinda nasty.  Think chewed up weeds and you're there!  Ted
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Offline Jen

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2014, 01:52:52 pm »
I think I've only tried plantain once and it had a grit to it. Maybe it wasn't ripe yet or maybe that's the way they are.

Way to go Ted! You were a beekeeper before the stings, but now you've been thru the Official Initiation Phase Congrats!

Also, just in case you may be dealing with Arthur, bee stings are great for arthritis  ;) 8)
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Offline iddee

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2014, 02:09:06 pm »
My weedeater on half choke doesn't bother them. On full run, they attack. Different vibration, I guess.
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Offline CpnObvious

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2014, 02:17:08 pm »
Quote from: iddee on June 11, 2014, 02:09:06 pm
My weedeater on half choke doesn't bother them. On full run, they attack. Different vibration, I guess.

I can see where that would make sense... BUT, I wouldn't recommend running any engine choked for any length of time.  By it's name, you are CHOKING the engine.  Not so good for it.  Granted, I'm no small engine specialist, but I can rebuild them and keep them running...  just my HO!
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2014, 03:23:01 pm »
Hrm.. I weed eat around mine often..   Different pitch to the weed eater?  I have two, a 4 cycle and a 2 cycle. the 2 cycle is an El Cheapo from Wal mart, hut I also dont usually run it at WOT because I am afraid it will explode in my hands......

   Ted.. yes, you were already a beekeeper, but NOW you have the story to back it up!!   Asd the years pass the stories will get better, more elaborate, and MUCH more dramatic...   Bordering on life threatening...  Have you ever watched River Monsters?
   Hi, I am TedH Extreme Beekeeper and Entamologist. I travel the world...........
« Last Edit: June 11, 2014, 03:25:50 pm by LazyBkpr »
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Offline Jen

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2014, 03:25:03 pm »
I sure don't know.... I mow right past my bees all the time and they never have had a prob with it ~ shrug ~
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Offline tedh

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #8 on: June 11, 2014, 05:16:09 pm »
Okay, so here's a little more of the story.  I've ran my weed eater in that area before with no problems.  Today, MY weed eater shot craps.  So I ran over to Josh's house and grabbed his.  It was Josh's weed  eater that I was using when hades broke loose.  I'll also say that Josh's weed eater is a brute  (different pitch?)!  I think you could take down small trees with it.  How's this for an idea?  I'll fix and run mine by the hive and see what happens.  If the bees are okay with mine I'll ask Josh to bring his and "help" me with some weed eating!  By the hive of course!  It'd be kinda fun to watch and maybe video.  No, that might be too dastardly even for me. ;D

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Offline Jen

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #9 on: June 11, 2014, 05:30:43 pm »
Not At All! That would be a great vid!

   I have a theory about pissy bees, I've been pondering it a bit today. Maybe pissy bees come in batches... sooo, like 6 weeks from now when the old batch has died out and the new batch is born.... maybe the new batch won't be pissy?

   See, this is what I think about when the house is quiet and I'm cutting up a pork roast and veges for dinner. As I'm thinking out loud I'm making exclaimation points with the carving knife ~~~  ;) 8)
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Offline Riverrat

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Re: pissy bees
« Reply #10 on: June 11, 2014, 06:13:43 pm »
A lot of factors come into play on bee temperament.  A dearth, Fall of the year, hive being disturbed by critters, tree branch rubbing on the hive. etc will make them a little testy. A flow, spring build up etc.  will calm them down
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