Thursday, October 15, 2015

My suspected Africanized Bee Hive How to kill 50% of a bee hive safely.

I got dressed for battle with my problem hive #2 11PM last night 10/14/2015.   I pulled the honey Super off the top and placed it on a screened bottom board that they could not get out. I took the super down from below that had the brood chamber and shook all 10 frames of bees off into soapy water. I noticed 1 thing! It sure is a lot easier at night doing work with the bees. I took the empty box and shook it over the soapy water. Took all the frames and shook them 1 more time before placing them back in the bee hive box. Placed the honey super on the brood chamber and strapped it down.
        My theory going with tid bits taken from Michael Palmer a renowned bee keeper in the East USA is to reduce the numbers and remove the queen will calm the hive down. I suspect that in the brood chamber somewhere some eggs will exist to turn into queens. Temperature has been 95 and 98 the past week, I believe that that a queen cell will take life and winter infertile. I have no idea if this works what I have done. Just a theory in play. Since most of the brood chamber bees are gone, they'll need to focus on re-queening. It's cooling down or at least that's the theory. We had 104 temps on Sunday where I live. Who knew we'd have summer still try to stay? So, the problem bees hopefully they'll not be focused on aggression or no longer alive. I of coarse speculate the queen is not with this bee hive. Cooler temps mean the bees stay inside or less active.
If this bee hive makes it, then great I can re-queen next April. If they do not make it, I have a mess to deal with. If they don't calm down, then another shake in soapy water is what they get and the hive is no longer. Sure this queen-less hive can act a fool, I am well aware of this. I've been dealing with this far too long and it's nothing new. We will see if this calms them down and refocuses the bee hive.
Of coarse I could pull a frame of eggs from bee hive 1 the normal hive, but I rather just let the bees deal with it or if they can't then that's okay too.

I'm not sorry for what transpired. As Michael Palmer says "MEAN BEES SUCK" I shouldn't be chased by guard bees when I am50 yds away from the bee yard. I am not dealing with a mean hive PERIOD!

I sure do envy y'all that have nice calm bees in all the YouTube Video's. I believe I am going to get 4 queens in April from wildflower meadows. I have been reading up on them. I like this selective breeding they do with the queens. I've been told that Bee Weaver(BEE SUPPLIER IN TEXAS) has been getting more aggressive over the years by a local bee keeper. I do know what I am getting with wildflower if that is what I end up with. I will keep y'all informed on my observation.

       This AM the bee hive entrance activity of foraging bees is by far fairly low in comparison to previously and the bee hive #1 next to it.   I hope I can walk out to the shop this AM and not get attacked as that happened yesterday afternoon about 4PM.  Its ridiculous  to have  bees come and attack you 50yds away and you have not done anything other then open the shop door.

Zak

4 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. The aggression has stopped. I can actually walk outside with out any bees trying to chase me off. The bee hive seems to carry on with activity.

      Delete
  2. Good luck managing that hot hive. Makes me glad I'm far enough both that my problems are mostly limited to mites and over wintering.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete