A few weeks ago I was adding some sugar water to my feeder and got stung twice in my hand. It swelled up really bad and took about four days to go away. A week later I went to change the sugar water again and got stung twice on my arm. My beekeeper friend down the road says I have a “hot hive” whatever that means. Today I was sitting 10 m away from the hive just reading a book and peacefully watching then, and got stung on my back. Is there anything I can do to calm the hive down? How will I harvest honey?
You might have a hot hive… They can be defensive for external reasons, predators, pests, dearth, etc. so you might need to cut them a break for the time being. They may also remain defensive for several days after you manipulate the hive.
Also, consider what you are wearing and what you might smell like from soaps, shampoos, deodorants, etc.
Wear gloves.
If you can’t work with them, even with plenty of good, cool smoke then you may have to consider requeening with a line that is known for gentleness.
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Thanks. The reason I was not wearing gloves is b/c I had just watched a video on YouTube (I think it was from the Beekeeper.org) about how gloves make you clumsy and you could hurt the bees. They suggested just going w/o gloves and gently brushing away any bees that get in the way…First lesson. Don’t believe everything you hear!
Today I probably riled them b/c they are almost full in the brood boxes and starting toe move into the super and I wanted to change the sugar water and add a pollen patti since we are in a bit of a dearth here. I had to unstack the have and restock. They were probably defensive after that.
Thanks,
Tom
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Always wear your safety kit.
The odd few bees is not a hot hive. A hot hive is hundreds attacking you relentlessly.
Bees are enqisitive and keeping 30,000-50,000 bees (one hive) increases the risk of getting stung.
Thin gloves help, clumsiness is the person not tye gloves.
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I wouldn’t feed with a super in place. Ever. 
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Just curious why you say that. I am being mentored by a man who has kept bees for 30 years and has over 100 hives. He says “as long as they are taking it, feed them.” His rationale is that my hive is first year so they are drawing a lot of comb and they need to coat the flow supers with wax. The sugar water give the young bees the energy they need to make wax. Any thoughts?
The flow super isn’t like a regular super with frames. Yes, there is wax needed to fill the gaps but it’s not that much compared to drawing comb.
If your both your brood boxes are drawn, then just let them backfill those for the winter and leave the super off until the spring. If your brood boxes aren’t fully drawn then you should continue feed and shouldn’t have the super on anyway.
If they do store “nectar” or “honey” in the flow frames, it is just sugar. Sure, you can extract it but what’s the point when you’re going to take the flow super off for winter.
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I see his logic, but together with my husband, we have kept bees for almost 40 years. I agree with @chau06. If they have already filled 2 brood boxes, and now they need the super for extra space, they don’t need any more food. I have personally tried sugar syrup honey, it is very bland compared with real honey. I don’t want any in my supers if I can avoid it.
By the way, I asked my husband, and he agrees with me. 
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That is where I thought you were going. Poor quality honey. That makes sense. My friend down the road is a local dealer and his honey is great. But since I only have one hive I’m gonna take your advice and let them make it naturally. Thanks.
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going glove free is doable for sure- but it pays to first be an experienced beekeeper and to be able to ‘read your bees’. For a beginner I totally recommend full suits and gloves. After time you will know when you can go glove free- and when to put them back on again… And when you go glove free you will also get stung- for a absolute certainty- so you need to be able to cope with that. Never wear rings, watches and jewelry if you have a tendency to swell up.
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