Sounds like an annoying situation all around! Peterās given you a lot of good advice already, but I thought Iād just add the tip I learned from @Dawn_SD that you can avoid lifting the whole heavy box: unload it partially (or all the way) into an empty box, frame by frame. The Flow frames wonāt sit all the way in a regular Lang because of the lugs on the ends, but it doesnāt matter.
And, you probably know already but make sure to use a lot of smoke ā and good luck!
Hi Dawn.
I bought an extra box last year just for that purpose but ended up adding it as a third box to the hive to give more room.
Iāll have to get another one!!
Cheers
Roger, get two and while your at it an extra roof and base board will get used soon. Donāt forget the extra frames too. Oh, yeah you wonāt need it, right Roger!!!
Cheers
Just having a chuckle, I am constantly running short of hive gear myself. Promised my wife I would only have 4 hives, I did a split yesterday, hive number 30
Thatās ok.
I live totally on a pension and not able to buy everything that seems logical to buy. Iām only interested in having the one hive for honey for my family.
As soon as I can buddy up with a local expert, Iām sure Iāll be fine.
Cheers
Hiya @Daddypee, interesting that you have bees such aggressive that you need to suit up to do gardening! Where did you get them from? Iām guessing your neighbors wonāt be happy eitherā¦ And you have two boxes of them! Getting a queen in Perth will be a waiting game if the last couple of years are anything to go by. Not enough supply for demand.
Unfortunately youāll need to tough it out until the weather warms before anything could be done to calm your colony.
As Peter has mentioned there are many reasons bees can be overly aggressive. Is the hive in the shade? Are there honey stores?
Thanks for your reply
Yes, there is plenty of honey and the hive gets midday full sun and 60% shade in the afternoon. I donāt actually fully l suit-up, just a brim hat with mesh for my face/ head.
The hive is not over crowded, everything looks normal.
Iāll get my name down for a new queen which hopefully wonāt take too long.
Cheers
So where did you get your bees from Daddypee?
Have you a pic of your set up?
BW supplies great queens, personally Iād save the expense and requeen naturally in spring.
Thanks for picking up this thread @skeggley and for adding your more local advice. I like the idea of a colony re-queening naturally but in @Daddypeeās case I would be wondering if the present queen has run short of the calm genetics and a new queen will just be a younger version of the bad tempered present queen. Sometimes it is a good move to introduce some new genetics to an apiary.
Introducing an āoutsideā queen can be a bit risky as to her traits, a happy calm hive produces happy calm neighbors as well.
Cheers
They were my thought too. The original queen was bought at Guilfoyleās in Midland 2 years ago.
All good till late last year when they swarmed. That was collected by a local guy but from then, till now they have been aggressive.
Someone suggested the queen I ended up with after the swarming had mated with an aggressive male from another hive. I really donāt know, but I prefer the idea of a new queen from a known source!
Iām on a pension too and at 71 Iām into 8 frame hives instead of the 10ās I used to have. Iām wondering if you live near a local bee group. There might be guys like yourself that can do with a hand on a reciprocal basis and that can extend your beekeeping by some years as well as a friend with bee keeping as a common interest.
A local group might have a queen breeder among itās members as well as a source of local knowledge.
Cheers
Yes I have been in touch with a few of the locals and I have a mate who has 15 hives but he lives a bit too far away. He has been extremely helpful with getting me up and running and I also know another guy who does been some queens but is unable to help this year.
Iām still finding out how this forum works. If I put a reply to anyones questions, does that then go to everybody who has asked on the same subject?
Anyway, to all those who have answered on my aggressive hive problem, thanks for all your comments.
Meanwhile, here is a pic. of my hive as requested by Skeggle and just in case you missed it earlier, my original queen came from Guilfoyles in Midland.
When a member adds to a thread (subject) then the member gets a notification of any more additions to the thread. It works well for spreading information. Thanks for adding your pic, I just have to ask what is the hive sitting on Roger?
Guilfoyleās is a blast from the past, I used to buy gear from them in St. Marys branch in the outer western suburbs of Sydney now, back back then it was a small township that you would never think would be swallowed up by Sydney.
Hiya mate, only private messages (PMās) are private everything else public. Replying notifies anyone subscribed or the person you are replying to or if you @ tag them. I usually click on the latest threads tab as I generally read all the threads trying to absorb all I can. Most goes straight through but some stays.
Guilfoyles used to be good Iām told but I think they are stuck behind nowadays and arenāt going forward like Beewise but thereās a bit of arrogance at BW but their equipment is usually of good quality and price. If I was to get a queen thatās where Iād go.
Fair point with queen genetics and I have noticed the genetics here around the hills can be a bit testy.
I see you have a super above the Flow super, I thought you had another brood box. Thereās a lot of extra room there for the bees to condition at this time of year with the brood nest contracting in the cooler temps, there wouldnt be many bees in the top super would there?
Im looking forward to having a peek in my hives today, my first chance in a while perhaps a good time for you to have a peek also and perhaps remove that top super if itās not populated.
Iām not in a BK group either, Iām tempted to try and get one together but time seems always to be against me!
Beewise in OāConnor, but I wouldnāt expect a queen until at least December.
Iām also more inclined to look at other aspects as to why your bees are aggressive. Robbing has been an issue here of late due to our poor season. Iād also look at raising the hive a bit higher off the ground. Saves a bit of bending over when inspecting.
Smoke the entrance and a bit under the lid and wait 5 mins then smoke again and wait 1 min before inspecting Some my hives have been steadily working through their stores so Iām keeping a close eye on their weight. As youāre close Iād expect the same.
