Humbling a Hot Hive [22EP10]

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This hive has been testy all spring. Guard bees are in my face as soon as I pop the lid.
With a newly mated queen in the top (with different drone genetics) I decide to recombine this double colony and change out the workers.
Hopefully this works. The risks are that the queen gets killed, or that the hive is just as testy as it was before.
Either way, I’m trying to get a honey crop from this hive, then will deal with requeening it later.
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[@KajunHomestead]

nothing worse than working a hot hive , takes the fun out of beekeeping . great video

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@michaelshelnutt3534]

I’ve got a Buckfast cross hive that is like that. As soon as you open the lid- they jump out onto you. I’m trying to order a gentle mated VSH queen to replace the mean queen with…

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Mean queens are no fun!

[@motormaker]

Excellent video. I am anxiously awaiting “Humbling a Hot Hive ... episode 2”.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I’ll post an update about 6 weeks out to see if all those pissy witches have died and been replaced by nicer bees.

[@jhulin9018]

Great Video? I have 2 questions and 1 comment. Q1: At 2:37 (top colony queen inspection) you said "she appears to be mated" and at 2:57 you stated "and we've got eggs". How could you tell she was mated without fist seeing eggs? Q2: What do you do for hive beetles? I know you use freeeman bottom boards with oil, but I didn't see beetle blaster traps or swiffer pads. I use the traps but they slow down inspections since they must be removed for either lifting frames or quickly tipping a box up to look for queen cells. COMMENT: Thank you for explaining things as you go along...You answered all the questions that came to mind regarding your task such as (1) why shaking bottom colony bees out on the ground, (2) weren't you getting stung through the pants, and (3) why the top colony was moved to the bottom. Your videos are fantastic! You did scare me in this video however when at the end I could see that your veil zipper was not completely closed...I hate getting "bees in my bonnet".

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Dwight, the queen’s abdomen was larger than a virgin, and while she was a little runny, not as much as a virgin queen. Hive beetles…not much this time of year, they’ve got huge populations to deal. Later on I’ll have oil trays under everything, but right now the trays are dry.

[@christopherrountos4473]

Super Video today, Thank again. I'm enjoying the music intro and exits.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks, I enjoy trying to find fitting music.

[@gwtill]

Finally got some smoke out of that smoker😁

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Smoke production is correlated to how pissy the bees are 😂

[@gwtill]

@@DuckRiverHoney I just got a GoPro 9 and hope to take some videos of my bees. What do you use to edit your videos and how difficult is it to use?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I use Final Cut and like it. I’ll be honest, I’ve been studying how to use it for over a year and the curve is steep.

[@gwtill]

@@DuckRiverHoney Thanks, but I am looking for something easy to learn and use so I think I will keep looking.

[@carlagwatney3708]

You found a mated queen....hive is not queenless....and by far are not very "angry"

[@scottpierson7495]

I have done the same got lit up last week. Took 20+ stings through the jeans and on my hands and arms soon as I opened one of my 57 hives they fired out. They were queenless. But like you I don’t tolerate mean bees, and don’t want any of those drones mating with my Queens I’m producing. Take care buddy.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Scott!

[@nancynolton6079]

Had a hive that was testy every time I went in... not aggressive but never happy to see you. Found a beekeeper who didn't mind a hive like that and gave him the three boxes of comb and bees. So he got a production hive or one he could split three ways (he'd had a lot of losses) and I got rid of a non-gentle hive in the apiary - win/win. Could have requeened but have way too many hives this year having all 25 survive the winter and then sold nucs out of most of them only to have them all requeening successfully or throwing swarms - numbers are going up instead of a manageable down! Even saw one virgin return with mating evidence still attached! That was another exciting first!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

That is super cool Nancy!

[@carlagwatney3708]

No smoke in smoker...lol

[@Peter_Gunn]

I don't blame you one bit. I have a hive just like that and soon as the honey flow is over they are getting a new queen. Good luck. Hope your season is good.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Peter!

[@sonofthunder.]

thanks for showing the good ,the bad n the ugly

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Mark, it isn’t all happy times.

[@stephenwells1831]

Enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing the process!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Stephen!

[@jhulin9018]

Got me some Humble Bee gloves. These are the only gloves I own that I don't get stung through and they feel great. I don't remember which video you recommended them on but I appreciate it.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Dwight I like them a lot. Wish they made a couple different styles

[@michaelfike7542]

I have a small colony and they hit you like bulldogs when you open them up. I'm replacing the queen with the next swarm i get that's not aggressive i will just newspaper combine them and hope for the best. Good luck with them. 👍❤🐝

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Michael, good luck with yours.

[@jamestownsendjrtbees3226]

Good luck with the combine. I also have a hot hive from last year I was waiting until I could get a good mated queen. I went in yesterday and found that mean queen and got her out. I will wait 5 days or so and go back in and remove all the emergency cells and then introduce a new queen.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

That’s a good way to do it, they have no hope except the queen you give them.

[@Not_all_as_it_seems]

Let us know if the hive settles in a future vid mate!! good stuff!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks, it hasn’t yet…will take a while for all those foragers to die out.

[@markspc1]

There are at least two reasons for your bees to be mean; they may be having a problem with mite infestation or may be queenless or both. When you pulled out the double screen board (4:06) there were lots of bees on it, could it be that the queen was there ?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

There were no eggs or unsealed larvae in the bottom, so almost certainly no queen. That hive has been testy all year.

[@benca6151]

Ahh, decisions decisions. Combine the the hive? Or let them raise another queen? Beekeeping is so much about what do I do now. And what do I do next. Mean bees suck. But I had a mean one one time that gave me tons of honey. Hated to see them die.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Steve Taber studied it and swore that defensiveness and honey production weren’t linked. It sure seems that way sometimes, but I’m no scientist.

[@3Beehivesto300]

You said your surprised this hive didn’t swarm and is currently queen-less. I though they would need a queen to swarm?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I mumbled that I’d be surprised if they hadn’t swarmed and were now queenless. 😉

[@3Beehivesto300]

@@DuckRiverHoney I understand. I could not talk in front of a camera. No way

[@lagrangebees]

When a hive roars and dive bombs you... Her daughters with those same genetics, you give that queen the hive tool test as soon as you can replace her. >.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Trying to get through the flow first. I need some honey!

[@lagrangebees]

@@DuckRiverHoney I agree... gotta get that honey fix! :D

[@burleybeeyard]

@@DuckRiverHoney I’m in the same boat with one hive. As soon as harvesting is done, I will take great delight in hunting down the queen 😂

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Some queens…😡

[@carlagwatney3708]

Smoker is not smokin

[@barrybrum]

Which brand bee jacket are you wearing in this video? Thanks

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Ultra breeze. I like it.

[@barrybrum]

@@DuckRiverHoney Great, I ordered the Ultra Breeze full suit last night. Should make my bee keepng much more enjoyable.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I’ve got the full suit as well as the jacket. In real hot weather I’ll use the suit and wear gym shorts and workout shirt underneath.

[@strugglingbeekeepermarkcot9642]

Nothing worse than a hot hive. I hope they straightened out for you. I prefer calm bees myself.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Mark

[@wayne8873]

Hey Nath, helped out a fellow beekeeper with her 5 hives and two long hives a while ago. All going well till the last long hive. I think a nearby hive sent a security detail to the last hive. They were ready. I got smashed with about 10-15 sings in each hand through gloves. Was ordinary to say the least. My bee suit held up though. I didn’t try this but was and after thought. What’s your thoughts on spraying the hive with sugar water when they are like and you know you’re going to be in the hive for a while.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I don’t think that’s a bad idea at all Wayne, it should cut down on them flying at least.

[@wayne8873]

@@DuckRiverHoney hmm might bring some next time. I did suggest a new queen as we were working them on a sunny day when pollen and nectar were coming and the girls shouldn’t be as angry as that.

[@dcsblessedbees]

Sure looks like a strong colony, that bottom box came out at ya didn't they. Little pisser then the top aren't they, so that is what you would call a Hot hive? I've seen some ppl say are Hot but I kinda didn't think it really looked like it. :) Grumpy bees or Hot bees, I guess it's more of an over time assessment then a 1 or 2 time events? I think I'd cut them from my herd also. Ty for sharing Blessed Days...

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I recombined the hive, will try to make a honey crop with them then requeen with a cell after the honey harvest. That’s the plan anyway.

[@dcsblessedbees]

@@DuckRiverHoney sorry for all my edits :) my questions or comments kind of evolve over time. Got to install my fist nuc on Easter, hope to be able to look in on them today or tomorrow been mostly raining with little sun breaks all week here in SW Washington.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Grumpy or hot is subjective I guess. That hive has gotten in my face all year, even when they had no reason. I enjoy beekeeping, so if I don’t ENJOY working a hive then over time something is gonna change.

[@dcsblessedbees]

@@DuckRiverHoney I agree, I only will have 4 hive to start and my 1st bee bench stand is only about 50 ft from the house. I want NICE bees and nice happy bees only :) will NOT tolerate grumpy for a reason like if its cloudy/rainy but not mean. Ty for chatting you have a great day :)

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks DC, good day to you too

[@BeeGeeTheImp]

Was this hive initially from a feral swarm?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

At this point I really don’t remember. I think they may descend from an original yellow Italian queen, but mated with feral drones. This one has been the testiest all year.

[@peterlightbody8443]

Need your wife to help you .

[@DuckRiverHoney]

She was helping, watching the kids is a big job.