Spring Splits made

Yesterday I picked up 4 new queens with which I have made 4 new hives from my original hive that was 3-deeps of brood/stores + 2 supers on top.  This should make the original hive much more manageable – and provide the nucleus frames and some genetics for many hives to come in the future.

On another note – I have found a local (Farmersville, Tx)  source for the PERFECT pallet size for single beehives.  These pallets are appx 20″x20″ square, and work perfectly with my langstroth hives.

and finally… a note/commentary about safety.

Yesterday I tried taking a shortcut with my equipment – and paid dearly for it.  I was going to remove a single frame of eggs.  In and out in less than 5 minutes.  So I decided it was not worth it to fire up the smoker.  Bad idea.

It took me well OVER the estimated 5 minutes – and the bees got upset at my intrusion.  First the ‘roar” of the hive raised audibly.  Then they started warning me.  Well – I kept on.  I *knew* there had to be a better frame of eggs.

Wrong.   Dead wrong.

Several bees decided that they would go exploring.  Up my pants leg.  Yep.  you guessed it.  at least 2 up each leg in a coordinated effort to reach “sensitive areas”.  2 got my hips, and a 3rd.. well, she got the blue ribbon for ringing the bell.

I made it back into the house to evaluate the stings.  And realized that I still had to go back out there to close up the hive and let the ladies settle down.

My bee-suit took better than 200-250 stings after my return to the bee yard to close things up.  They were on the rampage, and I still had not lit the smoker to send them into a “survival mode” to return to their honey stores and consume…. I took a combined 27+ stings to my body.  Through the nitrile heavy-duty gloves.  Through the elastic area of my bee-suit (at the wrists), through my socks… and afterwards – to my scalp after I made it back to the house and took off my jacket.   Yes 27+ stings.  My hands slightly swelled up.  My ankles/calves were slightly swollen…

I immediately took some liquid Benadryl (children’s) – and I think that’s what blocked much of the normal swelling.

I learned my lesson about safety.  Sometimes it takes an incidence like this to remind us of the little things that make big differences.

• Use the smoker
• Tape closed the leg of your pants to prevent bee exploration up your legs

The suit has now been washed (properly) to remove the “alarm scent” that is given out by the honeybees when they sting someone/something.  and my hive equipment has also been washed to remove the alarm scent.

Today’s excursion to create the hive splits went effortlessly – thanks to my renewed thoughtfulness about beekeeping safety.