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Crap. That was rough experience with your bees. Glad you survived all the stings

They do get pretty aggressive in the fall! When they sting they release a pheromone that tags you as the "thing to sting." At that point, you always want to keep the suite on, even if a few leaked in. Sad, but you really have to crush any bees that get inside the veil. I have two suits. A lightweight one for use during the flows and general work, and a heavy suite for those days you expect trouble. My hives are about 300 feet back from my house. During flows, they rarely follow me far. This time of year, they follow me all the way back to the house! Glad to see you made it through ok! 100+ stings is dangerous territory!

8 years in and I still feel like a newbie. Hope you were kept safe with the hurricane

You might not have totally closed the zipper closest to your neck and when they are not happy they will find a way to get you. Please use smoke next time not sure if it would have helped. Happened to me but only had two bees in side suit. We live and learn

My favorite part ....filling bottles😊

Another tactic is keep the cover over,or canvass,any sheet basically only exposes the bees your about to handle,smoke works,I should add 1 sting sets off a pheremone, even smoking yourself and gloves, avoid fragrant shampoo,cologne,which bees smell as foreign, try not to bang the frames, and avoid waving frantically,which just attracts them,ive had bees get in my veil,I use duct tape,over the zipper meeting ,ive had to run to the truck a few times to avoid their defensiveness,

That’s really crazy being stung more than 50 times has got to be painful you definitely need to requeen that hive and change their genetics. I’m sure you already know it would have been better if you use smoke on em. I hope I don’t experience a hive like that because I do a bunch a cutouts and had some real angry ones.

Glad to see all doing well after the storm.

25 sings later I survived twice doing noting luckily. Neck and facial stings are the worst. As a pharmacist learning from older pharmacists. The best thing to do is use ammonia mixed with water ASAP on the sting areas. You had a bad reaction so you need an EpiPen at all times.

Please stay safe! Praying for you all down there.

A very painful experience. Some friendly pointers from a fellow keeper, the first thing I noticed was the lack of a smoker. Even the calmest colonies can have a bad day and it's just best to always have a lit smoker when opening a hive. Second was your handling of the frames, as a new beekeeper it takes time to build up the speed you work at while still being gentle. It is always best to work slower when you are still finding your feet, remember that bees are very sensitive to even the smallest vibrations. Bumping the box or even slightly knocking the frames together can irritate them. Something I see a lot when beekeepers put the supers back on hives, is that they simply put the super down directly on top of the hive. Even if you are using a smoker to move them bees will still be squashed using this method, making them more defensive. When putting the super back on, try sliding it back onto the hive from the back/front and use your smoker or bee brush to move the bees out of the way as you do so. It's far more gentle and you squash way fewer bees in the process. Lastly, something a bit unusual that I don't ever see mentioned with regard to bees being defensive but that can sometimes be a reason is alcohol. Bees hate the smell of alcohol. Not suggesting that you had had any alcohol I'm just sharing some knowledge, but say you work with a colony today and you had a drink or two or even several (not judging anyone) at a party yesterday. If there is still a lingering trace of that alcohol in your system your bees will pick up on it. Hope all this helps, I wish you the best of luck with your bees going forward!!

🍁💙

Just curious, does it make sense replacing the queen and trying to repopulate the hive with a calmer strain?

I work bees that can get aggressive even with smoke I would get a better bee suit probably the guardian. And make sure all zippers are closed. I live in Texas so one day bees can be fine the next time inspection they are aggressive probably African genetics have entered the pool.

👋hi from southern New Zealand 👋😃 great to see you assessing the incident well enough to answer questions about it, an aggressive colony can be a very frightening experience. There are simply times that you open a hive and the colony is on edge. It's not common but it does happen. I said this In the last video but the electric smoker made by apisolis might be a good fit for your situation, Natalee of beekeeping with Natalee and castle hives both have a great little demo video and it's something you could have on hand and then reach for if you think you need smoke. Three puffs and it's switched on and smoking. I have the habit ingrained to light my smoker and forty years of habit it's just very natural and I use it as part of my pre opening colony assessment time, lighting the smoker and observing the hive entrances, looking for abnormal behavior. The situation you encountered is uncommon and in forty years I've only seen it personally once, I'm glad you aren't being dissuaded by the incident and there's always something new to learn in beekeeping and also I often make mistakes that I later facepalm myself for😂🤦 and I'm supposed to be "experienced"😂😅 great stuff, keep going and growing 👍👋😃

You definitely should look into getting a three layered mesh suit. I had a very "defensive" hive that would swarm me every time I opened them up (smoke or not) and that's when I got a mesh suit. I'm not selling them or anything like that, but the ultra breeze suit is awesome in MHO. Three layers, breeze blows right through them, the zippers are great quality, the hood (it's not even a veil) is a very solid zippered connection with secondary velcro closures to insure the "seal". I love it, can't say enough about it! Best of Luck!

Ooo I hate that feeling. I have 140 hives, I still put everything down when I get a few in my veil. Certain times of year a few puffs from the smoker can make a big difference so you don't have so many after you once the inspection is done

What kind of moisture number was you getting on your Honey. ?? Sure looks good

Even watching at speed I was getting nervous not seeing a smoker and then seeing all the bees have a look about them in the air....

Thank you Thank you for not walking away from bees . I have a question do you have the part of the video while you were working inside the colony an with it not speeded up .?? If you do is there anyway you could send it to me . Thanks

A bout 3 weeks ago I went to just peak into a hive because I wanted just to see how the top super was doing and I thought I didn't need a smoker for such a quick inspection. Wrong they came out mad as heck. one stung me through my vail in the neck. I backed off a walked away they also followed me farther than usual once they all left I took off one of my gloves to make sure I was all zipped up. I then turned to go get my equipment when although I was still far away from the hive one darn bee attacked and got me on the hand. Bees are way more aggressive in the fall so you need to be careful. If you do not want to smoke them try spraying sugar water on them to keep them busy. Stay safe another Hurricane is headed your way.

In the 2nd part of this video you are look like your feeling better. That's great your feeling better, ya someone your size that's a lot of stings and it'll take a bit for your body to work out the toxins. Don't be to hard on yourself, you did good next time you'll do better. It's a learning process we are all learning this is Fall now, it's different in Fall. A colony can be entirely different in Fall then the rest of the Season. A lot of the season I am able to work my bees and be around them just fine with out smoke but this Fall they have ran me out of my yard, I didn't realize it was going to rain the next day. I think it's mostly because they got Alarmed and the time of Year. Suit up and use smoke I think you'll be fine. Glad your feeling better, Blessed Days stay safe with the weather.👍

requeen

never take off yiur vail use smoker

Any chance you may have Africanized bees? I noticed immediately in the beginning of your inspection that there was a large number of bees flying around which is not normal. The series of events that you described are hallmarks of Africanization. Any open mated queen in south Florida has a potential of having Africanized genetics. Reputable queen breeders included as it is in the environment. Your state apiary inspector can give much more information as it’s normal to find those genetics in apiary inspections down there. As a newer beekeeper, I hate that you’ve had this traumatic experience. I really do think you might want to check your genetics. It can be tricky to requeen Africanized colonies as well. A typical inspection rarely has the amount of activity that I saw in the beginning with bees already flying all around. Fall bees can be a little more grumpy but the reaction of your bees seems overly reactive…especially since you say that’s normal for them. In a perfect world, your bees shouldn’t pay any attention to you when you’re in there. U of Florida has great info regarding Africanized bees and they are amazing and so helpful. I hope you find some relief and that you have positive experiences moving forward! Thank you for sharing your experience

Yep i also learned the no smoker quick check mistake.

Nothing more satisfying than uncapping honey. I found using a wide putty knife makes it easier to scrape the wax off the frames. If you sell the honey, take some of that money and set it aside and buy a honey extractor, so you can just cut the caps off the honeycomb with a bread knife. That way you can keep the cells to give back to the bees so they don't have to draw out frames again. Keep up the great work. Love your videos.

I feel sorry for you as I had same thing happen to me. Quick inspection with no smoker turned into nightmare. Face veil wasn’t fastened to suit well and propped open while holding a deep in my hands. Bees surged into face mask. I ran at least 50 yards away slapping and flailing to get bees out of mask. Fearing they were going to sting my eyes I pulled veil off and covered my face and eyes. They can sting me on my head but not my eyes. Made it to a shed approximately 200 yards from hive and bees finally left me. Wife pulled 30+ stingers from my face, neck and head. I understand your pain. I always use a smoker now and got a new suit and an Eppy pen. Tough lesson to learn. Hope you are doing well.

😃👏 Well done 👏 you never get over how much fun it is but the first one is always epic 😃👍 congratulations 👍👋

Love your enthusiasm! If you haven't already, buy or get a hive tool. They're pretty inexpensive and it makes taking the frames out a heck of a lot easier than using a knife. Keep up the great work with the videos!

Do not open your suite, 1 bee can sting 1 time. Find the leak as seal it. Think of it like a space suit, and your in a vacuum, no matter how bad the leak opening the visor will not help.

Smoker is king.

Congratulations, the 1st is always the most memorable.👍

Get a better quality suit. I’ve never ever had bees in my suit.

Hi from southern New Zealand 👋 everyones said it, im gonna say it too...Smoke!!! Smoke!!! Always, Always have a smoker lit. If you don't like traditional smokers you can get a electric smoker. Castle hives and beekeeping with Natalee have video reviews of electric smokers, it might be a solution for you to have smoke on hand without having to light a smoker. I always have a smoker lit even if i don't use it, sometimes i don't need too but its always lit and ready because honeybees will defend themselves if they feel threatened and a lot if things can put them in defense mode. I got a wallop in the right eyeball this year 😂 from a hobbyist hive, using a borrowed poorly fitting veil and that was novel 😂 yes, actually in the eye, it hurt, don't do that. Ive seen a really aggressive hive when I was apprenticing in the 80s, a queenless Italian, two hundred stings and once was enough. Next week they were fine. In forty years its the only hive ive ever personally seen do that so its not common for hyper aggressive attacks to happen but its always been a good lesson for me.

You have shown your inexperience and lack of knowledge in an honest recounting for which you should be applauded. Your experience should inform other beginners (like myself) and could save lives. This has once again impressed upon me the importance of learning. You and I both need to find a class for beginners. If that isn’t possible for you then befriend and or pay an experienced and qualified beekeeper who is willing to take on an apprentice. For myself, I am certain of only one thing right now - any success I have had to this point is largely luck and because I make every effort to let the bees guide my actions, which are not often and always very gently carried out. I’ve been studying for about two hours a day for months now and I still don’t have a full picture of all there is to know. Good luck to you.

We all learn from our mistakes, hopefully. If you are going to pull frames always have a lit smoker within reach. Better to have smoke and not need than need it and not have it. I learned that through pain therapy.

I have anaphylactic reactions. My doc told me to take Pepcid and Zyrtec and keep the epi pen handy

Oh my gosh! So glad you are okay! I’m a wannabee bee keeper…ordered bees last month for pick up in April and your story absolutely will get a doc appointment and epi pen

Ya needed smoke an absolutely never take your Veil off while you're being swarmed you got super lucky you didn't die from this being a smaller person and getting stung so many times

Oh dear, that must have been terrifying for you, one bee got into my veil and stung me on the side of the face , I panicked so I can’t imagine how you must have felt. I’m sure you won’t let it happen again though. 🇬🇧

Glad u ok and not thinking of giving up on the bees , I also hope your body don't react as bad next time .

This time of year some of my colonies are REALLY DEFENSIVE I call it MEAN . Carry an epipen just in case.🤕😢

It was noticeable that there were a lot of flying bees early on in the inspection, sometimes its better to beat a strategic retreat and close up the hive, also they may have been more defensive through being queenless. As others have suggested a smoker could/should have been used before things got out of hand but I've found that an even better solution to calm a roused hive is a spray bottle of 1:1 sugar solution, works like magic. Unless there are other compelling reasons for keeping that queen bloodline in existence, split the hive so its easier to find the queen and replace her with a gentler strain, though be aware it may be the patriline genetics causing the problem. Strive to be cool, calm and collected and sense how the bees are behaving, adjust your plans accordingly. It might sound contrary but also I'd ditch the gloves, because the multiple stings into the gloves release so much attack pheromone that it makes it impossible to continue, going gloveless really makes you aware of the bees' mood and react by changing whatever behaviour is annoying them. One other point, when replacing frames in the brood box esp, try to be smoother and slower, that avoids agitating the bees. Anyway, its all a good learning experience, adjust and adapt, try smoke and sugar syrup in a spray bottle and when you're confident, go gloveless.

What? No smoker?

What breed of bee do you have?

Hi, I don't ever comment on youtube but feel I need to take the time and reach out. Your bees look like Africanized honey bees to me. The fact that they pursued you aggressively is how these Africanized bees react to intruders. Africanized bees often overtake managed colonies like yours, overwhelm the native colony, kill the queen and then move in. This is very common behavior for Africanized bees, it is called usurpation and is a form of reproductive parasitism that allows Africanized bees to overtake and displace European (i.e., western) honey bees in the Americas. Even "hot" Italian bees would not be this aggressive. Please be cautious if you go into this hive again. (smoking them with a smoker may help) I haven't watched your other bee videos yet but just wanted to get this out to you. I would urge you to contact a local bee club and get help inspecting the hive. I'm so glad you're okay, please be careful!

I had a situation like u with bees in my veil and I tell u I got stung only face and head my head ,ears ,eyes .I was expecting to look like the pills berry doh boy . But didn't swell at all.

Two years ago I started keeping bees and getting stung in the start would swell me but , now I don't swell up no longer

Other bees can smell the sting never so that wear the zipper come together in you Val Maybe