Horrible Day...Comedy of Errors...Need to Reevalute Things

The fact that you hung in there through all of that tells me you've got exactly what it takes to be a keep. As well, most people would not react well to the numerous stings you describe.
Believe it or not, most of us have days like you describe, where you can't see your hands for the bees covering them, etc. The thing to remember is that with experience, you will know when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em. There have been days where I would simply have to back out of a hive, despite wanting to achieve something.
Your queen is probably fine, despite the interruption.
Hope you're feeling better soon. :smile:

 

Sounds like a normal day in the bee yard to me. You did fine, other than the smoker. Your only mistake I see was NOT backing off and lighting the smoker back up.

 

I agree, our truest nature is revealed in the worst of times. You went back under very bad circumstances. Proof you have what it takes. that the experience leaves you feeling bad is perfectly normal. Hope all is well with the overall reaction to the stings.

You had more than enough reason to walk away and abandon the hive. and that is simply the truth. But you didn't. That is where you find that line between a beekeeper and those that are not. you made the choice a beekeeper would.

 

sounds about normal to me, any beek that says he has never dropped a frame would be fibbing, my only advice would be use a inspection jacket rather then just a veil, I use 1 with no gloves and even shorts and flip flops (they always seem to go for hands and face) and I do just fine even with the lets say warmer hives

 

Wash your gloves or get new ones. I had a similar experience yesterday where I had a notmally nice hive attack my gloved hands anf everything else. Put everything back together, went to get thicker gloves and came back and they were pretty reasonble, no more full on, gloves covered in bees attacks. The residual alarm pheremone must have been enough to incite a wicked reaction.

 

Bees know a beginner and sometimes try to prove their ability to show who's boss. With time and experience you'll see events like this one as a "non-event". Chalk it all up to the learning process.
You'll do just fine if you stick with it. As you gain the necessary experience, you'll learn to "read" the bees behavior, anticipate their next move, and keep the upper hand.
You might not want to go back into the brood nest so soon, but if the amount of pollen is too great and not enough honey, you might want to remove a frame or two of pollen, replace them with honey and save the pollen (after letting it spend a few days in the freezer) to be returned to the hive in the early spring to increase brood rearing.

 

Sounds like you passed a pretty good test to return back and button up that hive, good job.

I agree with Iddee that you should have taken the time to light the smoker again. Not only could you have smoked the bees but also yourself to try and mask some of the attack pheromone.

Speedy recovery and don't give up yet!

 

Put the saddle back on and ride that horse! Gentle and patient with the girls and walk away a few feet and give them room when they get cranky. Like Perry said, I sometimes I simply close it back up and come back later.

Did anybody connect Kenny Rogers and Perry when he told litefoot he needed to know when to hold and when to fold? ha! :lol:

 

I hope you popped so me antihistamines. That helps a bit with the reaction. Wash everything. Like others have said, you've been tested by fire and found worthy.

 

You're showing your age! (and I am, too by knowing that!)

 

I have several thoughts.

I have had moments like that (although not an entire experience). I have had to walk away smartly, with purpose several times, sometimes to relight the smoker.

At times like that, I'm glad I'm not making a video!

Even though you were under duress, you kept your head and made sound decisions. :thumbsup:

This is an experience you will keep forever. You will probably use it if called upon to teach newcomers. It is an asset.

I hope you recover and feel better! :drinks:

 

Litefoot, (and good thing you were light on your feet, too!)

--Bees that are very sweet in the Spring and Summer will surprise you by being very defensive come Fall. Know that, and have more protection when you are doing things to them in the Fall that they don't appreciate.
--Nitril gloves are not sting-proof.
--When you get stung, after removing stinger it's good to puff some smoke at the spot to mask the alarm pheromone left there.
--Often it's worthwhile to throw a loose over shirt on if you don't want to all-out put on a bee jacket or suit. My usual hive attire is: a very loose long pair of yoga type pants pulled on over whatever else I might be wearing on my legs, then two velcro straps to cinch the ankles. A loose lightweight hooded sweatshirt thrown on over whatever i happen to be wearing on top that day. My veil (always!) and my cruddy stained goatskin gloves. Simple...and cheap! Works very well.

Always take the time to get your smoker going, and keep it going, whether you use it or not.

You did good! Really!

 

I agree with the posters saying to keep the smoker lit. I tried to make one inspection without a smoker, and I dropped the inner cover back on the hive and had bees all over me. To copy an old post, "the bees swarm was like a science fiction movie without the music."

In the past few weeks, there have been so many posts about serious sting reactions, that in my personal opinion, if you are going into a hive, a jacket with an attached veil is about the minimum protection.

 

I just ordered an Ultra-Breeze jacket after another sneaky bee found her way under a gap in my drawstring veil. Usually calm demeanor goes out the window because I know from experience that a bee will keep burrowing in hair 'til it reaches scalp- I toss the hat and get popped on the chin. Half a bottle of Benedryl (children's) and a bag of frozen peas keep swelling down to goiter size and my husband hands me my iPad and says " Order it, now!" I do feel more protected when I wear his because the closures are so secure but $163.00 -jeez, I hated to do that!

 

If you can find some good fitting quality heavy dishwashing gloves with longish snug cuffs, they can work well. You need a size that isn't too tight nor baggy. But they're sweaty. I still go back to my ragged old women's goatskin gloves that someone gave me second hand. They're a wreck, but they fit great and work very well. The bees don't seem to be riled by any 'bee by-products' on the gloves at all. I think all that stuff wears off after a few days anyway. And my gloves get pretty smoked up.