How to Keep Your Hive Calm

There are several ways that YOU as a beekeeper can help to calm your bees when inspecting the hive. Aside from practicing beekeeping, there are other factors that are involved in honey-bee temperament. I have prepared the following information that will explain what might be agitating your hive and how to avoid it.

Remain Calm: This is definitely tough for beginner beekeepers. But remember, animals respond to your energy and can sense if you are nervous. Try and relax when you are around your bees! It will be better for you and them!

Try Not to Kill/Crush the Bees: When a bee is killed, it releases an alarm pheromone that agitates the hive. This often happens when the beekeeper is moving/banging/scraping a frame from the hive. Crushing a few bees is unfortunately inevitable but the most effective way to lessen their reaction is to use a little smoke to block the alarm pheromone from spending. 

Avoid Breathing on the Bees: Bees are trained to react defensively around Carbon Dioxide since most of their predators breathe it out. That being said, try to avoid breathing heavily on your bees. Practice breathing through your nose when around them!

Consider Factors like Weather/Time of Day: Bees do not like the cold, wind, or rain. So try and avoid inspecting your hive when the weather is acting up. Bees also tend to be more aggressive when the hive is opened at sunrise/sunset. They are getting ready to forage and leave/come back to their hive. Having you in the mix will throw them off!

I hope you apply these principles when you next inspect your hive! I guarantee you will find that your bees are calmer and easier to work with!