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Author Topic: What is a reccommend smoke material  (Read 10256 times)

Offline garlicfarmer

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What is a reccommend smoke material
« on: September 08, 2012, 02:39:16 pm »
I am looking for adviice for an abundant smoke material that will not stay in the honey and is cool to the bees.  I am also seeking advice on feeding the bees in the winter.  I have been researching brewers yeast does any one any expereince with brewers yeast.  Thanks Tom

Offline Joe D

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2012, 02:51:32 pm »
People use hay, grass, pine needles, wood chips, most anything.  I just give them a couple of puffs in the entrance and a puff or two under the lid, wait a minute and open hive.  I haven't used brewers yeast, but I used to make some wine and just used baking yeast it was easy find.  On the feeding bees in the winter, if their stores are low you feed or lose them.  I try to leave plenty honey for my bees.  Good luck with yours.



Joe

Offline mikecva

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2012, 05:22:17 pm »
I use pine needles to get things started and burning well. I then add grass to help cool the smoke down. If I am going in the hive for only a few minutes, I use a spray bottle with 1:1 sugar water. I never use smoke within a week of pulling the honey.  -Mike
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Offline Jim134

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2012, 08:49:53 pm »
I am looking for adviice for an abundant smoke material that will not stay in the honey and is cool to the bees.  I am also seeking advice on feeding the bees in the winter.  I have been researching brewers yeast does any one any expereince with brewers yeast.  Thanks Tom

I see you are in Michigan and you are going to feed bees in the winter oh bees do not fly will at 40F or so



     BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
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Offline T Beek

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2012, 09:45:42 am »
I've used 'unprinted' rolled cardboard as a smoke medium for several years now.  Cut to size and rolled to fit tightly inside the smoker.  Start w/ a few scraps of lit paper placed in bottom of smoker, placing roll inside while puffing.  It lights easy, 'always' sends out cool smoke, never goes out and can last for over an hour once started.  

Discovering this method changed my beekeeping life for the better.

Feeding;  Leave them the majority of any honey after mid-August, maybe later in your region, not sure.  As Insurance at winter wrap up, I pour dry sugar (5-10lbs) above/around the inner cover, hole open and inside an empty super with 2" rigid insulation on top of sugar, then covered by telescoping cover.  Sometimes by Spring they get to the sugar, sometimes they don't, but its just insurance and hopefully they have enough honey instead.

t
« Last Edit: September 09, 2012, 09:57:31 am by T Beek »
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Offline AllenF

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2012, 09:48:51 am »
Leaves right off the ground out of the woods from around the hive.

Offline yelnifok

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2012, 01:08:43 pm »
Not to get anyones knickers in a twist but if your a hobby beek and working/inspecting your own hives you might try it without the smoke a few times. I don't us smoke ,on my hives period... I watch thee barometer- if it is changing ,I'll work on a canoe or something. Once the bar. stabilizes I go to work on them and seldom get stung but these are my bee's and I believe they know me and know I'll go slow and steady- Ive been caught talking to them. Don't know if this approach is "it" or not but they claim -plants grow better, so why not honeybees'. And just so it don't get started- NO I don't know all their names' :deadhorse: :-D
   lee

Offline T Beek

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2012, 02:00:00 pm »
I must agree w/ yelnifok.  Use smoke sparingly and only if needed.  That said, and after a few bad days, I never enter my beeyard w/out a lit smoker.  Sometimes I need it, sometimes I don't, but its no fun for me or my bees if I have to go running back up to get a smoker, leaving my bees exposed. 

Having it lit and nearby is a comfort.  I've been stung just once this season, back in April when one of my bees got tangled in my hair and I wasn't wearing a veil (I don't do that too often, go w/out a veil that is).

t
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Offline Lazy W

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2012, 12:54:58 am »
I use Good ole hay. It's plentiful and easy to get going.

Offline danno

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2012, 09:04:56 am »
garlicfarmer
If you want to stockpile a good free long burning fuel in our area try summac berries.  Just break the red pods off and let them dry in a bucket over winter. 
I dont feed pollen in fall.  The bee's in our area have so many natural pollens to haul home I dont believe they need more.  Spring is a different story.   I pull supers early giving them half of august, all of sept and oct to work golden rod and aster.  If they are still light I give them a couple of gallons of heavy syrup in early oct but this seldom happens.   I give every colony a candy board or 2 and abit of insulation on top.  Add a mouse guard and wish them luck.   This year I setup a new yard of 20 colonies and put a excluder above the first hive body.  I checked a few of these last weekend and they have very heavy second stories.  Next month I will pull these excluders and should have bee's and food right where I want it

Offline KD4MOJ

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2012, 11:36:34 am »
Pine straw works well for me. rake it up, store it dry and it's always there for me.

...DOUG
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Offline d_fixitman

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2012, 09:59:20 am »
Rolled strip of cardboard the drop in pine shavings that you buy for pet bedding. A five pound bag has lasted all summer and still have plenty. For feeding just google fondant or candy board. You will find a bunch of options and many opinions.
Do your own thing and remember there will always be a wise 4$$ telling you your doing it wrong.

Good luck. Dwayne

Offline T Beek

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2012, 10:04:34 am »
 :)
"Trust those who seek the truth, doubt those who say they've found it."

Offline danno

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2012, 01:44:56 pm »
      "there will always be a wise 4$$ telling you your doing it wrong"
this statement just rubs me wrong coming from a guy that has 5 colonies and 4 months experience

Offline hardwood

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #14 on: September 12, 2012, 01:50:37 pm »
BTW, you're doing it wrong...everone knows that you spell it "wize azz"  :-D

Scott
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Offline danno

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #15 on: September 12, 2012, 03:56:03 pm »
BTW, you're doing it wrong...everone knows that you spell it "wize azz"  :-D

Scott
Nice Scott!!!!!!!!!!

Offline rober

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #16 on: September 12, 2012, 07:08:23 pm »
i find my bees are truly calmed when i smoke them with pot. problem is they keep following me & the smoker around afterwards & get lazy.......actually i put several small pieces of natural charcoal & coarse sawdust from a planer or jointer not from a saw & light it with a propane torch

Offline T Beek

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #17 on: September 12, 2012, 07:15:35 pm »
 8-), never thought of pot.  It would be a real drag to go to jail for what,,,,contributing to bees?

t
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Offline danno

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #18 on: September 12, 2012, 07:40:09 pm »
here again your doing it wrong.  If you smoke with pot they eat to much

Offline Lazy W

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Re: What is a reccommend smoke material
« Reply #19 on: September 13, 2012, 12:12:15 am »
Yeah They can't get any Twinkies so they will have to munch out on honey. :mrgreen:LOL

 

anything