At first, I used leather gloves. Then I realised how impractical these are. You can't clean them!
Then I started to use surgical gloves. But I got stung through them and my hands swelled into bananas.
So I started to use thick rubber gloves. But I had to clean them after every inspection, and I was squashing a few bees.
So now I have gone back to surgical gloves. I have been stung a couple of time, but I have discovered Piriton tablets. Two of those seems to reduce the swelling and pain quite a lot.
I just discard them after each hive -- good for the bees.
But I also find that I take such great care not to trap a bee (and get stung) that I am treating the bees with greater care, and they are calmer as a result.
Anyone else find this? What are your preferences?
Then I started to use surgical gloves. But I got stung through them and my hands swelled into bananas.
So I started to use thick rubber gloves. But I had to clean them after every inspection, and I was squashing a few bees.
So now I have gone back to surgical gloves. I have been stung a couple of time, but I have discovered Piriton tablets. Two of those seems to reduce the swelling and pain quite a lot.
I just discard them after each hive -- good for the bees.
But I also find that I take such great care not to trap a bee (and get stung) that I am treating the bees with greater care, and they are calmer as a result.
Anyone else find this? What are your preferences?
Posts
Gosh the sacrifices you make for the love of your bees! 2 Piriton conk me out for days... might be a good thing according to some folks ;)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if my friend Dominic might have just the glove for you...
Oh, Piriton knocked me out as well. I thought it was just me.
ReplyDeleteOooh, what is Dominic's glove like?
my preference is no gloves. with gloves I squash too many bees and am clumsy with the frames. but then again I don't swell up that much. I have found that witch-hazel took the pain out of a sting so I keep a mini spray bottle with my gear.
ReplyDeleteI work slow and if I get stung, I quickly smoke the skin site as there is an alarm pheremone left behind with the stinger. Once I got stung 2x in the same spot! Ouch! Lesson learned...smoke the spot! They are less likely to attack it again.
my preference is no gloves. with gloves I squash too many bees and am clumsy with the frames. but then again I don't swell up that much. I have found that witch-hazel took the pain out of a sting so I keep a mini spray bottle with my gear.
ReplyDeleteI work slow and if I get stung, I quickly smoke the skin site as there is an alarm pheremone left behind with the stinger. Once I got stung 2x in the same spot! Ouch! Lesson learned...smoke the spot! They are less likely to attack it again.
Ah, thank you Joan, for the tips on Witch Hazel and smoking the sting. I feel that the surgical gloves give just as much "feel" and when they are removed and discarded, your hands are clean to drive home. No more propolis on the steering wheel!
ReplyDeleteAh, thank you Joan, for the tips on Witch Hazel and smoking the sting. I feel that the surgical gloves give just as much "feel" and when they are removed and discarded, your hands are clean to drive home. No more propolis on the steering wheel!
ReplyDeleteApis Mal,
ReplyDeleteHoemopathy remedy made fom the bee sting, much better than Piriton and less side effects.
Apis Mal? OK, I'll give it a go. My view on homeopathy is that it a complete fraud, so I guess I will make a good test case, because any benefit from the treatment cannot be down to Placebo effect!
ReplyDeleteI will report back!
Joan - I tried Witch Hazel, and it's very soothing.
ReplyDeleteI got stung seven times on my wrist when doing an artificial swarm last week, so I had a good opportunity!
I use surgical gloves too. Luckily my bees are very nice, the only time they've stung me has been when I accidentally squashed them. I put a dab of clove oil on before seeing them as I read somewhere that calms them. You can buy it in Boots. I can't pretend it's a very manly scent but it does bring to mind thoughts of delicious apple pies!
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