LJ, Have you used the drumming technic much? I read of it and placed it on a shelf in my mind for future interests. How well has it worked for you?
Used it for the very first time today. I have this one colony which has chased me off 3 or 4 times this year, just as soon as I opened the hive. I've never even got to pull a single frame. Smoke, no smoke, little smoke - tried everything. Clearly couldn't allow that to continue. I wasn't looking forward to dealing with that hive at all. At one point I even considered using petrol (gasoline) and starting again with a nuc in that box.
But then I remembered reading Dadant. Here are the relevant extracts ...
To return to our imprisoned bees: their hive should be beaten smartly with the palms of the hands, or two small rods, on the sides to which the combs are attached, so as to run no risk of loosening them. These "rappings," although not of a very "spiritual" character, produce, nevertheless, a decided effect upon the bees. Their first impulse, if no smoke were used, would be to sally out, and wreak their vengeance on those who thus rudely assail their honied dome; but as soon as they inhale its fumes, and feel the terrible concussion of their once stable abode, a sudden fear, that they are to be driven from their treasures, takes possession of them. Determined to prepare for this unceremonious writ of ejection, by carrying off what they can, each bee begins to lay in a supply, and in about five minutes, all are filled to their utmost capacity. "Hive and Honey Bee", 1919, pp.311 et seq
In order to render the bees of a colony tractable it is only necessary to frighten them so as to compel them to fill themselves with honey. The bees that are most to be feared are the guards which usually station themselves at the entrance to protect the hive against intrusion. When these are alarmed and compelled to retire within the hive, it is easy to overcome the possible anger of a colony.
Very cross colonies of black or hybrid bees may be most completely tamed by blowing smoke in at the entrance, then closing it for a few minutes, tapping the hive meanwhile to alarm them.
Dadant - "First Lessons", 1918, pp.38-39
So - what I did was block-off the entrance during the night, to keep the foragers
in. (contrary, or what ?)
Then, I smoked heavily up through the Open Mesh Floor, and slapped the hive sides and top with the palms of my hands. I really laid it on thick, as I was taking no chances. Waited 5 minutes, then repeated. And again.
Inside the hive the bees must have been scared wit-less, 'cause when I came to open the box, these absolute horrors had become pussycats.
Maybe I over-did the treatment (this being my first time), but I'd certainly suggest it's worth a try for anyone with a seriously over-defensive hive - black mongrels and so on ...
Seems the old-timers knew a thing or two - I haven't seen any reference to 'Drumming' anywhere except in the context of swarm control and driving bees out of a box. Maybe it's the wrong term to use, but anyway - that's what I did ... and it's effects were magic.
LJ