Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: jalentour on April 15, 2016, 01:14:30 am

Title: Stinky Hive
Post by: jalentour on April 15, 2016, 01:14:30 am

I have a healthy hive that smells like rotten honey.
The bees seem to be doing well but the hive stinks.
Should I take any action? 
It will be 45-70 degrees the rest of the week here.

Title: Re: Stinky Hive
Post by: KeyLargoBees on April 15, 2016, 11:46:18 am

Not sure I know what "rotten honey" smells like. if this post was in the fall i'd say your girls were working goldenrod but not sure what would cause an unpleasant smell during a spring flow that would still have a hive "doing well"

Title: Re: Stinky Hive
Post by: jalentour on April 15, 2016, 05:08:24 pm

Key,
Now that you mention it, it does smell like goldenrod. 

Title: Re: Stinky Hive
Post by: divemaster1963 on April 15, 2016, 07:46:34 pm

Goldenrod does bloom in spring. Is the smell close to real dirt athletic socks smell? If so it's goldenrod. Don't harvest it till fall. Age cuts the smell. Great tasting honey tho.

John