OK.. This has gotten very weird and I need advice.
The person who owns this house with the bees has changed his mind about me coming and getting them. He now wants to pay me to catch them for him and put them in a hive that I provide on his property. He will pay me for the hive.
WOW Cool!
I have also since learned that he has another hive on his property (2 deeps) that has been there, uncared for, for several years. That is probably where the original swarm came from. He also wants me to work those bees into a new hive since it is falling apart.
Very Cool (more bee work you have to get your feet wet some how )
This man lives in a 20k square foot home and the guest house where the bees are is over 10k square feet. He ownes a huge company and has a lot of money. He basically wants me to be his bee boy, show him how to make honey and setup these two hives for him.
WOW, This is the stuff dreams are made of....and good friends.. :D
OK... Here are my questions....
If i collect the bees but miss the queen and put them in a hive only a few dozen yards away, are they likely to stay there to be requeened?
most likely not
If i collect the bees and get the queen and put them in a hive only a few dozen yards away, are they likely to stay there?
well, I'm knew at this but, maybe if you put the box under it after you get it all done, wait a day or two, then put grass in the entrance and move them , loosen grass so one or two can get out and let them do the rest
or pull it out after a day or two :? maybe
What should I charge to do this?
What should I charge to come work his bees on a regular basis?
well it depends on what you want, I would charge him on an hourly basis
but I would also ask him to help, with a hook on the end of the rope one could lower it to an awaiting helper (who is there to learn)who unhooks the bucket and puts another on the hook that you raise back up and contiue working, it will save a whole lot of ups and downs and make things much safer, then do most of your work on the ground at the same time.......make your self a good beevac there are some great ideas on this sit........remember he's paying you....!
As far as what to charge, I would be asking myself, what are the long term benifits (reg. pay, a good friend, a rich bee buddy :lol: )
Should I just politely say no thanks?
if all he wants is a boy, charge alot.....
Any help here would be much appreciated....