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Author Topic: First Post - Feral Hive Removal - SUCCESS!!! UPDATE!  (Read 7443 times)

Offline simmonds

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First Post - Feral Hive Removal - SUCCESS!!! UPDATE!
« on: May 03, 2012, 01:02:43 pm »
Hi folks!  My wife and I are new this season to beekeeping and are having a GREAT time with our newly hived colonies in the backyard in the garden.  It has been very enjoyable and it is fun to sit in a lawn chair and watch these amazing bees do all that they do.  Coming back to the hive full of pollen, heavy and seemingly drunk and trying to hit the landing ramp is very funny!

The question though is about a feral colony living under our house (under the master bathroom).  They have been there just over a year and really are no problem there but they found a place in some dry rot to enter under the floor just under the shower area of the bathroom.  We are going to repair the dry rot and these bees have to come out and find a new home.  I tried contacting at least a dozen bee folks in my area and NONE want to come and give this cutout a try.  It is in a kind of hard place to comfortable access although if I stick my head under the house and peel the black plastic barrier away I can see the hive right at the edge of the house extending back in a ways...not sure how far though.

This weekend we are going to attempt this ourselves and I think with the help of reading this site and making a checklist of things needed we should be okay.  I built a simple bee vac this last week partly of my own design that seems to work good (have tested it out on some flies, and wasp nest or two and all test subjects survived no problem).  I will be doing this laying on my back with only a few feet clearance and am a little worried about how this will all go down...especially being our first one.  

If anyone has some words of encouragement or some tips I would be so grateful.  The weather here in Oregon is getting better and things are looking up!  Thanks everyone.

Chris and Julie



Crappy picture of the hive under the house:


Bee Vac 1:

\
Bee Vac 2:


Bee Vac 3:


Frames:

« Last Edit: May 07, 2012, 02:29:05 pm by simmonds »

Offline hardwood

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Re: First Post - Few Questions!
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2012, 01:29:03 pm »
Make sure you watch some of the videos in the bee removal forum to study up....good luck!

Scott
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Offline Kathyp

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Re: First Post - Few Questions!
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2012, 01:33:54 pm »
there are several beekeepers from s. oregon on here.  i am a few hours from you.  do let us know how it goes, and if you get in a jam with it, PM me.  we might be able to help you out or help you find someone who can.
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline simmonds

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Re: First Post - Few Questions!
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2012, 02:11:30 pm »
hardwood -  Thanks for the suggestion...I will watch and study the videos.  Thanks!

kathyp - Thanks!  You are really close to me.  I will PM if I get in a Jam and will also let you know how this whole thing turns out.


Here is a picture of the front edge of the hive under the house viewed through a mirror.  Sorry for the bad picture, it is a picture of a picture off my cell phone.



Here are a few pictures of my Bee-Vac I built and am kind of proud of how it turned out.  It is very light and uses a modified bee package box which is also part of the front cover.  I think I will build a second front cover/inner box assembly so I can switch them out if it gets full.  I sucked up a few wasps with this and then left the vac run for a half our and when I turned it off all the wasps were in the inner box and alive and well.  Seems to work good.

Edit:  Sorry guys, I cannot post the images...I guess my post count it too low and this site does not allow it for spam reasons.  :(

Offline David McLeod

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2012, 03:23:05 pm »
Just some tips off the top of my head.

-Take your time.
Going slow keeps the bees calmer and let's you think through and plan each move.

-Have a plan.
Layout your tools so that you can grab what you need when you need it. I am fully set up with my cutting table and vac with my
knives and frames and bands ready to hand.

-Hire an assistant.
My wife, who is not a beekeeper, loves cutouts and is invaluable to me for handing what I need or able to take the combs from and band them.

-Schedule well.
I like to schedule for good foraging weather, a busy bee is happy bee, and time it so that I am wrapping it up at dusk when the last of the foragers are coming in.
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Offline iddee

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2012, 03:27:54 pm »
Scott just posted a great one doing the exact same cutout.

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,37379.0.html
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Offline simmonds

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2012, 05:08:41 pm »
David -  Thanks for those great tips!  My wife and I are starting to feel encouraged.

iddee - Thanks for that great video link.  That is a lot like our situation except ours have been under there for well over a year!  Should I expect a hive of that size to be under our house as well or is it possible it will be much smaller?

I, unlike the guys in the video will be wearing gear...I am new at this and allergic (slightly, just some area swelling...not gonna stop me from enjoying this great hobby).  I do have an eppi pen just in case  :shock:

I think good preparation and cleaning the area under the house and putting down some clean tarps will be helpful.

Sure wish I could post photos here.

Chris and Julie

Offline Sundog

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2012, 06:30:21 pm »
Since you don't seem to be in a panic, have you considered smalling up their entrance and doing a "trap out"?

Have fun!

Offline simmonds

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2012, 06:55:25 pm »
Sundog... not sure what a "trap out" is?   :oops:

Offline iddee

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #9 on: May 03, 2012, 07:00:57 pm »
Your hive will likely be much larger. I would have two deeps ready for brood. DO NOT try to frame up honey. It is too heavy and drippy. Brood only goes into the frames. Being a larger hive doesn't make the job any different. Just longer.Take your time, take breaks, and go one step at a time.

Do not use the epi unless your tongue or throat begin swelling. Epinephrine can be as dangerous as bee venom.

Scott and Peggy have been doing it so long they don't even feel a sting anymore. :D
You are sensitive, not allergic.

You can post pics by pm'ing them to any moderator. Buzzbee and Robo are on most often. They will post them for you.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

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Offline iddee

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"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Offline simmonds

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2012, 08:34:34 pm »
iddee:  Thanks again for the help.  I think we will stick with the cut out option.  I will have two deeps ready and already have the frames ready...I am using cotton string to tie in the brood comb, not rubberbands.  I guess I need to make a second inner box for the bee vac as I wasn't aware so many bees were going to be in there...or maybe make a large screened box that I can dump them in from the bee vac container.  Any other ideas?

We are really starting to look forward to this.

Any preference on the time of day we should start?  Saturday is supposed to be mostly sunny, highs around 60 and the sun has been setting after 8pm.  Sunday is supposed to be highs near 70.  Of course this is western Oregon so the weather can change in an instant.




Offline iddee

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #12 on: May 03, 2012, 08:53:42 pm »
I would wait a few weeks. I start from 10 to 11 AM on a sunny day that is above 70, above 60 when starting.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

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Offline simmonds

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2012, 09:24:51 pm »
I would wait a few weeks. I start from 10 to 11 AM on a sunny day that is above 70, above 60 when starting.

We just really need to get to the repairs and be done with it by next weekend.   :'(

Offline Kathyp

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #14 on: May 03, 2012, 09:25:15 pm »
any reason for the string vs. the rubber bands?  you might find it difficult to get the string tight enough to hold the comb in the way you want.  the bees will remove the rubber bands in short order...or build around them  :-D

i usually put 4 fat ones on each frame before i start.  makes it easier to slide them over and hold the brood.  your fingers will be sticky and if you are wearing gloves (as i do) you'll have heavy, sticky, fingers.  the less you need to do, the easier.

also allow at least 3 hours and since it's your first, maybe more.  it will depend on what you find when you get in there.

spend some time in the removal forum reading about how to remove comb, where to start, and what you will need.  you have some advantage being at home, but you don't want it to be any more frustrating that it has to be!
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline Kathyp

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #15 on: May 03, 2012, 09:26:21 pm »
i think you picked a good weekend for it.  the weather is supposed to be much warmer and dry.  i would take advantage of that and not wait.  you never know what oregon weather will do.
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline simmonds

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #16 on: May 03, 2012, 10:11:36 pm »
Kathy, I chose the cotton string method simply because that is what I had when prepping the frames.  I nailed 3 tiny nails into the top bar of the frame and 2 on the bottom bar and zigzag the string and tied off on one side.  The other side has the same little nails but a length of cotton string only tied  off one one nail.  With this method as I hand the comb to my wife she should be able to lay the comb right in the frame then zigzag the last string to secure it in place securely.  I took a frame and laid a heavy book in place and tied it off and it held the book really well.  I could even flip and rotate the frame and the book stayed put.  I wish I could post pics I would show it as that would probably explain it better.  I saw this method somewhere, don't remember where now but it looked simple and sure enough it was.  I think the bees can remove the cotton string pretty quickly and easily.

I agree, the weather this weekend will be ideal (for Oregon weather anyway)  ;)


Offline David McLeod

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #17 on: May 03, 2012, 10:12:27 pm »
X2 on not saving the honey. The only time I try to save honey is on the unavoidable late season jobs. Just set the honey aside in a clean bucket and use for yourself this early in the season. As long as your area has enough of a flow for them to replace it otherwise feed the honey back to them.
Deeps are great if you have large combs. Most of my cut outs come from joist systems like yours and anything smaller than a 2x12 joist usually fits a medium or shallow frame after trimming away the honey.
I am slowly using up all my shallows for cut outs and switching to mediums. I do carry both deeps and shallows so I have options depending on what I find once I open it up.
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Offline iddee

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #18 on: May 03, 2012, 11:28:21 pm »
Do what you have to do. I have a few better chances than you do, being in NC. Just start early and give yourself plenty of time.If you don't finish the first day, just set the hive near the bee entrance to the house and start over the next morning.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Offline Kathyp

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Re: First Post - Few Questions - Feral Hive Removal
« Reply #19 on: May 04, 2012, 02:26:43 am »
sounds like your string thing will work fine.  i am into lazy beekeeping and that sounds like work  :evil:
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

 

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