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Author Topic: My First Trap Out  (Read 9811 times)

Offline asprince

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My First Trap Out
« on: July 11, 2009, 11:19:15 pm »
I was very impressed with Mr. iddee's trap out instructions. I am please that I finally got the opportunity to try it out. I could have cut them out but this looked like a trap out candidate.

Comments please. Does my set up look OK?

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Steve







  
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2009, 11:29:01 pm »
What did I do wrong while posting my pictures?
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline David LaFerney

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2009, 11:56:16 pm »
What did I do wrong while posting my pictures?

To post a picture open it in another tab and copy the url by highlighting it and right clicking on it and select copy (or hold the Ctrl button and hit C at the same time) then change tabs back to the forum post and click on the Insert Image icon right above the regular smiley on the left.  Then hit Ctrl V or right button on your mouse to paste the picture URL between the img tags.  Once you post if you mess it up somehow you can still edit it for a while.

The trap out looks good.  How high up is it?  Did you see bees going into the hive?  What did you bait it with?
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Samuel Clemens

Putting the "ape" in apiary since 2009.

Offline asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2009, 12:05:19 am »
Maybe one of the mods will fix it if necessary.

It is a bout 10 feet up. I baited with a frame of brood / larva / eggs from a strong hive. When I placed the cone, bees were everywhere around the cone. Six hours later, most were gone. I did not open the hive but I assume they are in the hive taking care of the brood.


Steve 
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline iddee

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2009, 12:42:49 am »
The setup looks good. The catch box could be 5 inches lower, as the bees mostly return to the bottom of the cone, but I think it will work fine where it is.

My only question is "How sturdy is it"? The 2X4 looks to have only one nail in it. I cannot see what holds it to the brick. Keep in mind that it can weigh 75 lb. or more before it is removed. Possibly a hundred plus. Is it going to hold in a windy rainstorm?
"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 G3farms

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2009, 12:44:59 am »
You can click on the "url" and the pic will come up.

looks like you got it going on for sure. I like the idea of the screened bottom board, take a flash light and look up into the hive to see what is happening. If I did not know better I would say iddee had been there.

It would be interesting to see what is left after you finish the trap out. Maybe just take one little board off ;), you know you are wanting to and besides all that comb needs to come out :-D

G3
those hot bees will have you steppin and a fetchin like your heads on fire and your keister is a catchin!!!

Bees will be bees and do as they please!

Offline fermentedhiker

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2009, 10:31:46 am »
I'm with Iddee on the 2x4 attachment.  I would at least scab on another piece of 2x4 to the existing one so that your platform is actually resting on solid wood instead of relying on nail(s) to support it as a side load.  Keep us posted on how it goes.

FH 
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Offline asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2009, 11:45:05 am »
The bracket is assembled and fastened securely to the house using 3" drywall screws. (nails? who uses nails?) There are legs on the back of the bracket behind the box that are screwed to the rim joist. I weigh 240# and I suspended my weight from the bracket to test. It will hold.

Mr. iddee. you are correct. If I had it to do over again I would have lowered the box under the cone. Most of the returning bees gathered under the cone.

They are 25 miles from my house, how often should I check on them?

Steve
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline iddee

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2009, 12:50:22 pm »
Check them the day after setup, then again within a week. After that, at least weekly until the traffic tells you how often.
"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 asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2009, 09:45:01 pm »
First Status report

I had the opportunity this evening to check on the status of this trap out. Things were looking good. There was lots of activity flying in and out of the hive body. There were some bees bearding on the cone and some inside the cone. I took a flash light and looked up under the hive through the screened bottom board. It looked like there were 3 or 4 frames loaded with bees. I plan to look inside the hive this weekend and hopefully find a queen cell or two.

Thanks Mr. iddee

Steve
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2009, 08:36:02 am »
Checked on the status of this project yesterday. It has been 10 days since I started. There are 3 or 4 frames of bees in the bait box. There were three capped queen cells (small in size) on the bait frame. There were still some bees in the cone so all are not out yet.

I think I need to feed them. they have no stores and they are not drawing any comb. I can see a little nectar in the empty cells of the  bait frame but not much. Other than yard flowers, I do not see much in the area for them to forage.

Should I feed?

Steve
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline iddee

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #11 on: July 22, 2009, 11:29:03 am »
Feeding is not desirable, but they must eat. If there's nothing coming in, you will have to feed. A hive top or inside feeder would be better than a boardman. All should be monitored tightly for robbing.
"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 asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #12 on: July 22, 2009, 01:38:51 pm »
iddee, all I have is a boardman feeder unless I put a baggie on top of the frames. What if I put a boardman on top of the hive facing toward the back of the hive? They could feed and any visitors would be away from the entrance.

Thanks for your guidance,

Steve
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline iddee

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2009, 01:57:23 pm »
Is there a place you could set one or more boardman feeders 50 feet or more away from the trap? About 4 boardmans 50 to 150 feet away would work fine. one would be better than none.

Many times I use a gallon pickle jar inverted on two 3/8 inch strips, a good ways away from the hives.
"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 Robo

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2009, 10:18:52 pm »
Can you pull a frame of honey from another hive to give them?  Then you don't have to worry about the robbing.   I've also poured syrup into empty combs in a pinch.
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Offline asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #15 on: July 22, 2009, 10:55:54 pm »
Can you pull a frame of honey from another hive to give them?  Then you don't have to worry about the robbing.   I've also poured syrup into empty combs in a pinch.

Rob, that is what I would normally do, but I moved all my hives last weekend to cotton and soybeans about 30 miles south. The trap out is 20 miles north. I have some drawn comb, I may try pouring honey in the cells.

Steve
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline G3farms

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2009, 06:03:06 pm »
set your jar of honey in some hot water to thin it down.

G3
those hot bees will have you steppin and a fetchin like your heads on fire and your keister is a catchin!!!

Bees will be bees and do as they please!

Offline asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #17 on: August 08, 2009, 09:19:20 pm »
It has now been 4 weeks and it appears that no bees are leaving the cone. This was a small trap out with only three frames of bees in the bait box. I am planning to remove the cone next week and seal up the hole and call this job complete.

I am going to start another trap out next week that also appears to be a small colony. Can I use this hive, bees and all, for my bait hive on the next cut out? Will the bees in the hive that is now queen right accept the trapped out bees from another colony?

Thanks Mr iddee for all of your advice,

Steve
   
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline David LaFerney

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #18 on: August 08, 2009, 09:34:06 pm »
Will the bees in the hive that is now queen right accept the trapped out bees from another colony?

Have you confirmed that you have a queen?  I looked into my (1st also - starte July 3) trap out yesterday, and couldn't confirm that they have a queen.  They were acting pretty contented and packing in a fair amount of stores for such a small hive (4 1/2 medium frames) so I'm still holding out hope that the queen made it.   

I'm wondering what I should do if there isn't brood in another week. There are still bees coming out - slowly - and the main point of my trap out is to get the bees out of the wall, not just free bees.
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Samuel Clemens

Putting the "ape" in apiary since 2009.

Offline asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #19 on: August 08, 2009, 09:37:32 pm »
No I have not confirmed. Just assumed since there were three queen cells three weeks ago that one out of the three survived. I plan to check them soon.

Steve
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline iddee

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #20 on: August 08, 2009, 10:29:46 pm »
I have only did one trap starting with a queen and 1 plus frames of bees. It worked fine. I don't know what the next one might do.

Are you going to give them time to rob the house after removing the cone?
"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 asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #21 on: August 09, 2009, 11:10:10 am »

Are you going to give them time to rob the house after removing the cone?

I wasn't since they had only been there for less than two months. I doubt there is much honey to rob. Am I wrong?

Steve
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Offline iddee

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #22 on: August 09, 2009, 11:24:41 am »
I have no idea how much is there. I have seen large hives pack away 50 lb. of honey in a week. It is your call, but what would it hurt to leave the hive an extra 2 or 3 days to see what they do. If it is empty, they will ignore it. If there's honey in it, it will be a robbing frenzy.
"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 David LaFerney

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #23 on: August 09, 2009, 12:00:48 pm »

Are you going to give them time to rob the house after removing the cone?

I wasn't since they had only been there for less than two months. I doubt there is much honey to rob. Am I wrong?

Steve

If there is only 5 pounds of honey in there how many ants, cockroaches, silverfish, mice, etc will it feed?  How long until if finishes being eaten, fermenting, oozing out of the wall? 

I bet the homeowner would want you to finish robbing it out.
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Samuel Clemens

Putting the "ape" in apiary since 2009.

Offline asprince

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Re: My First Trap Out
« Reply #24 on: August 09, 2009, 05:49:26 pm »
OK, I can take good advice. I will leave them a few days after I remove the cone and let them rob the honey.

Thanks,

Steve
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resembalance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

 

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