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BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: orvette1 on February 08, 2013, 10:40:12 pm

Title: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: orvette1 on February 08, 2013, 10:40:12 pm

  I have been given permission to remove a hive from a tree on public property.  The hive is hanging from a limb with nothing under it, so it is OK access.  It is about the size of a Harley Davidson tire.  Do I just detach it from the limb and drop it into a plastic bag and rehive it at the bee yard?  Or do I cut some comb put it in empty frames, try for the queen and put the nuc next to it? There is no power so I can't use my bee vac.

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: my-smokepole on February 08, 2013, 11:06:56 pm

I have done them as a cut out. Rubber band or hinge frame witch ever you prefer.
David

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: divemaster1963 on February 08, 2013, 11:23:24 pm

Open Hive?

Check with Hardwood. He gets some of these every year. He lives in florida and is one of the greats on the forum doing removals.


John.

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: wadehump on February 09, 2013, 10:10:38 am

Plastic bag = dead

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: hardwood on February 09, 2013, 10:21:25 am

Thanks for the compliment John!

Yeah, we do several open air colony removals every year...just finished one a couple of days ago in fact. It's almost always best to remove them comb by comb, if feasible, to reduce the chance of injuring the queen or other bees for that matter. If they are small enough to move the whole thing and they are located in a tough spot to work or there are public safety issues it might be best to move the whole thing and deal with it back in a bee yard though.

Here's one of each method:

Michelle's bees.wmv (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBuMlTR08hU#ws)

Ebb Tide bees (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CinhWjCmHwc#ws)

Scott

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: D Coates on February 09, 2013, 01:01:28 pm

Awesome videos!  Thanks for sharing.  Personally, I've never seen an open air hive.

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: JPBEEGETTER on February 09, 2013, 04:26:48 pm

I have made some new swarm catchers for just this situation.. I have taken 5 Gal. water jugs, cut out  the bottom used pvc fittings to  close off the neck, ending up with 1 1/4 female in the neck, using 1 1/4 pvc pipe to extend up as high as needed. slip the open end over the swarm and move it up sharply and bees fall into the water jug . Off to the hive, turn it right side up, dumping the bee's in to it... JPP

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: JP on February 09, 2013, 04:51:00 pm

Yep, the idea of placing the entire thing in a box will not work for a variety of reasons. You must do a cut out.

Look at Hardwood's videos and here are some of my own with my buddies Schawee and Bud.

Best of luck to you!


...JP

Old Metairie External Hive On Tree Branch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh7ZX0Ry0XI#ws)

The Bickering Bee Keepers Remove Another External Bee Hive From An Oak Tree (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8y_VzpFvz4#ws)

Me, Bud & Schawee Remove Bees From A Fig Tree - Mobile.m4v (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92BUYU9nTco#ws)

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: hardwood on February 09, 2013, 04:53:22 pm

JPBEEGETTER, We do the same thing only with a bucket/lid/extension pole.

Bud4 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtJ9cTQr3is#ws)

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: JPBEEGETTER on February 09, 2013, 05:15:33 pm

Scott, I  found that you don't need to use a top, It will just kill bees when you snap it over. they will stay in bucket .  Joel  JPP

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: divemaster1963 on February 09, 2013, 07:00:32 pm

Woops JP. MY bad I must hve missed your vids of open air hive removals. Your also one of the greats here of course.  :oops:


John

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: JPBEEGETTER on February 27, 2013, 11:01:48 am

Scott, here are pic's of my swarm catcher, would have gotten back sooner , but you know how that goes..JPP

(http://s23.postimage.org/mnma7dr07/DSC00010.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)

(http://s14.postimage.org/czbgqak8d/DSC00008.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)

(http://s24.postimage.org/du5114zr5/DSC00006.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)

(http://s12.postimage.org/cx6f3p2rd/DSC00004.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)

comes with (2) 5 foot sections of 1 1/4 gray PVC the white PVC deteriorates too fast. poles slip together so can be removed for storage and removing to place bees in hive, has handle on side for easy pouring of bees into hive, works great and easily...JPP

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: bud1 on February 27, 2013, 12:15:44 pm

beegeter  that pole extendx to 20', and with a good swarm in it kinda hard to hold without letting it in befor dumping hence top

Title: Re: Removing a large hive from a tree
Post by: JPBEEGETTER on February 27, 2013, 04:28:34 pm

Bud, with the 1 1/4 inch PVC you can extend it as far up as you have  sections. The sections of PVC all have coupler ends so fit together .Have the ability to remove as much as you want to or take off down to the jug to release the bees. the pole you have is too long to drop bees into hive, but with mine while I am taking to hive  I am removing sections of "pole" 5ive or ten feet at a time and then with the side handle pour bees into hive ..Smooth. JPP