Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: Understudy on February 23, 2009, 10:49:51 am
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Hi,
Interesting cut outs are what I really like. Ones that don't fit the norm. This is one of those.
I received a call from the water department about bees in a water valve. Now bees go into water meter boxes all the time. The are big boxes. Water valves are small about maybe 6" or 8" in diameter and they run about 4' deep. They also can fill up with water. So I make the run out and sure enough. There is a hive in this.
(http://brendhanhorne.com/coppermine_dir/albums/water_valve/thumb_dscn0772.jpg) (http://www.brendhanhorne.com/coppermine_dir/displayimage.php?album=185&pos=2)
I am only putting up this one picture so I don't over load this page. you can see all of them here.
http://brendhanhorne.com/coppermine_dir/thumbnails.php?album=185 (http://brendhanhorne.com/coppermine_dir/thumbnails.php?album=185)
So there is no real way for me to cut this out effectively without destroying the hive. I am not interested in destroying the hive. It is jam packed with bees. So I take a nuc box. Remove the screened bottom and put it over the valve. I added five frames with some old comb I had from another cut out. There was some pollen in the cells. The bees started working it as soon as I put it over the valve.
I am going to leave it there for two weeks and then go back and check on it. If I can get the queen in there then I will slowly move the box over and use a trap out funnel to help remove the rest. Then I will clean out the valve. that's the plan. The reality will be different I am sure.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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What about using a vac?
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Not really acceptable. The comb would get sucked in. It would be a massacre. The bees and the comb go down about three feet. If comb is in the way I try not to vac because it is just a death machine at that point.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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How deep is the hole? K, see you answered that. I think your plan will work, good luck!
...JP
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Brendhan, does the hole bottom out at three feet or can they move somewhere else deeper in?
Have you thought about beequick?
...JP
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The bee quick is a good idea. But I try not to use chemicals on the bees. The PCOs get whinny when beekeepers use chems.
Also getting bee quick is a bit of issue. I keep hearing it's on back order.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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You can get it now. You think the powers that be would have an issue w/ beequick?
...JP
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You can get it now. You think the powers that be would have an issue w/ beequick?
...JP
The powers that be have tried to prevent beekeepers from using vacs.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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Point them out and we can throw swarms on them! Its a money thing and an ego thing.
...JP
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Hey buddy, I had one set up for today but its too cold, rescheduled for next Thursday. Gonna fart around today and extract rest of honey that's been in kitchen, wife will maybe love me again!
When are those boxes leaving my kitchen! :devilbanana:
...JP
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Hey buddy, I had one set up for today but its too cold, rescheduled for next Thursday. Gonna fart around today and extract rest of honey that's been in kitchen, wife will maybe love me again!
When are those boxes leaving my kitchen! :devilbanana:
...JP
I understand. I am heading out to Ft. Myers. The day job calls.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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Isn't beequick ALL natural???? Is that "organic"?
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why not do a trap out? The "cone" would fit nicely over the top of the pipe, and have it exit inside your nuc. You would get lots of bees and maybe save them even if queen absconded.
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Did you say that they can fill up with water? Wouldn't a slowly rising water level force the bees up and out as well as bee quick would?
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I like the rising water level, if you don't want the comb-brood. Stack with two nucs or boxes, whatever fits and pour the water in--sounds interesting. I would worry about leaving a box anywhere for a week or two. Someone will eventually mess with it.
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I did not do a trap out right of the bat because I did not have the funnel or board with me. Also I wanted them to start working the frame sin the box first. I had to travel to Ft. Myers today so I did what I could based on the time I had.
I idea of doing a water level rise was something I considered. I have done sand level rise method for bees in block walls. The problem is that I have to pour the sand or water over or run a nozzle down and then pump the water in. None of which is a bad idea if you can be very patient. When I do a sand level rise I do it over two weeks also so they have time to deal with brood. Water won't usually stay that way for two weeks. I didn't want to do a quick flush because to many bees are likely to die that way or they abscond. Which isn't a bad idea so long as they don't fly way the hell off. I decided to take the more patient steps because of time allowed and methods that have worked.
None of the ideas mentioned are bad. I just did what I could with the time and materials I had.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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Hi Brendhan
I think you're slow method is the best. Taking the time to let the bees chose to move into your box on their own is the least stressful on them and should work excellently well.
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This is interesting stuff: Even us "Old timers" learn a lot from things like this on the forum.
You answered my question about time, would they allow you enough time to do a trap out.
The Sand rise is a good way to slowly force the bees up into the nuc above, bet you have to super it before you're done.
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When I spoke with Brendhan last night, his idea was to try and save the genetics. Without brood nor the queen, this hive's genetics will not live on.
Placing the nuc and having the queen move up and laying in the nuc is the best way to go here, if indeed she does move up, which I suppose she very well may. If she does, even if he doesn't get her at least he has brood and eggs and they can make a new queen from that.
...JP
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Could you take a frame of brood from another hive and put in the nuc to entice the queen up? I assume the only way for them to go back into the valve after foraging is through the hole in the nuc? If you supered it and had the hole only in the top nuc they would have farther to go, would this make them stop within the nucs better? Just wondering for future reference.
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Could you take a frame of brood from another hive and put in the nuc to entice the queen up? I assume the only way for them to go back into the valve after foraging is through the hole in the nuc? If you supered it and had the hole only in the top nuc they would have farther to go, would this make them stop within the nucs better? Just wondering for future reference.
Adding a broodframe in the nuc with drawn comb could very likely entice her to move up. I can only assume that he has a hole in the bottom of the nuc for them to enter through, although I'm not certain.
...JP
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Could you take a frame of brood from another hive and put in the nuc to entice the queen up? I assume the only way for them to go back into the valve after foraging is through the hole in the nuc? If you supered it and had the hole only in the top nuc they would have farther to go, would this make them stop within the nucs better? Just wondering for future reference.
Yes and no. 1 frame would not be enough. However 1 frame of brood, 1 frame of honey, and 1 frame of pollen would be.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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Could you take a frame of brood from another hive and put in the nuc to entice the queen up? I assume the only way for them to go back into the valve after foraging is through the hole in the nuc? If you supered it and had the hole only in the top nuc they would have farther to go, would this make them stop within the nucs better? Just wondering for future reference.
Adding a broodframe in the nuc with drawn comb could very likely entice her to move up. I can only assume that he has a hole in the bottom of the nuc for them to enter through, although I'm not certain.
...JP
The nuc has no bottom board on it. It's big enough. The white rag in the front of the last photo was to seal an opening that was large enough for the bees to enter. With the rag there they go into the top entrance and cross the comb that is in the frames.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMPY3Q2o3Co[/youtube]
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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I enjoyed the video immensely, was really hoping you would find the queen, was pulling for you. Your excitement for what you are trying to accomplish and what the bees have already accomplished shines through with that Brendhan energy, magnificent!
I agree they need another nuc box pronto!
Good luck to you and eagle eye on getting her next time!
...JP
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i agree with JP that was magnificent,it was very nicely done.the whole family loved your video.we are rooting for you to get the queen.please keep us updated.good luck. bill
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzD78gJRWIE[/youtube]
Success will be mine!!!
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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Those bees were so mean they didn't want to be rude and sting you, they knew they could off you at any moment and had pity on your poor soul Brendhan.
You need to have them tested at once or other people who come in contact with that colony may be tickled or licked to death.
You wouldn't want that on your conscience now would you?
Hey, was it a lil windy that day??
Great job man.
...JP
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Those bees were so mean they didn't want to be rude and sting you, they knew they could off you at any moment and had pity on your poor soul Brendhan.
You need to have them tested at once or other people who come in contact with that colony may be tickled or licked to death.
You wouldn't want that on your conscience now would you?
Hey, was it a lil windy that day??
Great job man.
...JP
It was windy Saturday and Sunday. It keeps blowing the clouds away. That is why I have no rain.
Those mean nasty bees. I mean what will people think. Did you see the tattoos on that queen. She has to be one of those biker types. Just vicious. ;)
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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Didn't see the tattoo on the queen but noticed all the drones had mohawks. Don't let 'em mate with any virgins, bad seed, I'm tellin' ya!
...JP
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very nicely done brendhan,we are glad you got the queen out.thank goodness you got those mean ole bees out and saved everyone :-D.hope your new swarm works out well for you. bill
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCvEWdz1ROw[/youtube]
Now the bees are out of there and have been located to the bee farm.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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Absolutely thrilling!!
What kind of cover was that on the top of your nuc box?
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Absolutely thrilling!!
What kind of cover was that on the top of your nuc box?
It a top entrance. I make them.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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JP, as Charles' said, thrilling!!! Beautiful and most wonderful day, health, life. Cindi
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Thoroughly enjoyed those videos, Brendhan. Well done.
Mick