Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: JP on June 23, 2009, 09:43:22 am
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You'd be grumpy also if you had to go through what I did last night! First off, the apartment was supposed to be vacant(not!) and the building owner and myself had to move furniture, etc... for me to access TWO large colonies.
I did the huge one first, no vapor barrier, lots of bees, lots of honey, took some decent pics of this one.
The other one, no vapor barrier, a little less comb, albeit they built into the next wall section, but a ton more bees in the other section and later on in the process they decided to be just as grumpy as I am this morning. I may not swell as much when I get stung anymore, but they still hurt, especially the ones in sensitive areas and the repetitive areas, my fingers and neck.
Let's not forget the one I took over my right eye, that one actually gave me a china ball, and no I don't have a picture of it (too grumpy for that shot!)
Sorry, I didn't get many shots of the second removal, but well, I just wasn't quite into it, with the roaches everywhere and stinging bees, it just wasn't the most fun removal. :-P
The one thing that kept me going through all this was listening to my tigers edge Texas out in game one of the best of three in the college world series. Man, those Texans had a pitcher in there throwing 97 mph fast balls. Lord have mercy, not many major leaguers can throw that kind of steam!
Well, here are the pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/pyxicephalus/June222009#
First set is one I did Friday, (what was in the roof section) 2nd set is one I'm estimating, others are from last night.
...JP
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Cool pics as always JP! They tore you up a bit huh?
Man it was a shame you missed watching that game last night it truly was one of the best games I ever watched. What ever team had won it would have been deserved. But I am sort of glad it turned out the way it did!
Keith
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Glad to see you back on Keith!
Keith, I just really hate doing removals with brick exteriors. They are a royal pain in the you know what, often enough!
I got back home after 11pm, showered, ate, got on here some and watched the news highlights of the game. I wish I could have watched it. They play tonight again right? Them bears still leaving your hives alone?
...JP
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JP it sounds like a fishing trip is needed after all of that. Setting the hook on a big fish is as much fun as picking up a big ol' swarm.
G3
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A fishing trip with Bailey sounds real good about now! Last Wednesday, the rip was further out than we were, we had a great trip, but we always hope to find the rip with sargasso grass full of Mahi Mahi. Would love to be fighting a big amberjack right now!
Another thing that sucked about last night is the bees attached comb to the sheetrock on the second colony, so removing the sheetrock was painstaking.
...JP
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I went and checked them for bears I did not see any evidence. My uncle was the one that saw the mother bear and cubs and also the one that saw the paw prints near my hives. He is a very reliable source, but again I didn't see any thing. More than likely the mother bear was near my hives in search of h2o in the canal behind the hives due to the local drought.
Yes they play again tonight @ 6 on espn
And also glad to be back
Keith
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JP, interesting pics, too bad you couldn't show us the picture of the China ball. That was the weirdest expression I have ever heard, what is it? I wouldn't doubt for a minute I would be pretty grumpy too after what you went through, smiling. Have another beautiful day, to love, live and health. Cindi
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Cindi, I just knew you would comment about wanting to see my china ball or swollen cheek, actually, its not swollen anymore. It was rough Cindi, those bees put up a fight!
Hey, how's the rock pile today?
...JP ;)
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JP, I think you have rock pile envy. I think that I am going to torment you, and keep it top secret about how that rock pile is really doing, smiling, na, na, na, na, na, na......have that wonderful and awesome day, love and live, health. Cindi
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On a clear day, they say Cindi's rock pile can be seen from hundreds of miles away.
...JP
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JP, oh you brat, you're baiting me. Guess I'll take a picture, the grass is kind of grown up around the sides, it may be almost covering it by now, smiling. I know you want to see a picture, I know you wanna.....look tomorrow morning for a great and most wonderful picture, smiling. Just for you, JP, you'll see it can reach the stars, smiling. Still trying to figure out how to bring it with me when we move, that great and wonderful day....Have an awesome day, to love and live your life, and huge wishes of great health. Cindi
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Cindi, it would take two life times to bring that rock pile with you. Just start another one at the new pad. They have rocks where you're moving to, no?
ooh, you gonna take a picture, gonna put the Canadian flag on top?
...JP
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Wow! That's a lotta bees!! :shock:
Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by a 'vapor barrier'?
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http://www.ontariotile.com/vapour_barrier.html
...JP
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http://www.ontariotile.com/vapour_barrier.html
Thanks, JP.... I guess I'm still unclear as to what part this played in your cutouts. Does a vapor barrier - or absence of one - affect the bees' choice of housing, or their behavior? I'm green on this.
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JP, you'll get a kick out of this. Last summer my Brother-in-Law made a sign for my rock pile, it didn't stay on the pile very long, someone pushed it down :shock:. Have that awesome and great day, health. Cindi
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Hi grumpy...sorry just couldn't help myself :evil: :-D Hope your stings are healing well.
That is a lot of bees, are you able to collect most of them in a cut out this large?
Have you noticed a hive from a cut out seem to survive/or build up better than a swarm, a split or a package?
Do you make more than one hive and add a queen from a colony this size, or keep them together?
Great pictures! Thanks for always sharing with us.
Patti
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On a clear day, they say Cindi's rock pile can be seen from hundreds of miles away.
...JP
I'm going to start me a rock pile. Only mine is to build a few ripple dams across my creek to slow the flow and reduce erosion in the creek. 1st pile is going right at the property line, I have a wide spot and can make a nice pond a few feet deep. And since the creek's dry in the summer now's the time to start.
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Brian, before starting that rock pile, you may want to consult with the president of the rock building comittee. She may need to issue you a special permit before you begin, especially if you're going to build one that can reach space, like her's does. I think she even has a book you could read for tips as to what rocks are best for atmospheric pressure changes. Best of luck!
Cheryl, when bees build between brick and blackboard, there are no restraints as to where the hive can go, directionally. Between the blackboard and sheetrock there should be framing which boxes them in and the hive can only expand to within that area, this makes life a lot easier!
Patti, my favorite hives begin as swarms I have caught. They routinely build at rates that will surprise you. All of my hives are cut outs or swarms, or splits thereof. If they have feed and are strong they all do pretty well.
Cindi, please help Brian with his rock pile. ;)
...JP
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JP, thanks so much for the explanation! I know very little about building(s). I could tell what you were saying was significant, I just couldn't quite grasp it. I learn something every day -- thanks for the knowledge! :-D
I have sort-of a rock pile... Pieces of my collection usually end up as decorations in cement stepping stones. I'll bet my rock-pile isn't anywhere as big as yours, Cindi!!
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Congratulations on the cut out sorry you have so much trouble with the bee
Johnny
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Hey JP, my rock pile is going to be linear as in rock fence or dam, not that Tower of Babel that Cindi has. Also, my is going to serve a purpose other than granite storage.
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JP, you never cease to amaze me, keep on keepin' on. You have helped me to get my rock pile into the Guiness World Book of Records, smiling and a great big kidding here. There will be more rock piles in my lifetime, but probably never as big as the one that I have created, hee, hee.
Brian, I bet you have rocks galore, now is the time to start to prevent erosion for surely. I have found many a really cool rock amongst my throws. Beautiful days, to live and love, health. Cindi