Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: JP on April 23, 2008, 11:45:32 pm

Title: 2 Week Old Colony
Post by: JP on April 23, 2008, 11:45:32 pm
Today I removed a colony that swarmed into a soffit two weeks ago. I left my camera at home, but the customers, husband and wife, took pics and video, so I will post these when I get them.

The bees were very gentle, only 347 stings, nahhhh just kidding. :-D Afew accidental stings on the hands.

At one point a large section of comb fell apart and on to my hand. I had to use my other hand to brace the comb so it would't hit the ground and kill a bunch of bees. I figured when the comb smashed onto my hand I would immediately feel at least 20 stings, but not one stung me, it was weird, I was lucky.

Which brings this point to mind. For those of you doing removals on brand new hives, its almost better if you can wait a little while before doing the removal as the new combs are very fragile to work with.

They almost always fall apart and rend themselves useless. I think if you could wait perhaps a couple of months, the combs would be more rigid and easier to deal with. My .02 here and based on experience with dealing with young hives. To each his own though.

Oh, I picked up a rotozip from H.D., its the bomb!!!

Pictures soon.


...JP
Title: Re: 2 Week Old Colony
Post by: dpence on April 24, 2008, 03:42:16 pm
Cool.  I agree, established colonies have much firmer comb.  I am still waiting for the weather to be right on a day I can cut out a bunch in a soffit myself.  Yes a rotozip is a very handy tool.  I have lots of extra bits though...LOL

David
Title: Re: 2 Week Old Colony
Post by: JP on April 25, 2008, 12:38:48 am
Cool.  I agree, established colonies have much firmer comb.  I am still waiting for the weather to be right on a day I can cut out a bunch in a soffit myself.  Yes a rotozip is a very handy tool.  I have lots of extra bits though...LOL

David

David, there is definitely a learning curve with the rotozip, I'm seeing this first hand, but what a neat tool, a do all tool pretty much. Yep, gotta have those extra bits.


...JP
Title: Re: 2 Week Old Colony
Post by: Understudy on April 25, 2008, 12:48:34 am
Wait till you try that rotozip on stucco. >:)

You will go nowhere fast.

Sincerely,
Brendhan
Title: Re: 2 Week Old Colony
Post by: JP on April 25, 2008, 12:52:38 am
Wait till you try that rotozip on stucco. >:)

You will go nowhere fast.

Sincerely,
Brendhan


Thanks for the headsup, I'll stick with my hammer and chisel then, oh, and my sawzall.


...JP
Title: Re: 2 Week Old Colony
Post by: Understudy on April 25, 2008, 12:55:37 am
Wait till you try that rotozip on stucco. >:)

You will go nowhere fast.

Sincerely,
Brendhan


Thanks for the headsup, I'll stick with my hammer and chisel then, oh, and my sawzall.


...JP
Buy the $10 tile cut blades for stucco it's worth it.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Title: Re: 2 Week Old Colony
Post by: JP on April 25, 2008, 01:03:17 am
Wait till you try that rotozip on stucco. >:)

You will go nowhere fast.

Sincerely,
Brendhan


Thanks for the headsup, I'll stick with my hammer and chisel then, oh, and my sawzall.


...JP
Buy the $10 tile cut blades for stucco it's worth it.

Sincerely,
Brendhan



Thanks Brendhan, I'll check them out. ;)


...JP
Title: Re: 2 Week Old Colony
Post by: Understudy on April 25, 2008, 09:05:08 am
tungsten carbide sawzall blades (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100618993)

Sincerely,
Brendhan