Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: Haddon on May 20, 2013, 03:42:32 pm

Title: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: Haddon on May 20, 2013, 03:42:32 pm
In the last week I have done three removals. God help me I am tried.

First one was cool nice hive had just swarmed 5 days before so if they had a queen most likely virgin removal went good but they swarmed off day after getting in my yard. I find rescent swarming hives with one brood or eggs leave instantly but I was the one that caught the swarm 5 days before.

Next Saturday I drive two hours to get to a apartment complex the hive is in between the floors in the walk way removed 2 pieces of masonite siding and a small square of wafer board to expose the small fresh hive so new that every piece of comb crushed under my touch. The hive was in a walk way above a stair well so I had to put my ladder on the stairs. The sun set directly into the stair well so turning to suck the bees you looked directly at the sun. Like sucking bees from the black whole of nothing but I did invent a redneck trick get a piece of pipe stick your vac hose on it now duck tape a led light to the end of the pipe. Took 4 hours to do that one should have only been 2 really.

Last but most likely worst Sunday removal in middle of boonies. Bud you dont have nothing on how far this boy was off the beaten trail. Old house I think he is turning into a deer camp he said he didnt know he just wanted the hive gone he knew that. Old house old hive but under a window so I only had to remove two pieces of the old wood siding that was cool. Some what small in size maybe deep and a half including the honey. Well the guy had yet to get the power on so I was using a geni to run my bee vac. First thing I saw was fresh cut queen cells so I knew the hive had just swarmed maybe once or twice. So I start sucking bees removing comb then it happens you know it darn geni stops  :'( all I have with me is channel lock pliers and I am sure the carb is gunked. I took it apart with my fingers and those pliers I swear could only get it to run for a minute at a time no lie one single minute so I would crank and suck crank and suck. Finally I just took the knife cut the combs because it was getting dark threw combs bees and all over in a rubber made box and bee dunned the whole area. Bees were everywhere I have no clue if the bees will move on or what they will do I dont know if I got the queen. One of the worst of all times as far as getting the job done.

I would have added pics of what they looked like but I dont feel like finding them after all this.
I will be really glad when I get paid for this week of hell.

I would love to hear I am not the only one getting beat up. So if you have a bad day story add it.
Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: Jim134 on May 20, 2013, 04:04:51 pm
IMHO bee removals are about getting paid for your time and expertise. The bonus is you maybe able to save the bees.


                

                      BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: Haddon on May 20, 2013, 05:15:52 pm
Its just a day at work that went to hell.

First hive might have stayed if I had keep them closed for a few days so I am trying that with the others. I would think for them to swarm off they would have to have a queen even if she was a virgin. The other 2 weren't really my fault I could have tested the geni more but darn thing ran a hour with the saw and all before it decided to die.

Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: Kathyp on May 20, 2013, 05:40:29 pm
have never used a vacuum for a removal. i'm sure they are nice.  always meant to get one made.  :-)
Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: NotactJack on May 20, 2013, 08:17:16 pm
I pulled off some siding and found out that the bees that had only been there a month had an 8 ft tall hive in between two studs. So the area was 24" x 8 ft x 6 inch stuffed full of bees. They were super aggressive most likely africanized. Everyone within two blocks was getting harassed. I had animal control and the fire department called on me. In the end I talked with the home owner and we decided that it would be best to exterminate them. Sucks, I hate being the reason for the death of the bees.    Also I felt Superbad after a new package absconded 3 days after being installed.
Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: blanc on May 20, 2013, 10:22:14 pm
Next time prepare to remove without a bee vac. I done two without recently and went well. Even tho I made a bee vac I just wanted to see how it would go without it and it helps when the bees are gentle and love the vac with a hot hive. I do have a harbor freight $99 dollar gen if i need it and run it from time to time to make sure it runs when I need it and works well. Don't feel too bad as I have had my share of screw ups too! :-D
Blanc
Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: Haddon on May 21, 2013, 11:50:12 am
I will give it up if I am required to do removals without a bee vac. Hack I have even gotten to the point this year if you call me for a swarm shack I pull out the bee vac. I know I know why wouldnt I just shake one word TIME. I can suck a swarm in about 5 minutes and I can suck them off anything and out of anywhere. Now if I found it on a small branch few feet from the ground then yeah I shake but if I have a free bee vac and they are on the side of a building then get ready to be vacuumed. Last one was on a chainlink fence took at the most 10 minutes thats with me walking the 100 or so yards to suck from both sides.

As far as the removal with no vac. I took maybe 3-8 minutes cutting the comb out once I had finally gave up on the bee vac. Comb was hard so I would yank the razor blade threw it and just put it over in the rubber made very genital to not knock off bees and just went at it. I figured if the virgin was there then I got her in the tub then I closed it up and took it all home. When I got there I framed it on out and combined the bees from the tub and the vac.

Hey will the harbor geni run a skill saw?


 
Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: NotactJack on May 21, 2013, 12:35:01 pm
My skillsaw is 15 amps I think the harbor freight genny is 800 watts which is about 6 amp mas or menos. So no go.
Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: D Semple on May 22, 2013, 11:25:34 am
I would love to hear I am not the only one getting beat up. So if you have a bad day story add it.


Yesterday I missed 3 swarm calls because my phone was acting up and by the time I returned the swarm calls they had found somebody else.

Then while I was working one of my bee yards yesterday evening my dumb ass bird dog (who was along for the ride) tangled with the mother of all skunks then jumped back in and rolled all over the bee equipment in the bed of my company pickup truck. I think it will be weeks before the smell is gone out of my truck.

Spent the evening de-skunking the dog.  Wife made me sleep outside last night.

Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: Haddon on May 22, 2013, 01:28:44 pm
Well D sorry to hear you had such a bad one.

I opened the bee vac on the saturdays removal monday night and yesterday that hive had bees all over the back so either they were just stupid or they dont like the hive and are looking at moving on today.

I have yet to open the the one from sunday I thought I would combine the 2 and if need be order a queen that might not happen.

Oh side note I wore the bottom out of my bee suit last weekend so I will have to replace the material again if I want to feal safe inside it. And the hive I put the sundays removal next to acts a little ify so I would really like the suit before checking them.

Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: Haddon on May 23, 2013, 11:57:03 am
Guess what I found in the rubber maid box yesterday while cleaning out the truck her and about 50 bees. So I went out there and dropped her in the hive I caped the cage with some marshmallow do yall think the bees will the marshmallow out? So that makes me feel better about the removal sunday also saturdays removal was still in the hive yesterday so thats another day of them not swarming off lol.


(http://imageshack.us/a/img35/6989/20130522174203.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/35/20130522174203.jpg/)
Title: Re: When it just goes BAD 3 times in a row!!!
Post by: HomeSteadDreamer on May 26, 2013, 11:13:43 pm
 :th_thumbsupup: