A BEE thread....for those interested in beekeeping.

[Happy Chooks]

We finally got our bees yesterday. 3 gives!! I'm so glad!

Congratulations! Be sure to join us on Backyard Herds for the beekeeping section there!

 

[mak1]

No bees No honey No work no money!!!!!!

 

[Lapeerian]

Hubby found a local person/high school acquaintance that works for a tree trimming company that cut down a large hollow tree yesterday with honey bees inside. They typically dump the trees out in the woods that have bees instead of killing the bees, but brought this one back so we can collect them for a 3rd hive. Checked them out last night, but need ideas/tips on how to collect them? We've only had our first two hives for a month now.

The crevice they were using for an entrance is shown in the last picture, towards the bottom of the log.

 

[Happy Chooks]

No advice, but good luck!

 

[3goodeggs]

It is like what my husband is trying to do with the pillar bees.
I like the vacuum idea. Then you can get on with it.
You won't know if you have the queen though.

And I still think in order for a settled hive to survive. you'd need some food and brood stores.
I don't know. I am just trying to think like a bee.

Maybe if you use the vacuum set up for the bees and in another brood box cut out some of the hive, run some cloths hanger wire through the cut out comb and hang it from the top of the box where the frames hang, you can eventually get a hive. That box would look more like a warre hive.
Even if the queen gets damaged or left in the process you can get them to make a supersedure queen with the young brood. or re-queen.

We need Barbara to check in.

 

[Lapeerian]

It is like what my husband is trying to do with the pillar bees.
I like the vacuum idea. Then you can get on with it.
You won't know if you have the queen though.

And I still think in order for a settled hive to survive. you'd need some food and brood stores.
I don't know. I am just trying to think like a bee.

Maybe if you use the vacuum set up for the bees and in another brood box cut out some of the hive, run some cloths hanger wire through the cut out comb and hang it from the top of the box where the frames hang, you can eventually get a hive. That box would look more like a warre hive.
Even if the queen gets damaged or left in the process you can get them to make a supersedure queen with the young brood. or re-queen.

We need Barbara to check in.

When we bought our first 2 hives, we bought a 'deadout' hive too, so have a home for them with comb and some food stores. We plan on taking the comb from the tree also, the lowest comb was pure white so not sure how much they have built yet.

 

[mak1]

You should take the stump home and drill a hole on top so there is 2 holes.Then take the stump and put it over the two hives .Then you take a leaf blower and blow the bees into the hive.

 

[Lapeerian]

You should take the stump home and drill a hole on top so there is 2 holes.Then take the stump and put it over the two hives .Then you take a leaf blower and blow the bees into the hive.

The 'stump' is a 3' across tree that was cut down. They were going to cut the log down to 5' long, so they can use the rest of it as planned. I don't think it will fit in either his Corolla and can't lift it into my Escape. And it would crush a hive.
I found a good video on www.extension.org about removing bees from a down tree. Going to follow that general direction I believe. Taking the smoker and sugar water with Honey B Healthy mixed in. Tomorrow morning is bee collection time. And if it doesn't work, the company will take the log to the woods with the bees in it. They are kind enough to not spray them.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Let us know how it goes, and have someone take pictures! Good luck and I hope all goes well!

 

[1muttsfan]

So I got an email on Wednesday notifying me my bees had shipped. They were delayed a week, which was fine with me as our weather has been cold and dry, with few flowers apart from crocuses out. Then this week we got some sun and warmer temps, actually flirted with 70 a few days. So I was happy until the bees did not arrive on Thursday or Friday. Then this morning I got the call from the PO - and this morning the temperature was 43, cold, cloudy, breezy and rainy.

Not sure what exactly to do, I put a feeder in the hive and went down to pick them up. They were lethargic and cold, not buzzing like my package last year. I left them in the car where they could warm up, and they came alive a little. As I stewed about the weather, the clouds started clearing, the sun came out, the temp shot up 15 degrees, and the dandelions and violets started popping open out in the lawn (not a big believer in weed killers - hey, they are green too!).

Gathering supplies together I spritzed them with sugar water, pulled the queen out and installed her in the hive, then dumped in the rest of the bees. It still amazes me that they make no effort to sting after all the disruption of 3 days in the mail.

Now they are happily buzzing around the hive, getting used to their new home, and making forays around the yard. Sooo happy that the weather gods decided to bless my hive!