Carpenter BEES , HELP

[agirly4chicks]

Quote:
I noticed a wasp in my coop the other day. So what does the tobacco do and would I just put it in a tuna can and set it out?

 

[Andrew711]

I have a wooden cabin in the Blue Ridge Mts of Virginia. It is 178 years old. I get lots of carpenter bees and they drill holes but are barely noticable. THEY HAVE NEVER EVER TRIED TO STING ME AND WHEN i WATCH THEM FERTILIZE MY FLOWERS AND VEGGIES I THANK THEM FOR BEING THERE. As a rule I can't stand insects but these guys (and gals) do more good then harm. This old Earth is in serious trouble and We need to forget poisons and give it a hand. [email protected] CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW OLD A ROOSTER IS BEFORE IT STARTS CROWING? tHANK yOU.

 

[flakey chick]

I would not put anything out in a tuna can that you don't want your hens to eat. A local gardener show here makes up his own concoctions with tobacco to make a liquid (like brewing tea). If your are concerned about pesticides, you can buy organically grown chewing tobacco.

It seems kind of weird to see it for sale: "Hey you, want to poison yourself with tobacco but are concerned about the harm all those chemicals might do to you? We have the solution. Try our organically grown cancer weed."

 

[OHChick]

We have a barn on our property that was built in the 60s or so and had a serious problem with carpenter bees. We tried everything...swatting them, spraying them, spraying them with diesel fuel (that was recommended by local pest control folks!), nothing worked. I kept telling my husband 'if we fill up the holes, where they laid the eggs and some live, won't it kill them?' He said no for 4 yrs. Then last year we took some of that expanding foam caulking stuff, squirted it in the holes.... it cut down on our carpenter bees by about 90%. Cheap AND Effective.

To answer your question about them hurting your chicks... NO, so far as I know they don't even sting. I've chased them with tennis rackets and swatted them and never been stung. BUT they will destroy the wood in a fashion similar to termites, so get rid of 'em.

Good luck!

 

[mberry222]

I have a log home and they show up every spring to do damage. They do make some sprays but they have to be done monthly and can get expensive quick. I have spoke with a few people who have purchased some traps and they claim they work well and are not toxic. I believe I'm going to try a few this year. Here is the link...Good luck!

http://carpenterbeechamber.com/

 

[HennysMom]

carpenter bees will bore through everything - even treated wood - and yes, even foam. Only thing they wont bore thru is metal, obviously.

You need to call an exterminator and find out what they use. There is a way to get rid of them but...its going to cost you to do it. You can stuff the holes with steel wool, but they'll just bore new ones in different places. Quite annoying to say the least. They ate up our shed like it was nothing....

Kept stuffing (didnt want to poison either...given they are bees) with steel wool and they just kept making more holes. Finally just gave up and put I believe... kerosene or turpentine on the wood for treatment, but I'll have to ask my hubby for sure.... They didnt like the taste of it and quit boring through for a while, but we had to keep applying it.

Dont strike a match!!

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
Good for you Andrew711.

As we take from this earth, so do we have to give back.

 

[dkluzier]

We have a log home in PA and have the bees. The bank underwriter said we had to get rid of them before we could buy the house. We used thompson water seal and it killed about 2 dozen bees last fall and yet this Spring they are back. Think I'll try bee spray on a cool day in the holes then stuff them with caulk.

 

[giasmom]

Once again, Thanks for everyones input. I'm amazed at all the differant ideas ! I'm actually an all natural kind of girl & did not want to go the pesticide way. Except on the other hand, these cute little carpenter guys are GETTING ON MY NERVES !!!!! Maybe I'll try the bee trap thing & invest in a tennis racket !!!!

Any other input out there?

 

[Fudgie]

I say a good flock of chickens and a tennis racket and you are in business! DH LOVES to do this and it is a great stress reliever and so humorous when one hen grabs the "loot" and the chase is on! We had one roo that would pick it right out of your fingers and run like crazy!