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I don't have much of a choice, they have created a hive inside the wall cavity, and just dismanteling the wall will break the hive. It's a completel shame because I think they ARE honey bees, and having a little catch like that with a queen and some workers would be great as we want to start a hive, but not yet...and trying to get them out would destroy the honeycomb. I cannot wait until they are dorment, because my chickens need somewhere to live, so unfortunately if they are honey bees..they're going to have to die, and that's unfortunate but I have to live here, and my chickens have to live in there.
At least the nest are outside in your chicken coop!! While we were renovating the older part of our house for our kids rooms, we had tons of bees nests hanging from the old beams and we still get wasps in there even though everything has been close up, dry walled and painted
Someone once told me to put a plastic shopping bag over the nests and whack the the nests into the bags and tie them off, or there is something you can spray into the nests directly to kill the bees. Do you have a little run to put the chickens in outside while you spray the nests??
I also got some little containers from the Co-op that lure the wasps into it that is non -toxic...maybe they would work?? Best of luck!!
If they are honeybees please check with your local police department- they usually have a list of bee keepers who will come and remove the hive for free. With honeybee populations as depleted as they are it would be good to at least try to save them if the option's available.
I tried getting bees out of my walla once,could not get no one to take the hives yes HIVES...
So after years of trying to get some one anyone to take the hives we had to killed them.
Was tired of them stinging the kids.Worse was in winter when a bee would get lost and be in the main part of the house.
Also the honey bees you see now are not native to America,they are from Europe.They where brought here by the Colonists.
Here is a map you can use to hopefully find a beekeeper who would be most happy to remove the bees and the comb from your barn walls. If there's no one near you, PM me with your location and I'll find someone who will take them for you. You can remove the honeycomb and put it into a hive, beekeepers do that all the time. They do not have to die.
Ah, I just went back and checked the thread again....you're in Canada?
You know,I don't even remember seeing any honey bees this year and almost no wasps. That cold snap we had in the Spring of 2007 did a real number on them. Honey bees have fallen victim to lots of things,mostly pesticides and a fatal virus. They are also specidic to certain kinds of pollen and if none of their type is near them,they have to go search for it. They are very remarkable and we will be in lots of trouble if they are wiped out.We used to see lots when our corn tossled,but noe this year.Good luck in re-locating the hive. It is worth the effort.
If those other things cna live there, I just about guarantee you that mice and *weasels* will winter there too, so be real careful, chicken securty wise.
Fortunately, in this region scorpions and black widows and venomous snakes, and to a large extent termites either, will not be not an issue. Bigfoot or Jimmy Hoffa, I dunno
Your local feedstore will probably know who keeps bees in your area, for you to call to get the hive removed.