New Bee Removal Opportunity

[Rod Weakley]

I just received a call from a lady who has bees in her Chimney. Brick and mortar chimney. I can't think of a way to save the bees and get the honey comb out. I could trap them out, but that leaves the honey comb in place. Light a fire and burn them out LOL. I'd love to save the bees, but have no idea how. Trapping out wouldn't get the genetics.

[Tom Miller]

Hi rwjedi:
Your post certainly raises a lot of questions. Is the chimney in use or is the opening in the house closed off?. Does the chimney run to a fireplace or was it for a free standing heater or cookstove?. Is the chimney lined with flue tile or a metal liner?. Can you see the combs from top and/or bottom of the chimney?.
If you can see the combs, the chimney is lined and the home owner is willing, you might consider constructing a funnel out of screen wire covering the chimney opening and running to a hive or nuc with drawn comb and a queen excluder over the entrance to keep the queen from absconding.
Then smoke the bees from the fireplace opening inside the house. The chimney would carry the smoke up and at some point the bees should all leave the chimney and hopefully go into the hive.
Once they are in the hive and buttoned up, you can then poke the comb loose, collect it in the fireplace, salvage any brood and honey and make sure the queen went out with the rest of the bees. Then cut the brood and honey comb into empty frames, secure with rubber bands, nails, etc. and install in the hive with the bees.
This said, I am not sure it is worth the effort unless you are well paid to remove them and the home owner agrees to hold you harmless for any stings or mess that may result from your actions.
If the flue is an old one without a liner then the bees have probably built comb into the bricks and you may not be able to poke the comb out and get it all. This sets up the possability of a chimney fire the next time the flue is used and the home owner should be so advised.
As I said I am not sure I would attempt it, but thats what I would try if I did. Good luck.

Best regards,

Tom Miller

[peggjam]

Theres an article in Oct's ABJ dealing with just this problem. Good luck.

peggjam

[naturebee]

If you want the genetics to survive, it might be better to wait until spring, unless they plan on using the fireplace.

[SilverFox]

I did one iast year in which we had to remove the outer part of the bricks to gain access to the cavity between the bricks and the flue pipe, hope you have some knowledge in mortor work. We had to brace the 'good' bricks and remove the 'bad' bricks. leaving an opening accross the face of the chimmney.
Was it worth it? YEA... That hive was a boomer this year.
Careful tho or you'll wind up with soot all over the place.

[Rod Weakley]

The people who own the house have suggested, just that, taking the bricks out and then pulling up the tile insert 4 foot section at a time. I tried to talk them out of having me come down. They are 200 miles away, so it's 400 roundtrip. which in my truck would be $50 in gas. I told them to just come down and take a look I'd have to charge $100. They said come on down. smile.gif Geez Problem is it's plugged at the bottom, so scrapping the comb loose and collecting it at the bottom doesn't seem to be an option. THis hive or some hive has been in this chimney for 50 years. They are wanting it out now because they are having their roof done, and the roofer is afraid his workers will get attacked by the bees.

[Lew Best]

<<Geez Problem is it's plugged at the bottom, so scrapping the comb loose and collecting it at the bottom doesn't seem to be an option>>

If you're not anxious for the bees (if plugged at bottom chimney not in use?) how about capping the top & sealing it up? Would protect the roofers.

Lew

[Rod Weakley]

Problem is Lew that I think the bees have other holes they are using to get into the chimney. And of course if the bees all die in there while they are plugged up, you know first hot sunny day they are going to have a drippy, yucky mess. If they didn't mind leaving the bees there for another 50 years, I'd go up there and put window screen over the hole, assuming I could find all of their exit points.

[Lew Best]

yeah; just thought that might be a "last resort" method. If it were me I'd bee trying to figure a way to get them into a hive for sure. Don't like killing bees unless they're real mean (AKA Africanized).

Lew