Question On Bee Removal

[msmithnewbee]

We talked to a friend that is going to cut down a tree before winter which has bees in it. Was wondering if anyone had some info. or a website, on how to do this effectively. This is our first year having bees, so not too educated on removal yet. Should we use a beevack yes/no? We saw some where that said cut the section out, and use a maul or an axe carefully:s to split the section to expose the hive. How does one do that!! If some one could let us know how to get this hive, we would appreciate it Thank You.

[Konrad]

Go slow, slow, slow!
Perhaps wait until spring, if your weather permits for bees stay warm enough for winter?
I just hate to wreck their hive and store for winter.
If you do it now, you might loose them all.

Konrad

[mlewis48]

I would have to agree. If you can wait untill Spring, they will have a better chance at making it. I don't think that they would have much of a chance now. Unless you are going to combind them with another hive. Bee vac, no. I just havent figured out those yet. Split it open, or get a hole big enough to get into the hive. Find that one bee, the queen, and the rest will follow. Take all of the comb,brood, and honey and use rubber bands to hold in an empty frame and with a little luck, they will stay. I did 2 of these kind of removals, this past year and both made it. Good luck and be prepared! They really get pissed when you get into the tree with them.
Marc :D

[msmithnewbee]

it would be nice to wate for spring, but he wants to get rid of the tree before then. has any one ever used a beevac succesfully?

[Troy]

I made a home built bee vac and use it successfully all time.

I get very few dead bees after a vac job too. Maybe 30 to 50 dead ones and of course thousands that are alive and well, but I almost never get the queen when I use the vac.

If you must remove the tree/hive now, do your best to get the section of the tree with the hive and keep it upright. Move it home and keep it there until spring. If you crack it open at this time of year in Michigan, you'll likely lose them over the winter. They just won't have enough time to fix all the comb damage and get reestablished before the cold sets in.

Good luck.........

[honeyman46408]

it would be nice to wate for spring, but he wants to get rid of the tree before then. has any one ever used a beevac succesfully?

I would doubt that you can save them this time of the year if you vaccum them.

I think the best bet would bee to cut the section of tree and take it to your bee yard and set it up and see if they make the winter then in spring you can remove them ( a couple different ways )

Here is a link to pics of one I brought home, in November ( it was spiting snow ) it had droped about 20ft and they made it!

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/honeyman46408/HillBillyHiveLoader-1.jpg?t=1222939134

[riverrat]

In your area you wont use a bee vac this time of year successfully. You will get them out only to have them perish in the winter. Cut the log into a gum set it upright in the same position it was before being cut. Cap off the ends where it was cut Leave them thru the winter. Then remove them in spring. It is hard enough to make a cutout live in the spring without stacking the odds against you by doing it in the fall.;)

[mlewis48]

Honeyman,
2 quick questions? Where did yo find that boom, lift? That would come in handy, I hate waiting on someone to help me lift a hive to move it. And where did you get that cool bee sticker on your back window?
Thanks,
Marc

[msmithnewbee]

thats what it sounds like to do. wate to remove them. cant believe they made it after dropping that far. must of been a mess in side, did you leave the plywood over the holes all winter?