colony removal

[coontail]

monday i will be getting bees out of a column that is 1'x1'x3'. i plan to smoke the entrance then take the top off of the column. i will have a deep with drawn comb ready. i will smoke them down, and get some honey comb to rubberband into one of the frames, and some brood. i will have a drop of lemongrass oil in the deep. i will then cut everthing out and brush bees off into deep, and put the honeycomb and brood in seperate buckets. i will leave the top back a couple inches for the workers to return. then slide top on and take home after dark. does this sound like a good plan? ive never done it before. the homeowner wants the bees gone- i want the bees and honey.

[Ross]

First, you need brood comb, not honey comb for rubber banding. 2nd, the bees won't abandon the column without the queen being moved. Third, I will be surprised if you can get all the comb out of a 1'x1' hole. I'm betting you have to take a side off the column.

[justgojumpit]

I would also go in from the side. Smoke, wait, smoke, wait, and then start removing a side panel. put the honey comb in a bucket for crush and strain. cut the brood comb to fit into empty frames. Tie in with twine. if you find the queen, put her in your hive. get the column emptied out, fill it with expandible foam, close it back up, and put your hive as close to where the entrance to the column was. Wait until evening, when all the bees are in, and bring the hive home. This would be the method I would use without a bee vacuum.

justgojumpit

[coontail]

thanks, they might not let me take the side off the column. i was thinking of having a piece of plywood cut the same size as the hive body, and setting the hive body on it and having the top slid back until all the bees are in then sliding the top on and ratchet strapping it together and when i get home i will remove the plywood and replace it with a bottom board. will this work good? or do you recommend something else?

[Jer733]

Some observations and tips, IMHO. Others may have thier own suggestions for you. You will discover the best ones for you as you go.


Don’t try to get all the brood, get the best ones that fit well in frame. Also put it in as it is in the colony- Right side up, L-R.

Ensure the comb is tied or banded into the frames well. I use rubber bands (more then one or two). If comb is new (white/yellow and soft) bee careful it does not collapse on you later.

I have done these where all the bees march in the hive right away and other time where the bees take a day or two to move in. Also have the queen swarm next day with most bees and left me with brood and nursery bees (did a newspaper combine). Never know.

It is usually tough to spot a queen doing a cutout, but not impossible. Watch the bees and look at the comb as you remove it. I use a plastic queen cage plugged up and open sitting next to me so if I see her, I am ready with it. Then I put it between frames, get the comb and walk away. Bees will follow. Release her when you get home.

I use an inverted top as a bottom for swarms and cutouts and put a bottom board on later, just as you describe. Also use ratcheting straps as well.

If using plywood, bee careful the plywood is not too thin or warped, have had lots of girls come out when I picked it up and the ratchet had warped the board enough to allow some bee space.

If you do not have a pick-up or trailer, take an old sheet with you and wrap the hive in it well. I haul mine in a SUV so recently invested in a hive net from Dadant but probably could have made one with some small netting or continues to use a big sheet.



Good Luck

[coontail]

thanks jerr i hadnt thought about using a top (for the bottom), i have plenty and wont have to worry about cutting a piece of plywood.

[standman]

One of my favorite tools for moving a swarm or cutout is fast becoming a screened cover. Assembled like a screened bottom board, but with the "entrance reducer" permanently attached in the closed position, I like to place it on the bottom of my hive body. This can be made with window screen or hardware cloth up to #8 size, and lets the hive breathe, which can really help with heat buildup during these warm days or a long transport.

[coontail]

the brood comb was sideways on the very bottom of the column, and it was fragile., so i couldnt put it in my frames. i took all the comb out and shook bees off into my hive. when i went back at dark they were still covering the inner walls so i put on a pair of gloves and just started putting handfuls in to my hive. i got home mon night and set the hive on a bottom board. middle of the day tues they had absconded into a nearby limb. i put the hive under them, yhey were 15 or 20' up and i didnt have anywhere to prop my ladder so i shot the limb off. bees fell into hive and went back up to another limb. the 4th and 5th time they did this i chunked the limb wi the ladder. on the 5th time they landed beside hive and started going in. there were no bees in my hive when they 1st gathered on limb, last night there were bees in my have and today they are flying in and out.

[Jer733]

And a hell of a shot too!

Wow that is one heck of a story on getting bees. Don't think I can try that one in San Diego area.

Out where I live maybe...

[Gene Weitzel]

the brood comb was sideways on the very bottom of the column, and it was fragile., so i couldnt put it in my frames. i took all the comb out and shook bees off into my hive. when i went back at dark they were still covering the inner walls so i put on a pair of gloves and just started putting handfuls in to my hive. i got home mon night and set the hive on a bottom board. middle of the day tues they had absconded into a nearby limb. i put the hive under them, yhey were 15 or 20' up and i didnt have anywhere to prop my ladder so i shot the limb off. bees fell into hive and went back up to another limb. the 4th and 5th time they did this i chunked the limb wi the ladder. on the 5th time they landed beside hive and started going in. there were no bees in my hive when they 1st gathered on limb, last night there were bees in my have and today they are flying in and out.

A queen excluder placed between the bottom board and the hive body will keep the queen in. They may empty out a couple of times, but when momma can't follow they will go back. I "include" all my cutouts and swarms for the first week or 10 days for this reason.

[coontail]

gene, should i slip an excluder in there now? or should i just let them be and see what happens and use an excluder next time?

[coontail]

bees are bringing in pollen. i dont want to disturb them by looking inside but does that mean they have already drawn comb?