Will This Work

[feith]

A nearby farmer who has no bees was cutting wood last winter and cut about a four foot log that had a established bunch of bees in it. He brought the log up to the house and set it by his garden. He called me up a week ago to help him transfer them to a hive my first thought was to cut the log and tie the foundation into frames which I have done before with success. Lot of work though.Tried something different though cut the log of square and cut a hole into the hive body and attached it to the trunk with screws.Has anyone ever done this before and do you think the bees will eventually build into the hive bodies?

[tecumseh]

I have seen very old pictures of where what you described was one strategy for getting bees transferred from 'gums' to standard hive bodies. so yes this should work.

the 'other' strategy is quick the one you decribe takes a bit more time. if successfull they both should accomplish the same task.

[cow pollinater]

A real messy way to do it that does work and is much faster and easier on you is to simply cut out the comb and lean it together as neatly as you can in an empty hive body with a second hive body full of drawn foundation on top of it. When you catch the queen laying in the top body, add an excluder underneath and wait for the brood in the bottom hive body to hatch then remove the bottom hive body.

[Countryboy]

Drumming is also an option. (I haven't tried it, but plan to one of these days.)

Turn the bee gum upside down. Put a box with frames (right side up) over the top of the gum. Beat on the side of the gum with a stick or rubber mallet. At first, the bees will be agitated. After 8 to 10 minutes, they will decide to leave, and move up into your box.

If you want to save the brood comb, after they have absconded the bee gum, you can cut out the brood comb and rubber band into frames, and then add those frames to the hive.