Preparing for my first cut out

**No_Bivy** · 03-14-2009, 10:16 AM

Just went and looked at an old abandon cabin on one of my clients property. They were trying to schedule burning it down when they noticed the bees on one of our last warm days.
The wall cavity is totally easy access and will not have to be repaired. I will get some pics of it later. Basically 4'tall, 8"thick..and 8'long. When I tap on the sheetrock I can hear bees all the way back to about 5'...sounds big!

I called the last person to live there and they remember bees there when the moved out in 07'. I assume this could mean a lot of comb.

My PLan!!
I was gonna wait to mid week when our temps are in the low sixties...it's 45 right now and raining. Or is now better? figured go for it midafternoon.

I will be suited and bring along like 20 deep frames with rubber bands and a couple of deeps....or would Nucs be better?

I figure the first thing to do after opening the cavity is to look for the Brood and hopefully queen. Gently remove comb and put it into the frames.

I can leave the hive there overnight to hopefully get all of the bees.

Any suggestions?

**Curtis** · 03-14-2009, 11:32 AM

This time of year I would not expect too much honey or Brood. I would expect a fair amount of pollen. Remove all of the old comb. If you have a large # of bees and the Queen, take it home with you. There is a lot of pollen not but you should feed them sugar also.
Curtis

**No_Bivy** · 03-14-2009, 12:49 PM

the cabin

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**No_Bivy** · 03-14-2009, 12:50 PM

bees entrance is just right of the door where the logs meet the addition

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**No_Bivy** · 03-14-2009, 12:53 PM

the inside...you can see the 8 inch cavity along the logs(red sheetrock)

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**No_Bivy** · 03-14-2009, 12:54 PM

another angle....
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/p...eCutOut006.jpg

**No_Bivy** · 03-14-2009, 12:55 PM

any suggestions for goin in?

**Curtis** · 03-14-2009, 01:03 PM

Looks like an easy one...Plug outside hole, poke a hole on the inside...Smoke....Cut out.
They will be mad this time of year...Wear lots protective things.

**No_Bivy** · 03-14-2009, 01:07 PM

plug the whole?
Should I go there the night before so I know all the bees are inside, then start early? The windows are broken out on the other side of the cabin,,should I cover them to contain them inside?

sorry for all the questions, but I dont want to screw this one up. Oh yeah, I have a half suit.....should I wear carharts or somthing?

**Curtis** · 03-14-2009, 01:20 PM

You are thinking too much. You will loose a few bees. Let them go, Get the Queen..Brood and feed them.
With half suit..just layer, thick enough that the stinger will not get you.
You will be fine.
Once you enter the brood chamber..after about 5 min..the bees will calm down...
Talk to them..let them know that you are a friend...Just do not Breathe on them.
No You are not thinking too much....It is good to pe prepared.

**Barry** · 03-14-2009, 02:25 PM

Your images are 1024px × 768px. Please reduce them down.

**No_Bivy** · 03-14-2009, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Barry

Your images are 1024px × 768px. Please reduce them down.

how do I reduce them on the photbucket site?

**No_Bivy** · 03-14-2009, 07:09 PM

thanks Curtis....everyone else has me on Ignore. mon/tue will be the day

**NewBee2007** · 03-14-2009, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by No_Bivy

Just went and looked at an old abandon cabin on one of my clients property. They were trying to schedule burning it down when they noticed the bees on one of our last warm days.
The wall cavity is totally easy access and will not have to be repaired. I will get some pics of it later. Basically 4'tall, 8"thick..and 8'long. When I tap on the sheetrock I can hear bees all the way back to about 5'...sounds big!

I called the last person to live there and they remember bees there when the moved out in 07'. I assume this could mean a lot of comb.

My PLan!!
I was gonna wait to mid week when our temps are in the low sixties...it's 45 right now and raining. Or is now better? figured go for it midafternoon.

I will be suited and bring along like 20 deep frames with rubber bands and a couple of deeps....or would Nucs be better?

I figure the first thing to do after opening the cavity is to look for the Brood and hopefully queen. Gently remove comb and put it into the frames.

I can leave the hive there overnight to hopefully get all of the bees.

Any suggestions?

Cool! Good luck with the removal and please keep us posted regarding how it went!

Maybe it's just me...but that cabin seems like it could be dismantled and re-used.... are they seriously just going to burn it down??? It's rustic, but the logs still look like they are in decent shape to me...I'm not a contractor, but I always wanted a log cabin and that one looks useable to me from the shots you show...

I bet if they posted it on free cycle or Craigs list somebody would remove it for them.

**No_Bivy** · 03-15-2009, 05:23 AM

nah...it's really pretty rotten in most places. There are two other cabins on the same property that are square cut logs..Chestnut. Those will get dismantled and reassemble.

Im getting psyched on the cut out....any tips for cutting the comb?

**bigbore** · 03-15-2009, 05:34 AM

tell you what I think here, you are going to be most of the day there, so I wouldn't worry about blocking the opening. are you going to use a vac, or just cut and move?? if you are going to vac, then vac all you can get. keep it close, and as you expose more vac more. watch for the queen, if she is laying, she can't fly very well, so if you find her make sure she goes into the box with the comb. I wouldn't struggle too much to find her, but just keep an eye out for her. use what ever gear you have, because once you start, you shouldn't stop until done. if you don't get the queen, or all the brood, the bees will not want to go into your hive. take extra bands, you will probably need more than you are allowing for, and they don't take up much space. take a water bottle, and a sugar water spray bottle (refreshment for you and the bees) good luck, and keep us in the loop

**bigbore** · 03-15-2009, 05:36 AM

do you have a fillet knife, long, skinny, SHARP. and a piece of 1x12 about 3 ft long for a table. use your hive tool to cut it loose, and then knife to cut it down to size.

**No_Bivy** · 03-15-2009, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by bigbore

do you have a fillet knife, long, skinny, SHARP. and a piece of 1x12 about 3 ft long for a table. use your hive tool to cut it loose, and then knife to cut it down to size.

good idea on the fillet knife...

I dont have a vacum, I guess I'll have to kick it old school

How long should I leave the box there after Im done..a day?

If I do start early and plug thier entrance will I be more like to get most of em'? My other thought was to start mid day when alot of the foragers are out.......