we have a machine at work thats been sitting for a few years. they have now decided to start doing something with it. A nest of bee's has decided to take up residence in the strattle leg(very large thick wall tube) of it. cutting them out is not an option. they are bringing in lots of pollen. I have only found one entrance and was going to do a trapout. I have been given a month to get them out. I was thinking of starting the first of next week with 2 med boxes. I do not have any used comb to put in. should I put 1:1 syrup on it? will I be able to buy a queen this early for it? should I just forget it? combine them with another hive maybe?
Either use a queenrite hive, purchase a queenrite nuc, or forget it. You will not complete a trapout in a month. All you can do is strengthen another hive. You will still have many bees in the tube after a month. If you want details, PM me your phone number and I'll call you. You are only 60 miles from me.
so the bees that get trapped out will join a queenrite hive if I set it there?
Yes, if done properly. They will cluster on the cone and draw comb if the hive is too far away.
So Iddee, I have a question for you. I have found several feral bee trees that have been there for years. I was wondering if I could use a queenwright nuc and supercharge it briefly during a trapout. Would the feral bees and the nuc bees fight? Could you stop the trapout after 4-7 days and let the feral hive recover? Essentially have a renewable source of field bees to supercharge a nuc but not kill the feral hive.
When the feral bees are returning to the hive, the funnel will not allow them back into their hive. They can only go into the trap hive. Returning foragers with goods will be accepted in the trap hive.
Quote from: MTWIBadger on February 14, 2011, 11:43:11 PM
So Iddee, I have a question for you. I have found several feral bee trees that have been there for years. I was wondering if I could use a queenwright nuc and supercharge it briefly during a trapout. Would the feral bees and the nuc bees fight? Could you stop the trapout after 4-7 days and let the feral hive recover? Essentially have a renewable source of field bees to supercharge a nuc but not kill the feral hive.
YES this is my New Plan
I took them all out last year(my first ever trap out) now the tree is alive again this time I'll use it like a well
Tommyt
put a swarm trap around the area as well!
bailey
As stated above, Yes, Yes, and Yes.