Safe time to start with cut outs

[czman11]

Hi everyone.

I am trying to find out what would be the best time of the year to start with cut outs. I am located in Kansas and I have already couple of people asking me to come and get the bees out of their houses. This would be my first year of doing cut outs so I am trying to give these people some idea when I can come and do the job. I was hoping that I could start in March but I am afraid I will have to wait until April. Can anyone of you guys give me an idea?

[Michael Bush]

I would start right after the early fruit trees bloom (sand plums and choke cherries).

[czman11]

Thanks Michael. That makes sense.

[Robo]

I usually wait until the night time temperatures are in the 40s and they are bringing in pollen as a general rule of thumb.

[czman11]

Thanks Robo.

I am aware of the temperatures and making sure that the temperatures don't drop over night. It is a good input and I am grateful for it. I guess it is also my lack of noticing the temperatures in this region year after year. It is a shame to admit that I lived here since 2002 and have not notice what month becomes suitable for things like cut outs. My potential customers want to get rid of their bees and so far I have no straight answer when I will be able to that. I don't want to rush into things because the last thing I want to do is hurt or kill the bees in the process. Also, I am afraid that if I don't give them some answer they will call exterminator and I will lose  strong local colonies to an executioner. Thanks again.

[iddee]

I tell them "One of the first 60 plus degree, sunny days in March, or as soon thereafter as feasible".

[oblib]

Thanks Robo.

I guess it is also my lack of noticing the temperatures in this region year after year. It is a shame to admit that I lived here since 2002 and have not notice what month becomes suitable for things like cut outs.

I did a quick look at weather.com and your city avg low of 42 in April. You might get a warm spell in March that will let you do it but if you tell them you will get it by mid April you should be good.

[czman11]

Thank you guys for your inputs. At least I have now an idea what to say to my customers. I was crawling through farmers almanac to get an idea without any real answer. It did not dawn on me to check for average temperatures so I feel kind of dumb.

[hardwood]

I normally wait until I see drones. That way, if I do harm the queen, they have resources to make a new one. Not a hard fast rule though :-D

Scott

[wadehump]

I normally wait until I see drones. That way, if I do harm the queen, they have resources to make a new one. Not a hard fast rule though :-D

Scott

I also wait for drones for the same reason.

[czman11]

Thank you all guys.

Paul