Whiskey Barrel cutout

[KeyLargoBees]

Someone appears to have dumped a "table" that consists of plywood screwed onto the top of an old whiskey barrel onto a wooded lot. It looks like someone stapled cardboard over the bung to move it and the bees. The girls have chewed their way out and are merrily doing their thing. The owner of the lot doesn't want it there and has given me permission to remove it. The barrel is pretty light all things considered and can be easily moved by two people so I don't think the hive is huge or has a ton of honey put aside. It is probably a swarm from this spring. Would be difficult to cut it out where it sits with no access to power and no room to work due to trees and brush. I was thinking of placing hardware cloth over the entrance in the evening and moving the entire thing to a neighbors lot and cutout and rehome them into a hive once they settle into their new location.

Any suggestions or hazards I should be aware of in moving a feral hive like this with no way to know how comb is attached inside? I have an endoscope on order and hope to be able to take a peek into the hive when it arrives early next week but the lot owner wants the barrel gone this weekend so it needs to be moved before I get the scope.

[Dallasbeek]

Ssuit up, so if the thing comes apart you won't be surrounded by angry bees.  Full armor!

[divemaster1963]

Just do as you said. Someone moved it there. Just make as soft a ride as possible.

John

[KeyLargoBees]

Hive is moved....all went well but took 2 evenings and the hardware cloth didn't work due to uneven staves and banding on the barrel. I got it on and the girls boiled out around the edges before I could staple it down around the uneven edges of the stafes and metal bands....had to pull the cloth and let them settle or lose the thousands of bees that were boiling out these are not as friendly as my tame Italians LOL....not africanized but just pissy and defensive....came back the next night with a rolled up sponge and blocked the bung and it worked well...the 10 or so outside took offense and I got one sting but the barrel was moved without incident...will do the cutout this weekend and see how it goes.

[texanbelchers]

....not africanized but just pissy and defensive....

Maybe they ran out of whiskey.....

[divemaster1963]

Miss with a girls drink and they gang up on you. Hey let us know what proof the honey is after you do the cutout

John

[Maggiesdad]