Best Way to get Bees out of a honey super?

[bwallace23350]

I have watched several videos and done some reading but everyone has their own opinion on should you spray, shake, or put on a board that keeps the bees from going back up top. What is your preferred way?

[GSF]

I got to where I use a spray (bee-quick?). I spray it on a piece of plywood and place it on the top super. I lift the super, look underneath for swarm/queen cells, remove the super, put inner cover or political sign on the hive, take the frames out one by one, then place them in an empty super that I also cover to keep robbers out.

[bwallace23350]

THanks. As of now I was just going to do the shake method but I don't want to hurt or piss them off more than I have to.

[cao]

I start with a fume board with an empty box on top of it.  As I pull individual frames, I shake the bees off and add to empty box that I cover with a spare inner cover.   The fume board will drive out any remaining bees that I don't get off when I shake the frame.  This works for me right now.  The most I've pulled at one time has been three full boxes.  I don't know how well it would work for someone that is removing dozens of boxes at a time.

[sc-bee]

Fume board with one of the nice smelling products 

[Acebird]

As of now I was just going to do the shake method but I don't want to hurt or piss them off more than I have to.

I use to do the shake, brush, flail the frame around while you try to get it in a box and close it off before more bees fly in but no more.  Wait for a cool night in the forecast and put on a bee escape.  Take the super off the next day before it gets warm again.  Fume or blower is a method used by those that have a lot of hives to do.
If you are like me not getting into the hives on a regular basis the frames get propolised in to where they are hard to get out.  That makes the shake and brush routine more of a big deal.  Burr comb gets stuff with honey so it is a sticky mess breaking frames free and trying to get them in another box without bees.  If you do meddle in the hive a lot then the frames break free much easier and you won't have honey spilling all over the place.  Once you get honey all over the frame the ten thousand bees that are in the air head right for the frames.  Brushing spreads honey over the sealed cells and sticks to the brush.  Then you have bees attaching themselves to the brush.  And now when you try to use the brush they get pissy.

[bwallace23350]

Thanks. I will probably do the spray and bee escape. Anyone got some recommendation on some products?

[Cuttingedge]

The easiest method that I have found is a leaf blower. Place the super on its side and blow the bees out. Works very quickly!

[sc-bee]

Thanks. I will probably do the spray and bee escape. Anyone got some recommendation on some products?

No need to use an escape...just a fume baord. You can make one from a top...
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/fischer-s-bee-quick-sup-reg-sup-8-oz-24-l
https://www.dadant.com/catalog/m00136-honey-b-gone
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Natural-Honey-Harvester/productinfo/474/

Stay away from the vomit smelling stuff--- Honey Robber- Bee Go

[bwallace23350]

Thanks. I will probably do the spray and bee escape. Anyone got some recommendation on some products?

No need to use an escape...just a fume baord. You can make one from a top...
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/fischer-s-bee-quick-sup-reg-sup-8-oz-24-l
https://www.dadant.com/catalog/m00136-honey-b-gone
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Natural-Honey-Harvester/productinfo/474/

Stay away from the vomit smelling stuff--- Honey Robber- Bee Go

What is a fume board?

[divemaster1963]

I use straight almond extract with a little tea tree oil in a spray bottle on a fume borad. to make one make a 3/4 inch frme the size of a bee hive box. attach felt or thin cotton material to it. spray a few spots on the material ( not alot) then lay it on the top of the open hive so that the corners are open then walk away for about 5-10 mins. the bees will move off the honey but not the brood. then just remove the super or the frames you want.

john

[splitrock]

The best thing I have found is bee-go.

It smells, but the pleasant smelling ones have not worked worth a darn for me.

[sc-bee]

The best thing I have found is bee-go.

It smells, but the pleasant smelling ones have not worked worth a darn for me.

It depends on outside temps. I have had good luck with all three of the ones I listed. Heck I would rather shake a few left over bees than smell the puke.....

[sc-bee]

What is a fume board?

https://www.dadant.com/catalog/honey-harvesting/m00681-fume-pad-assembled-c-1-10-frame

[sc-bee]

What is a fume board?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPI4y5d9hu0

[Acebird]

Why isn't the top painted black.  I would think the metal surface would reflect the heat not absorb it.

[sc-bee]

Why isn't the top painted black.  I would think the metal surface would reflect the heat not absorb it.

He is probably gonna put it back in stock  Just kidding. I have one painted and I think one not. At honey harvest time here in SC and NC no need to worry about panting it black when temps hover in the 90's. Demo was in NC...

[SlickMick]

I stand the super on end and use a blower to evacuate the bees

Mick

[Kevcook]

Mick, Does the blower stir/upset the bees much and do the bees end up on the ground? just wondering as it sounds like a much quicker option but I like the idea of keeping them calm if I can.     

Kev

[Dallasbeek]

I stand the super on end and use a blower to evacuate the bees

Mick

If you have house bees on the comb, they'll never make it back to the hive, right?