A tree fell on my hive.

CoolBees · February 05, 2019, 10:27:46 PM

Been traveling the last few days. It stormed continuously here while I was gone. Arrived back home late last night. Delayed flights, lost baggage, etc. Seattle was a mess yesterday. Snow level came down to 200 ft above me last night. Strange waking up to a white world here.

This morning I rush off to work.

I get a call mid-morning. A neighbors large pine tree fell on one of my hives - sometime in the last few days.

Rush home. It was a mess. Hive scattered across the gound in peices. Lots of dead bees and dead brood. Rains washed out most uncapped honey.

I saved about 14 medium frames of bees. Didn't see the queen, but she could be in one of the clumps. All is put back together and quiet now.

I guess I'll check for eggs in 4-5 days. If I don't find any, I'll give them a frame of eggs then.

Any other suggestions?

Kathyp · February 05, 2019, 10:44:53 PM

That's a bummer. Of course feed if there is nothing out there for them yet. You can always combine and split later if there is not queen. I don't know if your drones are flying yet. If not, eggs won't do them much good.

CoolBees · February 05, 2019, 11:35:54 PM

We have a full bloom going on right now, with lots of nectar and pollen coming in. They still had 7+ frames of capped honey that seemed ok. Young bees were hatching as I carefully moved frames - that was cool to see - boy they look funny! Little gray-to-white fluff balls.

All of my hives are producing drones right now. So I think they could get a queen mated. Last year I open mated my first queen from a frame of eggs that I picked up from a friend on February 11th, so I think they'll be ok.

I sure felt bad for them though. Poor girls!

van from Arkansas · February 05, 2019, 11:55:13 PM

Mr. Cool, sorry about the tree damage. Sickening to lose a hive to bad weather. I know you care about your bees. But, with a split or two form another hive in a short while, you will be back to business.

Courious, is your neighbor liable for your hive?

CoolBees · February 06, 2019, 12:10:21 AM

Quote from: Stinger13 on February 05, 2019, 11:55:13 PM
... Courious, is your neighbor liable for your hive?

Good question Stinger. My thought is - Well, guess I could have put it further from the trees ...

I have a hard time blaming him. The wind was strong, and the tree fell.

We've never had any large trees fall down before. This is the 3rd one this year. The other 2 were ours a couple weeks ago. Lots of storms and rain this year which is a good thing for us. I cut the other 2 trees up already for next years firewood. I'll do the same with this one, after the ladies calm down. Probably wont even tell the neighbor, except to explain why his fence is fried in that spot, when I see him.

Acebird · February 06, 2019, 09:07:15 AM

Quote from: Stinger13 on February 05, 2019, 11:55:13 PM
Courious, is your neighbor liable for your hive?

Van, why would that be?

KD4MOJ · February 06, 2019, 10:15:10 AM

Before Hurricane Michael blew through here, I had relocated 2 hives to another area of my yard. Good thing I did because a pine tree fell across the spot where the hives were, crushing the concrete blocks that I had left behind. Good Karma for a change!

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

van from Arkansas · February 06, 2019, 10:21:44 AM

Quote from: Acebird on February 06, 2019, 09:07:15 AM
Quote from: Stinger13 on February 05, 2019, 11:55:13 PM
Courious, is your neighbor liable for your hive?
Van, why would that be?

Ace, tree is on property A, tree falls on property B and does damage. I don?t know if there is liability or not. Just thought I would ask. I hope someone knows and answers.

blackforest beekeeper · February 06, 2019, 10:42:17 AM

Around here it usually is "higher force" (like storm etc.), so the tree-owner is out.
unless....the tree was maybe damaged and bound to fall. I guess every case is different.
If a tree fell on our house in a storm, it would be "higher force", no doubt. In an urban environment, I don`t know.

The15thMember · February 06, 2019, 12:45:22 PM

Quote from: blackforest beekeeper on February 06, 2019, 10:42:17 AM
Around here it usually is "higher force" (like storm etc.), so the tree-owner is out.
unless....the tree was maybe damaged and bound to fall. I guess every case is different.
If a tree fell on our house in a storm, it would be "higher force", no doubt. In an urban environment, I don`t know.

That's how it is in my area too, I believe. If the tree was damaged and the owner of the tree did nothing, and then it falls and damages other property, then it's the owner's fault. If the tree was healthy and falls in a storm or something though, no one is at fault.

CoolBees · February 06, 2019, 04:54:01 PM

Here's some pics of the mess ...[attachment=0][/attachment][attachment=1][/attachment][attachment=2][/attachment]

CoolBees · February 06, 2019, 04:55:26 PM

And after getting the lower Brood box back together ... with lots left to do.[attachment=0][/attachment]

I'm surprised so many of them lived.

van from Arkansas · February 06, 2019, 06:37:32 PM

Again sorry for mishap...

-However, nice looking mess of bees, drone brood, great salvage job, Cool. Yes, let us hope the queen is in good condition.

-Oh my, what beautiful lush green grass. Will be here in Ar, shortly, green grass that is....now all I see is brown ground, rocks and dead leaves, bare trees. So the pic of lush green is refreshing.

In two days, another dog gone cold front, mid teens, got to love it...70F then 17F and the bees survive.

-just starting to see the winter bees leave the hive and die. One bee on the wire of my screen porch has not moved in two days. Just a lil oh bee all by herself.

CoolBees · February 06, 2019, 06:53:30 PM

My goodness Stinger. I hope you guys in the middle get some warmth your way soon!

I was raised with 4 Seasons, and I do miss them. But right about now, it's nice to have warmth and green. ...although it froze last night - it wasn't supposed - gotta love the weather man: he can't figure out what the weather is going to be 12 hrs from now, but he's positive the weather 50 yrs from now ...

Anyway - my 14 newly planted citrus trees took the freeze hard. Hope they make it. I'd have covered them, but the forecast was for 40 deg overnight.

Acebird · February 07, 2019, 09:47:21 AM

Quote from: Stinger13 on February 06, 2019, 06:37:32 PM
In two days, another dog gone cold front, mid teens, got to love it...70F then 17F and the bees survive.

Van it is hard to envision the rest of the world when you live down here. I planted this seed a week ago. They must put steroids in the seeds.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qzBLKRL9L9XcDrHA8

We had a cold front that was the result of the rest of the country's blast last week. It got down to the low 60's and everyone put on their winter cloths and jackets. Makes me laugh.

Coolbees, you should have asked your neighbor to help you rebuild the hive seeing is how it was his tree that knocked it over. LOL

van from Arkansas · February 07, 2019, 09:06:51 PM

Ace, beautiful green lush grass, my eyes envy. Current temp 25F here Ar, 7:00 pm.

Ace, Buddy you moved from far North (NY?) to Fl, I moved from Montana to Ar. Yes Sir, I like further South, warmer for sure. Good move for both of us. Warm weather is appreciated by all us, that is YOU, ME, OUR BEES.

Although, I would not trade my Montana days, a beautiful state for the young as I once was. Bees are much easier to manage in Ar.... Just a few more weeks and blooms everywhere, I can hardly stand it. BEEBOY in Florida, was kind enough to share the current pollen, bee forecast. I was livid with envy.

Donovan J · February 08, 2019, 12:39:45 AM

Quote from: CoolBees on February 05, 2019, 10:27:46 PM
Been traveling the last few days. It stormed continuously here while I was gone. Arrived back home late last night. Delayed flights, lost baggage, etc. Seattle was a mess yesterday. Snow level came down to 200 ft above me last night. Strange waking up to a white world here.

This morning I rush off to work.

I get a call mid-morning. A neighbors large pine tree fell on one of my hives - sometime in the last few days.

Rush home. It was a mess. Hive scattered across the gound in peices. Lots of dead bees and dead brood. Rains washed out most uncapped honey.

I saved about 14 medium frames of bees. Didn't see the queen, but she could be in one of the clumps. All is put back together and quiet now.

I guess I'll check for eggs in 4-5 days. If I don't find any, I'll give them a frame of eggs then.

Any other suggestions?

I think what you did was just fine. And yes I live near Seattle and have lots of snow and wind.

CoolBees · February 08, 2019, 01:38:05 PM

Quote from: dtown2002 on February 08, 2019, 12:39:45 AM
I think what you did was just fine. And yes I live near Seattle and have lots of snow and wind.

Thanks for that dtown. I hope you get some warmer weather soon! When we landed in Seattle, I looked out the window and wondered "where's the ground?" ... between the thick fog to the ground, a foot or so of snow on the runway, and thick snow falling, I couldn't tell. Cudos to the pilots for landing in that mess.

CoolBees · February 08, 2019, 01:39:54 PM

Ace, that is some fast growing grass! Nice backyard also. Me-thinks that backyard needs some bees to be complete.

CoolBees · February 08, 2019, 01:42:42 PM

Stinger - what part of Montana dI'd you live before? I go up there a couple times per year. I've seen a lot of hives up on the Shields river. Very pretty country! ... my avatar photo was taken high up in the mtns there also.