Chimney Trap Out. Need Advice.

[Scott Derrick]

Hi Everyone,

I've done many removal and cutouts over the years but done few trap outs. I've run into a trap out that I need help with. I want to get advice from those who have done trap outs before and had success. I've personally only done two. One was successful and one wasn't. This trap out will be from a chimney. The bees are deep in the chimney. The chimney has two fireplaces that are associated with it. The half of the chimney where the bees are has been completely bricked and filled. The problem is that the bees are at the very bottom of the chimney and span all the way across the bottom. The height of the chimney is about 20 feet or so. The bees are landing on the lip of the chimney and walking all the way to the bottom.

The chimney has a cap over half and is open on half. My thought is that I'll need to create a box that will fit over both the entire chimney top with a one way exit. Here are my questions.

1. Should I alter a bottom board with a one way exit so that the exit dumps directly into the hive bottom of the hive?
2. Does the exit need to be on a vertical plane or can it be horizontal ie... altering the bottom board to sit directly on top of the exit?
3. I'm assuming I need to put a "queen right" hive on the chimney to draw the evicted bees in?

You can find photos of the job here. https://plus.google.com/photos/109455718186385256142/albums/5886070806101436449?banner=pwa

I'm open to all suggestion to make this a success. It's a big colony.

[Moots]

Scott,
I'm in the process of doing my only two trapouts, so I'm green at this also...iddee is pretty much the trapout "go to" man on the forum, so I'm sure he'll weigh in.

My 2¢....
1)  Bottom board with the one way exit will probably work, but will make it tough to monitor if you still have bees emerging compared to a wire mesh cone.
2)  If I understand what you're asking, I don't think vertical or horizontal would matter.
3)  You can use a "queen right" hive, or simply give them a brood frame with 1-3 day out eggs, and they'll make there own queen.

Good luck!

[iddee]

I would have to see some pics from the fireplace before I could comment. That far down, I would look at the possibility of doing a cutout from the inside or look on the outside for a clean out door.

[Scott Derrick]

Idee,

The fireplace has been sealed bottom to top. It's a 30's home and the mortar is not in good shape neither is the chimney. I'd never try to take it from the inside. Also, there's no clean out door.

[iddee]

Maybe this will help.

http://www.beekeepingforums.com/threads/9578-Franklin-s-trap-out-6-21-12

[Jackam]

So don't keep us in suspense.... how did the job turn out????

[Scott Derrick]

Haven't started it yet. To be honest I'm a bit hesitant. Don't want any post removal / cutout problems. I really don't know how to keep that from happening. I'm not sure how to keep wax moths or maggots from invading the house after the removal. I'm assuming bees in the area would rob the honey.

[Jackam]

I think that once the bees are removed, it would be safe to have an insecticide applied.