Cutout

SgtMaj · June 28, 2008, 12:56:33 AM

So I'm sitting here at work, and my co-worker just told me that he's been seeing honey bees going into a hole in one of his walls... he said he saw 3 or 4 go in. I sense a cutout may be in the future.

Right now I am thinking... if I only had the equipment... soo... anyone know where I can get some equipment fast and cheap? Doesn't have to be the best, just has to work.

OR...

On the flip side of things, if I'm not able to get the equipment... is anyone around E. TN interrested in doing a cutout?

Any advise in this area in general?

SgtMaj · June 28, 2008, 01:16:25 AM

The possibility of these free bees has me thinking... what do I actually need for a temporary hive? Until I get an actual hive, could I create a temporary hive out of a large styrofoam cooler?

Any help or advise would be appreciated.

SgtMaj · June 28, 2008, 07:18:59 AM

Scratch the styrofoam temp. hive... found plans online for what looks like an easy and somewhat cheap home-built regular hive. Couple questions though...

1. Is there any benefit to using deeps for the brood chambers instead of mediums?

2. Can I use polyurathane varnish instead of paint?

3. Can I use heavy aluminum foil instead of tin for the roof?

4. What wood, would you use to build it out of?

As far as cutouts are concerned... does homeowners ins. cover cutouts (i.e. the costs to repair the drywall damage at the least, and possibly even a beekeeper cutout fee?)

JP · June 28, 2008, 01:10:00 PM

Quote from: SgtMaj on June 28, 2008, 07:18:59 AM
Scratch the styrofoam temp. hive... found plans online for what looks like an easy and somewhat cheap home-built regular hive. Couple questions though...

1. Is there any benefit to using deeps for the brood chambers instead of mediums?

>> I use deeps because I do so many removals and some of the combs are large and are easier to transfer into deeps. I use one deep, rest mediums. Having all mediums is nice though for ease of interchangeability of frames.

2. Can I use polyurathane varnish instead of paint?

>>Yes, just let it air out for a long time and its not sticky.

3. Can I use heavy aluminum foil instead of tin for the roof?

>>Yes, just make sure its well sealed and moisture proof.

4. What wood, would you use to build it out of?

>> Any kind, but lighter is better, I would avoid plywood for warpage reasons.

As far as cutouts are concerned... does homeowners ins. cover cutouts (i.e. the costs to repair the drywall damage at the least, and possibly even a beekeeper cutout fee?)

>> No, not here in Louisiana anyway.

...JP

SgtMaj · June 28, 2008, 09:09:26 PM

Quote from: JP on June 28, 2008, 01:10:00 PM1. Is there any benefit to using deeps for the brood chambers instead of mediums?

>> I use deeps because I do so many removals and some of the combs are large and are easier to transfer into deeps. I use one deep, rest mediums. Having all mediums is nice though for ease of interchangeability of frames.

What if I used 4 deeps? I know they would weigh a little over 100lbs when full of honey and bees, but I see no reason I couldn't remove the honey one frame at a time to save my back, and the flexibility of interchangeable frames might be worth it?

Quote from: JP on June 28, 2008, 01:10:00 PM4. What wood, would you use to build it out of?

>> Any kind, but lighter is better, I would avoid plywood for warpage reasons.

So you would avoid the good hardwoods and go with softwoods then? (eek! Is there even a point to varnishing softwoods? It's not like they are going to last.

Quote from: JP on June 28, 2008, 01:10:00 PMAs far as cutouts are concerned... does homeowners ins. cover cutouts (i.e. the costs to repair the drywall damage at the least, and possibly even a beekeeper cutout fee?)

>> No, not here in Louisiana anyway.

Yikes! That may make him decide to spray them instead of having them removed... what arguements could be made in favor of a cutout given that ins. won't cover the damage?

Robo · June 28, 2008, 11:12:59 PM

Quote from: SgtMaj on June 28, 2008, 09:09:26 PM

What if I used 4 deeps? I know they would weigh a little over 100lbs when full of honey and bees, but I see no reason I couldn't remove the honey one frame at a time to save my back, and the flexibility of interchangeable frames might be worth it?

You can run all deeps with no problem. I did it for years.

Quote
So you would avoid the good hardwoods and go with softwoods then? (eek! Is there even a point to varnishing softwoods? It's not like they are going to last.

I have some pine equipment that is over 30 years old and going strong.

Quote

Yikes! That may make him decide to spray them instead of having them removed... what arguements could be made in favor of a cutout given that ins. won't cover the damage?

If you just kill the bees, you have issues with the "stuff" left in the wall.

http://bushkillfarms.com/faq/bee-removal-faq/

Jim134 · June 29, 2008, 08:13:13 AM

The possibility of these free bees has me thinking...

FREE BEES on cut out LOL time is money

BEE HAPPE Jim 134 :)

SgtMaj · June 29, 2008, 12:47:27 PM

Huh? I don't get it.

Ross · June 29, 2008, 01:47:57 PM

There is no such thing as a free bee. It takes time, gas, sweat, tools, and you may not get a viable hive when done.

SgtMaj · June 29, 2008, 02:42:39 PM

Quote from: Ross on June 29, 2008, 01:47:57 PM
There is no such thing as a free bee. It takes time, gas, sweat, tools, and you may not get a viable hive when done.

all true... but I'll still be able to say proudly that I didn't pay for the bees themselves. Plus, isn't it really a better story to tell, about how you got your bees by cutting them out of some desperate person's house for them, than "I ordered them over the phone"...

Ross · June 29, 2008, 06:58:26 PM

Not if you really want to be a beekeeper. It's better to say, "I made 200 pounds of honey" than, "I didn't find the queen and they died". You really need some experience keeping bees before you go into a cutout. What are you going to do if you open it up and they cover you with stings? Run away and leave a mess?

SgtMaj · June 29, 2008, 07:19:00 PM

naw, first off I'll be well covered in a full suit... and I'll have a bee vac with me, too, to suck them all up. I probably won't even care about killing the queen, because the first thing I'd want to do is requeen anyway, just to make sure they are a dossile breed that i like. so might as well order a new queen just before the cutout anyway, then do the cutout, and then requeen them.

Irwin · June 29, 2008, 07:31:38 PM

Please take pic's so we all can see. THANK'S :-D

Ross · June 30, 2008, 10:35:27 AM

Unless you have run a beevac before, you might want to hold off on that queen....

Robo · June 30, 2008, 10:55:45 AM

I'm with Ross. It ain't as simple as some make it out to be. Especially this time of the year when they are loading up with nectar. If you don't know what your doing, you very well might just end up with a glob of sticky dead bees in your vac.

JP · June 30, 2008, 11:26:41 AM

Quote from: Robo on June 30, 2008, 10:55:45 AM
I'm with Ross. It ain't as simple as some make it out to be. Especially this time of the year when they are loading up with nectar. If you don't know what your doing, you very well might just end up with a glob of sticky dead bees in your vac.

Very important to avoid vacuuming over comb that has honey running out.

Try and remove honeycomb sections independently of the brood comb sections if possible, to get the honey outta the way. Of course you will have comb sections that have some honey atop and on edges of brood, that's ok, as long as you are able to detach the entire section neatly without cutting into or through honeycomb. If brood is below large honeycomb sections try and cut it right below the honeycomb sections.

The main thing is to try and avoid a sticky mess, sometimes its unavoidable but in a lot of cases the environment can be kept neat with proper comb manipulations.

I agree to wait before ordering a queen, you have a chance of getting her from the removal and she could be a fantastic queen for you.

...JP

SgtMaj · June 30, 2008, 03:11:42 PM

Well, fortuneately I'm not doing it this time of year... he wants to wait until the weather turns cold, so I've got a couple months. ;)

Moonshae · June 30, 2008, 09:32:56 PM

Waiting until the weather turns cold is going to make it harder for you...the bees will be more defensive, there will be less brood, and it will be much, much harder for them to recover from the shock of being cut out if they aren't able to fly, collect nectar and pollen to produce more wax and build up the hive. The comb really needs to be attached to the frames by the bees...rubber bands are only temporary help.

On the flip side, if the bees are clustering, it might be easier to get them out and to stay in your new hive. But that won't help with the survivability issue.

JP · June 30, 2008, 10:50:25 PM

If they are willing to wait to winter, then ask them to wait until early spring, this would be the ideal time to remove them live then. Beg them, educate them but try and comvince them to wait, until spring, this will be best for the bees.

...JP