Beehive out in the open - being slowly killed be storms

jf112358 · April 25, 2011, 11:21:46 PM

About two weeks ago a bee hive appeared in some bushes outside my office. They are nested at the top. You can look right down at them.

The thing is they are dying off. We have had about 4 thunder storms in the past two weeks. Their hive keeps getting smaller and smaller. They are unprotected and there are barely any flowers around my office. I would take them to my back yard if I could. I have tons of flowers and an old shed that would be perfect for a hive.

Is there anything I can do for them?

fyi - I know nothing about taking care of bees.

Vance G · April 25, 2011, 11:33:20 PM

That would be a very hungry swarm and would need to be handled with extreme caution as they might be very defensive in their shape. Put a free add in the local craigslist and hopefully someone will come and rescue them. Your a good soul to worry about them.

hankdog1 · April 25, 2011, 11:42:37 PM

You may want to look on here with the bee removel list and see if you can find a beekeeper close by to take them.

vmmartin · April 26, 2011, 01:23:48 AM

Maybe a makeshift shelter for them.....like something that would serve as a roof to keep the rain off of them. Otherwise adopt them and take em home. I second the comment about your concern for them.

Michael Bush · April 26, 2011, 01:53:29 AM

They were looking for a home and apparently failed. They have probably started some comb by now but apparently aren't doing so well. They can't build a home, they need to find one and now that they probably built some comb they are conflicted as they don't want to leave it. Call a beekeeper.

jf112358 · April 26, 2011, 03:10:25 AM

Thank you for the advice. I think I will call a beekeeper tomorrow.

Though I must admit, I wish there was some way I could take them home. It would be neat to have my own beehive, even in just a passive way.

Michael Bush · April 26, 2011, 06:12:30 AM

You can see if you can find a beekeeper who would help you rescue it to take home. I'm not saying you couldn't succeed in getting them home, but now that they've been stuck that long, they will be defensive if they have comb and hungry and angry if they haven't built comb. It would be a very intense and possibly dangerous undertaking for a newbee.

Tommyt · April 26, 2011, 11:04:14 AM

Quote from: jf112358 on April 26, 2011, 03:10:25 AM
Though I must admit, I wish there was some way I could take them home. It would be neat to have my own beehive, even in just a passive way.

Put your Location up and maybe someone here on Beemaster,com is close enough to help
If your in the Tampabay area I may be able to house them for you
for under 10,000 :-D
I'm running a free swarm collection this week also giving a finders fee for swarm locator's
Good luck

Tommyt

dean0 · April 26, 2011, 11:55:12 AM

I would offer to help also but I know she is not anywhere near me in Florida because we are praying for rain. It would be nice to have 4 thunderstorms in 2 weeks.

tandemrx · April 26, 2011, 12:05:18 PM

If you can't find someone on this forum close by, call your local police department (not the emergency number) and ask if they have a list of any beekeepers that collect swarms.

Call that person and ask if they would help you set this swarm up in a hive. It would be a great way to get started, but you will need to act fast. I think it is tough to keep a hive entirely passively, but maybe this will spur your interest in beekeeping and you will get hooked like the rest of us.

jf112358 · April 26, 2011, 08:42:19 PM

UPDATE!

I called a local bee keeper. He was very nice. He came and picked them up today. I'm glad too, because where I live is getting hit with tornado right now.

Thanks again for all yalls advice!

hankdog1 · April 26, 2011, 09:53:10 PM

If you want to learn what to do and get you some bees eventually you should really stay around. Alot to learn here with alot of good people. Hope you decide to stay and eventually get some bees of your own. Did you find someone on this forum to come and get the bees? Just curious :-D

jf112358 · April 27, 2011, 01:55:58 AM

I found help at memphis area beekeepers website.

I would like to have a beehive of my own one day. My goal is to one day have my own farm/garden in my back yard. I think a beehive would be an awesome addition to my dream farm/garden. I currently live with my mom, but will be moving out soon. It'll probably be a while before I get to have my farm though.

Never the less I will definitely come back here for help!

You guys were awesome, thanks again!