Bees in a brick chimney

[Johnny253]

I would like to get a swarm of bees out of a brick chimney and put them into a hive. I know this will be quite a challenge but I've been told this could be achieved with a trap out. I don't know the first thing about a trap out so am wondering if anyone else has tried such a transfer and can offer some advice.

I don't want to pull the chimney apart but am hoping there may be some way to move the bees. It's not my chimney but the bees have been in there for quite a while and it's pretty much blocked.

[CapnChkn]

Johnny, there's a wealth of information concerning trap-outs.

Theory is simple, the feral hive is producing bees, you make a cone out of #8 hardware cloth, seal all entrances to the feral hive, cover the main or last entrance with the cone, and put an empty hive body with a frame of brood close to the cone to attract the estranged bees.  After a long time the feral colony cannot support itself and the last of the bees abscond.

I couldn't tell you what hardware cloth is called in Australia, or how it might translate.  It's 8 squares to the American inch.  3mm holes.  It takes a lot of time, and patience.  If you want the colony now, a cutout would be better.  If you still want to try the trap out, you might want to get information from your local trap out experts, and look up "Trap Out" and "Iddee" here on the forum.

[gardeningfireman]

Check out the honeybee removal section. There is a step by step thread on trapouts by Iddee.

[NJClydeDriver]

If you want to go and get them, JP did a removal from a brick column that was about the size of a chimney.  That would show you how he did it.  He makes everything look easy, but it was straight forward and something you could see how it was done.  Look on the site and he should have the video posted, he da man...