The bee keeper diaries

[Iowanian]

Originally Posted by Groves

Cut outs are bad enough. Trap outs are even worse imo. Very low chance at getting the queen. Time consuming to boot. Might as well let it thrive and catch its swarms.

I've helped with a couple of cutouts last year and they do suck, especially overhead. We did one in an old garage that was about eye level down and it was easy.

We've found another one in an old camper that should be a saw, remove and smash thing so that should be easy as these go.

The tree thing is more complicated. It's in a very large tree that is sentimental to the family, but the hive is near their house/small kids and they want the bees gone. They'd rather we try to get them than poison them.

My thought is we'll wrap it in screen and funnel them out, put a ladder stand next to it with a nuc box and put a frame or two and see what happens. I can get a frame or two with some brood and if the queen doesn't come out, maybe they can make a queen. Then foam the hole shut in the tree.

My guess is a live cam of my bee keeping would be pretty popular online....if there is anyone destined for disaster, it's probably me. Hell, I got stung 30-40 times the last time I mowed the yard last fall BEFORE I got my first honey bee.