Mike Henderson
Member
- Messages
- 1,405
- Location
- Villa Park, CA
Some time back, I reported on a swarm of bees that settled in one of my trees. I tried to get the "bee rescue" people to come pick them up, but they wanted to be paid to do it.
So instead, I made them a home and transferred them into it this morning (with their comb) while it was cool and the bees were inactive.
For all the beekeepers out there, I know this is not a standard hive, but I just wanted to provide them a home. I'm not looking to raise bees for honey. My concern is whether they'll survive - it's a small colony - but I know they would not have survived without some protection. They were making comb in the tree and looked like they were not going to move on.
The hive is about 18" across the front, about 15" deep, and about 18" high. The wood is white oak. The construction is a bit rough because I knocked it together fairly quickly, but I did use hand cut dovetails to fit the sides together. I used a French cleat to attach it to the fence wall. And, no, the finish is not beeswax, although it may eventually be.
My father was a beekeeper, but I don't have any equipment. So I went to the Borg yesterday and bought a paint strainer (essentially a fine mesh bag) for a 5 gallon can. I put on a wide brim hat and put the paint strainer over it to keep the bees away from my face. But the bees were very docile - I might have been able to transfer them without the head gear. But better safe than sorry, I suppose.
So now, I'll have to see if they survive the move. It'd be nice to have a colony in the yard.
Mike
So instead, I made them a home and transferred them into it this morning (with their comb) while it was cool and the bees were inactive.
For all the beekeepers out there, I know this is not a standard hive, but I just wanted to provide them a home. I'm not looking to raise bees for honey. My concern is whether they'll survive - it's a small colony - but I know they would not have survived without some protection. They were making comb in the tree and looked like they were not going to move on.
The hive is about 18" across the front, about 15" deep, and about 18" high. The wood is white oak. The construction is a bit rough because I knocked it together fairly quickly, but I did use hand cut dovetails to fit the sides together. I used a French cleat to attach it to the fence wall. And, no, the finish is not beeswax, although it may eventually be.
My father was a beekeeper, but I don't have any equipment. So I went to the Borg yesterday and bought a paint strainer (essentially a fine mesh bag) for a 5 gallon can. I put on a wide brim hat and put the paint strainer over it to keep the bees away from my face. But the bees were very docile - I might have been able to transfer them without the head gear. But better safe than sorry, I suppose.
So now, I'll have to see if they survive the move. It'd be nice to have a colony in the yard.
Mike