Bees in a wall, can I save them?

birdsandbees · Jul 19, 2015

Hi,

Need some help!

I'm a new beekeeper and someone has asked if I can remove a colony from behind some false timber on house wall, they have been there since last year and the owners will destroy them if they can't be removed!
So they are established, how do I save them?

Greggorio · Jul 19, 2015

I've got such a lack of knowledge you can barely call me a beginner but while googling in the last two months I found a number of methods. One was you can build a sort of hooverbag for bees. You attach the hose of your hoover to one end, then you put a hose on the other side of it and suck the bees out, and then I guess place them in a nuc. The other was a mesh funnel that allowed the bees out but not back in. You would then put a frame or two of uncapped brood (someone with some actual knowledge needs to correct me on this) and the bees should raise a new queen. Of course you could remove the false wood and physically remove comb and whatnot into a nuc.

In my part of France the walls of houses are two foot thick with cracks and gaps and cavities and chimneys with the same problem so swarms get killed all the time because they are so inaccessible.

Anyway I'm merely talking, I'd advise against listening to me!!

On another note I used to be into breeding chickens and had Seramas (but didn't show them, bathing a hairdrying a chicken is a bit too much for me)

kazmcc · Jul 19, 2015

birdsandbees said:
Hi,

Need some help!

I'm a new beekeeper and someone has asked if I can remove a colony from behind some false timber on house wall, they have been there since last year and the owners will destroy them if they can't be removed!
So they are established, how do I save them?

Can you remove portions of the false timber?

enrico · Jul 19, 2015

Trust me it is more difficult than it appears! You have to be prepared for anything and you need loads of kit including a bee vac if possible. I have given up doing cut outs like that. They can take hours and be far more trouble than they are worth. I asked on here for help and I had loads of kind people offering to do it for me. Not me though I am afraid.
E

birdsandbees · Jul 19, 2015

Thanks for the replies,
I've been told I can remove the false beam timber but I have a feeling that they are hidden in the soffit of the house too!
As they have been there since last year it must be a substantial colony that they have built and I can't imagine it'll be easy.
I think this is way beyond my abilities and far from as simple as collecting a swarm so I think I'll have to pass, thanks for the advice though and if anyone else fancies having a go it's near Droitwich Worcestershire I'll pass on the contact details.