Bees in pheasant feeder.

[Mrs Shoot]

A friend has been out on his shoot and found a pheasant feeder that has fallen over has become home to a colony of bees. Good job it's been a mild winter.






Will go and collect them, and leave them in the feeder until the weather is warmer.

Might put some hessian and cover in tarp around them to help them stay warm, and build up.

 

[Millet]

I bet its cold inside of that when there is a frost on the ground.

 

[bjosephd]

I bet its cold inside of that when there is a frost on the ground.

I bet!

And I bet if they stayed in there when spring/summer comes then they would absolutely boil in a metal box when the sun hits it!

 

[Brian Bush]

I collected a swarm from a pheasant feeder a couple of years ago. They had built their comb just under the roof. It was an easy cut out.

 

[taurus]

I am intrigued how you go about getting them out of there and into a hive. Someone we know has a colony in their bird box and wants them shifted. I've no intention of going anywhere near them until I know a bit (ie lot) more - but I've been pondered how you'd do it.

 

[enrico]

I am intrigued how you go about getting them out of there and into a hive. Someone we know has a colony in their bird box and wants them shifted. I've no intention of going anywhere near them until I know a bit (ie lot) more - but I've been pondered how you'd do it.

Look up 'cut outs' that will give you loads of ideas. Basically you can remove the comb and tie it into frames.
E

 

[Millet]

I am intrigued how you go about getting them out of there and into a hive. Someone we know has a colony in their bird box and wants them shifted. I've no intention of going anywhere near them until I know a bit (ie lot) more - but I've been pondered how you'd do it.

Have a look at the link in this thread.

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=35967

 

[Erichalfbee]

Might put some hessian and cover in tarp around them to help them stay warm, and build up.

Brilliant, what a wonderful find.
Keep them nice and cosy and let us know how it goes

 

[Amari]

I am intrigued how you go about getting them out of there and into a hive. Someone we know has a colony in their bird box and wants them shifted. I've no intention of going anywhere near them until I know a bit (ie lot) more - but I've been pondered how you'd do it.

How big is the bird box? If it's the sort used by blue tits then the tree bumble bee, Bombus hypnorum, is probably the occupant though I would have expected the colony to have disappeared for the winter by now. Or maybe it's an owl box?

 

[taurus]

How big is the bird box? If it's the sort used by blue tits then the tree bumble bee, Bombus hypnorum, is probably the occupant though I would have expected the colony to have disappeared for the winter by now. Or maybe it's an owl box?

It's a colleague where my wife works and she described it as quite a large bird house, I haven't seen it yet as I have no intention of going near bees until I've had some training.

I will look up the techniques mentioned above. So much to learn....

 

[Plenty of honey]

It's a colleague where my wife works and she described it as quite a large bird house, I haven't seen it yet as I have no intention of going near bees until I've had some training.

I will look up the techniques mentioned above. So much to learn....

Look up "JP the Bee Man" on you tube, he's done tons of videos and cut outs are his thing. A lot of people do videos but i honestly think his are the best and most informative. Above all Jeff is a really nice guy and likes a laugh. His family run a pest control business and he removes all the bees, and always finds the queen!! He's a true professional and he's 1st class in what he does!!

 

[Mrs Shoot]

I bet!

And I bet if they stayed in there when spring/summer comes then they would absolutely boil in a metal box when the sun hits it!

That's what I was thinking, want to get them out as soon as it gets nice enough to do so, but give them protection until that point in time.
There should be a lid at the other end, which should make things easier.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I bet!

And I bet if they stayed in there when spring/summer comes then they would absolutely boil in a metal box when the sun hits it!

They'd probably cope - saw a few instances of bees in metal containers (old oil drums) etc. out in Africa - one colony happily living in a corner of a 30 ft shipping container.

 

[Mrs Shoot]

Bought the whole feeder home. Wrapped in hessian and a bin bag. Managed to attach a plastic tub with fondant over the bottom hole, with the aid of s block if wood and a hive strap. Worked very well. Found some foil covered bubble wrap and attached this to the front as well. The bees seem to like the landing platform created with the bubble wrap over the tub of fondant. Left the bees in their pheasant feeder, come now looking like a space ship home until the weather got warmer.
About 4 weeks ago, popped the lid off and removed the colony with a couple of frames if comb with BIAS into a hive. They're doing well in their new hive.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I remember this. Thanks for letting us know how it went

 

[MartinL]

About 4 weeks ago, popped the lid off and removed the colony with a couple of frames if comb with BIAS into a hive. They're doing well in their new hive.

I'm curios. How were the combs orientated inside the feeder,
Warm way or Cold??

 

[Millet]

Bought the whole feeder home. Wrapped in hessian and a bin bag. Managed to attach a plastic tub with fondant over the bottom hole, with the aid of s block if wood and a hive strap. Worked very well. Found some foil covered bubble wrap and attached this to the front as well. The bees seem to like the landing platform created with the bubble wrap over the tub of fondant. Left the bees in their pheasant feeder, come now looking like a space ship home until the weather got warmer.
About 4 weeks ago, popped the lid off and removed the colony with a couple of frames if comb with BIAS into a hive. They're doing well in their new hive.

Brilliant outcome, i had my doubts about them getting through the winter in that metal barrel.

 

[Mrs Shoot]

Some photos

 

[Mrs Shoot]

Covered pheasant feeder side

 

[Mrs Shoot]

Front view of the space ship look a likey pheasant feeder,