Bees in roof any tips for removal

[jeff33]

One of my friends have had bees under a slate roof for a number of years but as finally decided to get rid of them as his wife got stung on the face last weekend.

He contacted me to remove them but as I have never done this before, I am not too sure how to go about it other than bringing lots of empty frames, elastic bands and patience.

I plan to go go this week to remove a couple of tiles and assess the situation but would welcome any tips on how to deal with this and also how to deal with all the flyers. Thanks

 

[Erichalfbee]

I've done a couple with a bee vac to get all the bees first then tackle the frames.
I said I'd never do another after the first and I really mean it after the second
My advice? I'd have a good look first before you commit yourself
There's a nationwide Bee Removers on FB that might be useful if you feel you can't do it successfully.

 

[jeff33]

I've done a couple with a bee vac to get all the bees first then tackle the frames.
I said I'd never do another after the first and I really mean it after the second
My advice? I'd have a good look first before you commit yourself
There's a nationwide Bee Removers on FB that might be useful if you feel you can't do it successfully.

Thanks Dani. if he wasn't a friend I would have said no straight away..... I may still say no!! I will also need to ask the association if any members have a bee vac.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Good luck Jeff....they are the devil though lots of people enjoy the blood sweat tears and sticky mess.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I agree with Dani.
Cuts outs are extremely messy and not to be undertaken lightly. I have undertaken two in roofs and be aware that a decent size colony can occupy a large plan area so you may find yourself removing significantly more slate than you anticipate.
The design of roofs also allows lots of hiding places for the queen so go carefully!
Talking of care, please ensure you have scaffolding or a scaffold tower as I would never attempt to do a roof removal from a ladder as you need loads of buckets, bee vac and water!
Good luck Jeff!

 

[polymath]

i have succeeded with some and failed with others. nightmare. Also remember your safety and who is insuring you.

 

[enrico]

Scaffolding for the weight and safety, builder to repair damage, roofer to repair tikes and felt. Look at house insurance claim!

 

[jeff33]

You are all selling it to me , I may suggest he calls a professional!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

You are all selling it to me , I may suggest he calls a professional!!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/759123678164015/?ref=share

 

[BugsInABox]

I agree with Dani.
Cuts outs are extremely messy and not to be undertaken lightly. I have undertaken two in roofs and be aware that a decent size colony can occupy a large plan area so you may find yourself removing significantly more slate than you anticipate.
The design of roofs also allows lots of hiding places for the queen so go carefully!
Talking of care, please ensure you have scaffolding or a scaffold tower as I would never attempt to do a roof removal from a ladder as you need loads of buckets, bee vac and water!
Good luck Jeff!

what's the water for?

 

[Newbeeneil]

what's the water for?

Washing your Bl**dy hands!!! The honey gets everywhere.

 

[JamezF]

what's the water for?

I'd guess it's for slightly reducing how sticky you and your equipment have become.

James

 

[pargyle]

Thanks Dani. if he wasn't a friend I would have said no straight away..... I may still say no!! I will also need to ask the association if any members have a bee vac.

A friend in need is generally a bloody nuisance !

 

[jeff33]

Washing your Bl**dy hands!!! The honey gets everywhere.

Apparently they brought in so much honey last year it was sipping through the ceiling. I dread to imagine the size of the nest!!

 

[Pembroke]

If it's any help my local association recommends this company SwarmCatcher - Live Honey Bee Removal and Relocation Specialists UK they seem to be great for chimneys and presumably do roofs as well. Some of our members like doing roofs but if you approach from inside it will get very warm and sticky very quickly.

If you intend to do it yourself be very careful about checking out you insurance too.

 

[Hachi]

My advice ... don't!! The risks are high and your mate wants it done on the cheap until it goes wrong.

 

[Beesnaturally]

If you can cut them down to one entrance you can make a gauze cone one-way device. Set up a nuc next to it with eggs, and you'll drain the nest and raise a queen. Take down (and away) and repeat, several times. Don't tackle the nest till numbers have come right down, preferably not till the weather has cooled.

Then... everything others have said, (esp. scaffold tower), but: I've found a (homemade) beevac, even at the gentlest setting simply breaks bees. You may not mind at this point - you have 2 or 3 nucs. You will likely not get the queen. Clear out _all_ the nest, then leave it accessible for other bees to tidy up. Then close down, making sure to avoid leaving any entrances. Now is the time for the vac - or flyspray, because these holdouts will perish anyway.

A good plan, and a willingness to take your time beats getting in an angry sticky mess any day, and bees and height are a remarkably dangerous pairing if something goes wrong. Don't underestimate that danger.

One of my early ones was a chimney nest, which I rashly did from a ladder. Wise to the difficulty of tying in except under very good conditions I simply reached in with a long knife, lifted out the combs and put them in a hessian sack, dealing with them at the bottom, while all the bees flew back up. Then a nuc with young in was propped on top, with a string to the door, to be closed by the owner late at night after 3 days.

I've just been asked to look after a tree colony for a tree surgeon. I'll look at it, but I know now my quote won't be below 500 quid.

 

[JamezF]

If you can cut them down to one entrance you can make a gauze cone one-way device. Set up a nuc next to it with eggs, and you'll drain the nest and raise a queen. Take down (and away) and repeat, several times.

I've read about a similar method that uses a brood box with an internal one-way device. It was alleged that if you put in a frame of brood then the queen "smells" brood that aren't hers and comes out to investigate, trapping herself in the brood box. I have absolutely no idea if this is actually plausible though.

James

 

[robinharman]

Don't forget you are not insured for this type of work if you have standard BBKA membership.

 

[Beesnaturally]

I've read about a similar method that uses a brood box with an internal one-way device. It was alleged that if you put in a frame of brood then the queen "smells" brood that aren't hers and comes out to investigate, trapping herself in the brood box. I have absolutely no idea if this is actually plausible though.

James

I made up a long cone so I could arrange for the entrances to be within a few inches of each other. It might be unnecessary. I have no idea if any queens have actually come out, but on the few occasions I did it I got several laying queens in the draining nucs.