Closing hives

[Beelosser]

Due to circumstances beyond my control (party in garden next door with one child severely allergic to bee stings) I am going to shut my bees in. As luck would have it it will be glorious weather all day (23 degrees). The hives have mesh floors. I am going to use mouse excluders with some mesh to seal them in and I am thinking of spraying water on the hive (and maybe through the mesh floor. Will this work

 

[Swarm]

Will need a mesh screen on top as well and even prop up the roof for some ventilation, I wouldn't want mine locked up in this weather. Is this a request from next door? If your bees are no problem generally, I don't see why they should need to be locked in.

 

[Sutty]

You could use a garden sprinkler to keep the hives cool, the might not even fly if it "rains" all day!

 

[Markthebuilder]

Very good of you to be so considerate.
I would think a mesh travel screen over the top . And a blanket/ sheet on poles to creat an awning / shade from any direct sun will lower temp significantly.
If they are truly allergic I would expect them to have an epi pen

 

[rolande]

I wouldn't be keen on doing this at all, there's going to be some real stress inflicted.

If you do go ahead with the plan make sure the travel screen is a deep one, better still, add an empty super under it and another between the floor and brood. Simply having mesh isn't necessarily the same as having air to breath!

 

[user 20297]

You could use a garden sprinkler to keep the hives cool, the might not even fly if it "rains" all day!

Good idea; the sprinkler. Directed into their garden maybe the party will stay indoors.
I would ask them to be considerate of you......tell the neighbours that if the bees have to sleep in all day, please can they keep the noise down.

 

[ericbeaumont]

If they are truly allergic I would expect them to have an epi pen

Two years ago I was asked by roofers to lock in two strong colonies on a flat pub roof for eight hours in a 30C heatwave; the roof next door needed re-surfacing and the roofers knew that the glue they would use would drive bees crazy.

I locked them into the Abelo poly hives; no special measures taken; nothing happened.

Has the child been diagnosed as allergic? If so, I'm surprised that you've run the risk of keeping bees next door. Perhaps it's time to look for an out-apiary and relieve the child, the bees and you of future stress.

 

[Boston Bees]

Has the child been diagnosed as allergic? If so, I'm surprised that you've run the risk of keeping bees next door. Perhaps it's time to look for an out-apiary and relieve the child, the bees and you of future stress.

I was assuming it was a child visiting as a party guest ....

 

[Markthebuilder]

I took it that one of the invited guest children coming to the party was believed to be allergic……

When my kids have a party I have started inviting parents to sign a disclaimer saying that they have no objection to children climbing trees,& haystacks , covering themselves and cloths in mud.losing clothing playing with fire (except in the hay barn) and that for anything less than a cut requiring 5 stitches or a major broken bone I I can apply gaffa tape As a cure all until normal picking up time.

 

[Beelosser]

I was assuming it was a child visiting as a party guest ....

Yes is party guest. But had chat with neighbours (who have always been lovely and like the bees). So not going to lock them in. It was just that for four days there has been mating flights that landed in the neighbours garden - then returned to the hive- so loads of activity.

 

[Boston Bees]

Yes is party guest. But had chat with neighbours (who have always been lovely and like the bees). So not going to lock them in. It was just that for four days there has been mating flights that landed in the neighbours garden - then returned to the hive- so loads of activity.

Good stuff. Just lean over the fence and explain to the children that you have a sex mad queen in your garden. They'll understand.

 

[Markthebuilder]

All the above said I and my bees are being evicted from our front garden by she who must be obeyed because of the stress they sometimes cause visitors.

 

[Beelosser]

Thanks so much this forum is so good for me. Even if I don’t agree with everyone it gives me time to think and come to a sensible decision

 

[Curly green finger's]

I took it that one of the invited guest children coming to the party was believed to be allergic……

When my kids have a party I have started inviting parents to sign a disclaimer saying that they have no objection to children climbing trees,& haystacks , covering themselves and cloths in mud.losing clothing playing with fire (except in the hay barn) and that for anything less than a cut requiring 5 stitches or a major broken bone I I can apply gaffa tape As a cure all until normal picking up time.

What did we use to get up to as children fires ,hay bale bases. Jumping from bales into a big pile of corn. Playing knock knock ginger in the village. Hedge hopping, tieing fishing line to someone's door knocker and hiding behind a hedge and pulling on the fishing line,
What is the world coming to
Dangerous swings from huge oak trees... Once the rope snapped and I was in mid air broke my rist..
Ow!! on Halloween we would go to the village and throw eggs at the village clan a bit of a tradition that was.
Being 13 and drinking 2020 and spuwing in my mums new car.. Got grounded for that one..
Anyway sorry for waffling

 

[Poly Hive]

There is a seriously high risk of combs drooping, nectar running and wetting bees which cover the floor mesh and the hive suffocates. Top Screen is essential here. Trust me a brewed colony has a very distinctive odour which you don't want to learn.

PH

 

[rolande]

Trust me a brewed colony has a very distinctive odour which you don't want to learn.

PH

Very true.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

What did we use to get up to as children fires ,hay bale bases. Jumping from bales into a big pile of corn. Playing knock knock ginger in the village. Hedge hopping, tieing fishing line to someone's door knocker and hiding behind a hedge and pulling on the fishing line,
What is the world coming to
Dangerous swings from huge oak trees... Once the rope snapped and I was in mid air broke my rist..
Ow!! on Halloween we would go to the village and throw eggs at the village clan a bit of a tradition that was.
Being 13 and drinking 2020 and spuwing in my mums new car.. Got grounded for that one..
Anyway sorry for waffling

And now - go to casualty for a broken nail after a playstation controller incident!
Did you used to play splits (or split the kipper)?

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Very true.

If a colony is packed with bees, an extra super or more space of some kind would not go amiss either.

 

[rolande]

If a colony is packed with bees, an extra super or more space of some kind would not go amiss either.

Good idea

 

[Sutty]

Good stuff. Just lean over the fence and explain to the children that you have a sex mad queen in your garden. They'll understand.