Colony cut out maybe

[wightbees]

I have a opportunity to do a cutout. From what was said they have been there in the cavity of the house for years but they are now also under the floor boards ,as you can hear them.
I was wondering if i was to put a porter escape over there entrance with a BB in place (somehow) would they slowly move into this ?
I can lift the floorboards but not take bricks out the wall .
So what do you think my options are ?

 

[dudley]

Try your trap out idea first. I think you will soon know if they have taken to your BB.
But I feel unless you can get to the brood and physically cut it out it wont work. Been there, got the T shirt.

 

[merylvingien]

Sorry to say i feel its a hopeless cause. I get loads of these scenarios. But i am standing my ground this year and saying i no longer kill bees.

I hate killing bees of any kind, and you may find that not many pest controllers will touch them with a barge pole.

If you cannot manage the situation in a satisfactory way, walk away and do not get involved. Do not be pushed about by the general public just becuase you keep bees as a hobby. The voice of experience has spoken LOL

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I don't know if you've read 'the bad beekeeper's club' but one chapter describes how Bill Turnbull got rid of a colony of bees from a capped chimney - he put a porter escape over the entrance hole and put a hive nearby (I don't know if it had foundation or drawn comb in, but drawn comb sounds the best bet) the bees eventually colonised the new hive and when they were established he removed the porter escape and the bees went on to empty the old nest of honey!.
I know of a colony of bees in an old chapel I'm involved in restoring - they've settled in behind a gravestone set in one of the walls, they're very docile but may be a problem when renovation work gets carried out, I'm toying with the idea of trying it - nothing to lose really if I don't.

 

[Dishmop]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZqXnCbR8wA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZqXnCbR8wA[/ame]

 

[wightbees]

Good idea with the vac.
how about trap all flying bees and requeen them.
then armed with the vac lift floor boards and vac whats left,then cut all the comb out?

 

[justme]

Good idea with the vac.
how about trap all flying bees and requeen them.
then armed with the vac lift floor boards and vac whats left,then cut all the comb out?

Hi, Yesterday saw on here mention of a bee vac. Have seen one before, got a friend who has one he adapted. The idea is to get live bees out, not kill them doing it.

I'll see if I can find the link (to the one on here).

Here it is, post no 2.
http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10426

 

[merylvingien]

Its the ones that are in the cavity that will be the problem.
I spose you could narrow the entrance right down on the outside and pop a valve on, then rig up some kind of capture box??
What about the young bees in the cavity still?

If your up for it, the way i would go about it is: Try and trap out the flying bees using the valve, then attack the floor with a vac, retrieve what comb you can. Once you have got what you can, then kill the rest. Requeen if you cant get her.