Swarm collection rant

[Sean.]

You CHARGE! no wonder my husband gets calls from people want to have bees destroyed! If its cheaper to get a pest controller in people will do it! luckily my OH will never destroy a swarm

I called RentoKill yesterday to ask to get their local office number, to register as a bee keeper for my area. They initially though I had bees and wanted them to be killed, they said they would send someone or to find a local bee keeper - even though I said they were definitively honey bees!!!

 

[BeeJayBee]

I'm not on any swarm list, so how people get my number is something of a mystery

Off your honey jars? That's where a lot of my calls come from.

No. Labels have my mobile number, these calls come to the house phone.

 

[Sean.]

One thing that has been helpful is asking the callers to take and send me a photo on their phone, has saved half a dozen bumble bee trips.

C B

Yes! That makes life much better. Also asking size of each bee, as they normally have killed a few... e.g. longer than a 5 pence piece or a little thinner than a pencil?

 

[Outlander]

I called RentoKill yesterday to ask to get their local office number, to register as a bee keeper for my area. They initially though I had bees and wanted them to be killed, they said they would send someone or to find a local bee keeper - even though I said they were definitively honey bees!!!

I have had three calls from a big national.construction company that has an account with Rent A K... asking for me.to identify the type of bee as R A K. would.not.attend still.construction company had spoken with me first. All calls were about separate colonies on different sights.

 

[meetballuk]

this year i've asked for money towards fuel and no1 has refused, although the one who resist are always the ones with a brand new car on the drive and a 5 bed house. were providing a service if you dont wanna charge more fool you.
pest control aint cheap so were always the cheaper option and most pest controllers wont touch honey bees

 

[milkermel]

Things must be differant down here in Cornwall husband is one of the few who refuses point blank to destroy a colony. And some of charges mentioned are definitely more than cost to do the job by pestie

 

[Dishmop]

But what really gets me is many have been referred on to beekeepers by the council.

Perhaps the penny will drop one day that they might be able to make some money out of it themselves, but as they never seem to stay in the same dept for very long they'd probably forget that they offered the service, and have to look it up on google to see if they did.
I am suprised that they give phone numbers out at all in case it might be against the discloser act thingy. They wouldnt give me the direct line number of a certain dept once, but gave me the name of person and told me to write a letter. I phoned the switchboard again and asked to be put thro to Mr whateverhisnamewas.

 

[Dishmop]

All calls were about separate colonies on different sights.

Not guilty.... Mine are all still here..every last one, well, except the few that got in the way of the helicam..

 

[madasafish]

Perhaps the penny will drop one day that they might be able to make some money out of it themselves, but as they never seem to stay in the same dept for very long they'd probably forget that they offered the service, and have to look it up on google to see if they did.
I am suprised that they give phone numbers out at all in case it might be against the discloser act thingy. They wouldnt give me the direct line number of a certain dept once, but gave me the name of person and told me to write a letter. I phoned the switchboard again and asked to be put thro to Mr whateverhisnamewas.

If they tried to make money out of it - at my expense - they could go whistle or rather ..."sex and a journey".

As far as disclosure, my name is on the BBKA website and my phone numbers... so it's already in the public domain...

 

[Taylan]

I Quite Agree I have kept bees since i was 15 yrs old I sold up for 10 yrs But I had to start again I am now 78yrs old I have never or would I ever charge as beekeepers we have a duty not to let our bees interfere with other peoples lives, I have taken swarms in all sorts of places and chased them over fields in my younger days throwing soil at them from mole tumps to get them down and when you do and you throw the cloth over the skep in the evening and you get that Buzz and vibration I think to myself where could I buy a thrill like this God I shall live for ever. Yes I have had my fair share of false alarms wasps bumble bees But god also gave me a gift to share and pass on , Some people get Satisfaction from charging for their services. I get mine from taking a newbee with me if possible and trying passing on some of the pleasure beekeeping has given me also the look on their face when you give yes give them the Swarm and follow it up with help.

 

[Queens59]

I live in a village that has only ever been noted for 2 things...the 'swinging' action taking place here in the 70s and the high number of married couples and low divorce rates in the early 2000s.

That is mainly why I do not charge as they are all in their 70-90s...even though they are better off than me. However, the number of £5-10 found under windscreen wipers, cakes on the front seat, and bottles of wine in a carrier bag etc. make it worthwhile...and I must admit although none of the swarms have ever been mine I do feel a responsibility both to the reputation of 'bee-keepers' and to the bees themselves...A big softie I is...

 

[milkermel]

Oh Taylans that you lived in cornwall - Im just past the newbee bit but only just! would have loved to have someone like you to follow around and annoy - also agree with you queens think we lose focus on stuff sometimes and get caught up in money too much, Yes we all have to make a living, but also doing a little bit for others for nothing is important. I understand what people say about the cost of fuel - but at the end of the day you dont have to collect it just pass it on to someone else if it is too far away.

personally i prefer the Chocolate cakes left for me to the hard cash. I want to keep my hobby as that. Having seen my husband make his hobby his career I dont want that to happen to me. He loves his job but no longer does he go out on a warm quiet night like tonight to enjoy popping a few bunnies - now its annoying if he misses one.

 

[meetballuk]

was wife who made me start charging wen i ran her car empty in a week just with swarms. but i just see it as fuel costs

 

[Heather]

I was given £1 (unrequested) after climbing across a loft in 40d temp to remove a bumble bee nest that builders wouldnt work near.
Ah well, charity box benefited

 

[roche]

I generally give a jar of honey to the "householder" of a genuine swarm that I collect, more as good PR, so that people are less liable to just knock the bees on the head in the future. It's also an opportunity to explain why the Bees do it...

 

[SixFooter]

Just had a call from a lady who said there were thousands of bees on a wall in the shape of a pregnant woman's belly. I thought that was a brilliant description.