Bee gum log

Around the first of November 2009, this oak log fell roughly 20 feet from where it broke away at a fork in the body of the tree. The actual large lap section of the tree fell in a cow pasture in the area where they were being fed, and the ground was very wet and muddy. At the end of December there was a hard freeze, and the log was moved out to my bee yard on the flat trailer. I picked a warm day; around the 7th of January it was 60 degrees to get this log standing.

First I measured in the hollow with my rule to determine where to make the first cut. We used the end of the trailer to aid in making a square cut to attach the bottom plate.

The diameter of the log was 28 inches, and pretty comb was showing.

The base plate board has been attached.

The hollow at the top end of the log was not totally open. So we made the first cut parallel to the bottom based on our rule measure.

We measured and cut again after finding that we had 30 inches before hitting the comb. The hollow we want is on the right filled with trash from the chain saw. We tipped the log forward on the top end to dump out the trash.

A temporary bottom board for a brood box with a 4” x 5” hole is centered over the open hollow and attached to the log. This bee gum log is only 30 inches tall. This had to be a colony that swarmed in the spring of 2009, and found this great hollow that had room for much expansion. The brood box now has frames with foundations, but come late February I will move their comb into the box. A syrup feeder has been added, and the bees can go through the hollow entrance as well as through the top.