Bee gum log

We are working with a 12 foot maple log that was from a downed tree in the early spring of 2009.

This is the view of the bottom of the log before the plate was added. The comb appears to look like a stack of pancakes. I will not know if the comb will hang with good spacing until late Feb. or early March when the log will be opened and the bees moved into the brood box.

You can see how the log is centered on the trailer. This helps with making the cut on the ends of the log.The bottom plate has been added to the bottom of the log.

The top of the log is cut parallel to the bottom, and just above the comb. A temporary bottom board for the brood box with a 4" x 4" hole is attached to the log, and a brood box with frames and foundation is added.

Once the log has been returned to a vertical position, the combs are now somewhat perpendicular to the ground, the bees can begin to clean house of the trash. The hole in the log entrance is also closed forcing them to go through the brood box. A jar feeder is added to provide syrup until they get themselves together. The log section now stands 54 inches high.