Spring Swarm

May 2, 2011.
There is NO picture of the swarm I picked up on Monday. It was 4:00 PM when the call came so I hurriedly put my stuff in the truck that had fuel and took off with out the camera. The bees were in the parking area of a private home half way in the pea gravel on the brick walk way. I used the vacuum to collect them into the brood box.

Bee Yard

Wood Cutter's Log

April 22, 2011; the bee log is loaded.

I cut one block off each end, and the crack widened. This red oak log opened like a book.

The vacuum gets those bees hiding in the holes. This side was wall to wall bees, and now they are in the box.

Sheets of comb containing brood had been pancaked. The tree had been down too long before I was called.

2 days after collecting the healthy bees from the log, they seem to be working. The box was prepped with drawn comb, a frame of honey, and the balance of the frames had wax foundation. A top feeder was added.

Spring Swarm

April 15, 2011. This ball is about 8 feet above ground in the cedar tree in my back yard.

Bees in the box with a frame of honey and drawn comb. I will add a top feeder.

Spring Swarm

April 14, 2011. This was the second swarm of the day in the cedar tree in my back yard. this ball was 8 feet above ground. I used my funnel setup with the 6 foot section.

Spring Swarm

April 14, 2011

This ball is in a cedar tree in my back yard about 16 feet above ground.

I use a homemade funnel fixed to #20, 3 inch drain pipe. I have 2 - 6 foot sections, and 2- 12 foot sections to really go up.

Bees are in the box with a frame of honey and drawn comb. I will add a top feeder to boost them on the way.

Spring Cut Outs / Removals

April 4, 2011; Aspen Community Cannery Colony #2

A good look at my vacuum. It brings the bees into a 10 frame deep box. It is powered with a big shop vac. Ready to open & expose bees.

I left the cooler with the lid propped open to collect all the forgers. I picked it up that evening.

Spring Cut Outs / Removals

March 24, 2011. Old Aspen Community Cannery, colony #1.

Equipment in place, we are ready to cut the sheeting and expose the bees. We both work up on the scaffold.

The brood sections were cut and put into frames. The vacuum collected the bees. The honey went into containers to be cut for frames back at the bee yard. Bees filled 2 double deep supers.

The removal of the first colony is complete.

Spring Cut Outs / Removals

March 22, 2011
The colony of honey bees are in the log section of the house just under the left side of the double windows.

There was a big rat's nest in the left corner. Rats had eaten into the comb at the right corner.

There was hardly any stored honey. This colony would have not have made it to spring.

The removal process is complete.

Spring Cut Outs / Removals

March 17, 2011

This is the old detached kitchen. Circa 1800. The bees were going through the ivy just to the right of the old window.

I first removed the old plaster to revel ants and old wax mouth cocoons. The ceilings are 9 feet. We were working from a platform, hence the chair.

I am removing the strips. A hornets nest is on the left side with some very old honey bee comb. The old dark comb is exposed at the bottom of the nest.

My helper is using the vacuum as he removes the sections of comb. I am recovering from a total knee replacement. The vacuum drops the bees into a a deep super with 10 frames of foundation. The bees and their goods are joined later at the bee yard. I am putting the sections of comb into frames which are placed in a seperate brood box.

All the comb has been removed. We were able to use 5 frames worth of good comb, honey, brood, and pollen. The wax melter will get the rest.

Feeding for winter

I checked hives today. The top feeders with 2:1 syrup have been on for a week. A few bees were using the syrup while most were on the marshmallow fondant that was on top of the frames with a sleve for spacing.

Solar Wax Melter

Front view with lid in up position. The metal tray will be out sourced. The inner box area has be lined with rigid insulation.

Back / side view.

Front view of melter. I have not installed the small drop door in the front, and the glass for the top is not in the frame. It is 26 " x 65".