Never kept bees

[emmapal]

We are in a suburb of Austin, Texas and recently found an old plastic barrel left behind in our overgrown pasture with a wild colony of honey bees in it. We built a top bar hive with mesh bottom yesterday and placed it next to the barrel. It has beeswax painted onto all the bars and an inverted jar of sugar water inside.

Since we don't need to move the bees very far, we are having a hard time figuring out how to get them from the barrel to the hive. We've looked at various trap out techniques, mesh cone, tying  or hooking brood comb onto the bars, bees only, bee vac, etc, and just not sure how to proceed.

Any links to previous posts moving wild bees on one's own property to an adjacent permanent hive are appreciated. Thank you!

[tbonekel]

If you haven't seen this guy's videos, you need to. He is in the Austin area and has some great information that will get you started quick.



I learned how to catch swarms from him.

[Perry]

 

Glad you found us here. Free bees are the best, even if they're in a plastic barrel.
It sounds to me that if you were looking for a quick transition, in which case a cut-out is the way to go. There is plenty of information here on how to accomplish one, just use the search function just below the Worldwide Beekeeping logo. The host of this site, Iddee has a thread devoted to the topic. http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,29.0.html
If you are looking for some interesting videos, JPthebeeman has a number of them, with removals from almost any and every thing you can imagine.
Welcome to the forum and I hope we see you around.

[Perry]

The link isn't working for ya tbone! 

[iddee]

Tbone, your video isn't working.

Emmapal, Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of beeks in the Austin area. Try to find your local beek club and attend a meeting or two. Ask for someone there who is familiar with cutouts and would be willing to assist you. It is quite a job for a first time beek. I have been teaching it for nearly 40 years and have never had anyone say it didn't help to have an experienced beek along on the first few jobs.
Also, go to utube and search for jpthebeeman. He is one of the best in the business. Watch a few of his videos. Then come back here and ask questions as needed, not only for moving them, but caring for them for years after the move.


EDIT: OOPS. Perry posted while I was typing.

[kebee]

 Welcome emmapal to the forum, hope you can get the bees to your hive.

Ken

[Slowmodem]

I was also going to suggest finding a local, experienced beekeeper.  The top bar beekeepers may be fewer and farther between, but cutout and capture beekeepers are plentiful.

I would suggest, if you haven't already, get and read beekeeping for dummies.  It covers the basics and you'll learn a whole lot about bees.

Welcome and enjoy your stay!   

[blueblood]

Welcome! I was gonna mention Jpthebeeman too!  He's talented.  Ultimately, my plan of action would be to transfer their comb by cutting it out of the current home and attaching them to the top bars you have made.  How?  If you have chicken wire, you can make a sling of sorts to hold the comb to the bar.  The chicken wire would be bent over/stapled to top bar.  It's best to locate the queen and transfer her to the new home.  You can scoop/shake the bees to the top bar hive or see if they march over to be with the queen.  This is all easier said than done of course and Iddee is right, it is a task that can be made easier with an experienced bee keeper to help.  However, I learned all I know about cut outs and such from several guys here like Iddee and Jpthebeeman.  Obviously you are a go getter as you have already tackled building your own top bar hive.  I have regular Langstroth hives and starting my 2nd season with two tbh's that wintered over very well.  I love working with my tbh bees.  Good luck!

[riverbee]

greetings and welcome to our great forum emma!

a barrel of bees!  what a way to get started in keeping bees!  very cool!  like the guys said jpthebeeman has collected bees out of just about anything and everything and his videos are awesome.  if you can find someone in a local club who is knowledgeable and willing to help, that's even better.

feel free to post pictures of the barrel here as well, even though we are 'armchair' beekeepers it doesn't hurt, we might be able to offer some suggestions as well!

thanks for being here! 

[LazyBkpr]

Looks like evedryone has covered he bases well so I will just say welcome to the forum!!!

[Bsweet]

Like LazyB said , all the bases have been covered by the good folks already so all I can add is WELCOME TO THE SITE. Jim

[tbonekel]

I don't why my link didn't work. I linked to a different video and now maybe it's better.

[G3farms]

All I can add is welcome to the forum!

OK I can add something......a list of TX beekeeping clubs, not sure which one is close to you put here is a good list to get you started. There is one in Austin, but some of the others might be closer also.

Northeast Texas Beekeepers Association
Wills Point TX 75169
Contact:J. B. 'Jim' Lathem
Email: netba1@aol.com
Facebook: Search Northeast Texas Beekeepers Association
Russell Memorial United Methodist Church, Deen Building
2nd Tuesday each month 6:45 pm
Through the sharing of beekeeping we all become better managers of this wonderful insect which pollinates about 1/3 of everything we eat.

Abilene Honey Bee Hobbyists
Contact Erik Kiehle
Tel: 541-221-1144
E-mail: erikkiehle@me.com
Abilene TX 79606
New group, no regular meetings. Call or email to meet for casual chat or coffee.

Central Texas Beekeepers
Contact Name: Michael Kelling
Tel Number: (979) 277-0411
E-mail Address: centraltexasbeekeepers@gmail.com
URL: centraltexasbeekeepers.org
1305 East Blue Bell Road
Brenham TX 77833
Fourth Thursday of each month except November & December at 7 p.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Brenham, Texas. We hold a beekeeping school each spring and had 72 people attend last year.

Collin County Hobby Beekeepers Assn
John J Talbert
Phone: 972-843-8084
E-mail: John2008@northtexasbeekeepers.org
Web Site: northtexasbeekeepers.org
Josephine TX 75164
Second Monday night of each month at the Heard Craig Hall in McKinney, TX

TEXAS BKPRS ASSN
Joan Coplin
17726 Elizabeth Rd
Alvin, TX 77511

EAST TX BKPRS ASSN
Richard Counts
16239 Audrey Lane
Arp, TX 75750
Phone 903-566-6789
Email dickcounts@bigplanet.com
www.easttexasbeekeepersassocitaion.com

CAPITAL AREA HONEY BEE STEWARTS
Carol Malcolm
8913 Georgian Dr
Austin, TX 78753
Phone 512-997-9986
www.main.org/cahbs

Stan Key
Email: stankey.texas@gmail.com
Metro Beekeepers Association
Website: www.metrobeekeepers.net
2nd Monday 6:30pm in the gym
Cana Baptist Church
2309 E Renfro St
Burleson, TX 76028

TRI-CO BKPRS ASSN
Dean Futch
904 Chalk St
Copperas Cove, TX 76522
Phone 254-547-9125

COASTAL BEND BKPRS
Tom Stewart
411 Catalina Place
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
Phone 361-852-4218
Email daletoms@aol.com

RIO GRANDE VALLEY ASSN
Billy Wright
Rt 5 Box 74
Donna, TX 78537
Phone 956-464-5042

HEART OF TX BKPRS ASSN
Butch Trigleth
combowelder76@aol.com
511 Edwards St
Riesel TX 76682
Phone: 252-241-2178

ALAMO AREA BKPRS ASSN
Wendy Riggs
5775 Blackhill Rd.
Floresville, TX 78114-6078
Email beesrcool@yahoo.com

COLLIN CO HOBBY BKPRS
John J Talbert
PO Box 6
Josephine, TX 75164
Phone 972-843-8084
Email jjtalbert@att.net
www.northtexasbeekeepers.org

PINEY WOODS BKPRS ASSOC
Clarence Shepherd
403 Brentwood Dr
Lufkin, TX 75901
Phone 936-639-4207
Fax 936-639-4346
Email bjchs3@conolidated.net

GOLDEN TRIANGLE BKPRS ASSOC
Wallace Commander
6215 April Lane
Lumberton, TX 77657

PERMIAN BASIN ASSOC
Dean Brittingham
2312 N Adams
Odessa, TX 79761

HARRIS CO BKPRS ASSN
Herb Barrier
12318 Thornbriar Dr
Pearland, TX 77581-2027
Phone 281-485-1234
Fax 281-485-3793
www.harriscountybeekeepers.org

FORT BEND CO BKPRS ASSN
Elton Reynolds
3419 Klosterhoff Rd
Rosenberg, TX 77471
Phone 281-342-4388

WILLIAMSON CO BKPRS ASSOC
Jimmie Oakley
1799 Goodson Court
Round Rock, TX 78664
Phone 512-388-3630
Fax 512-272-3000
Email jloakley@juno.com

CONCHO VALLEY ASSC
Travis Lane
6427 Goodland Loop
San Angelo, TX 76901
Phone 325-653-7226

RED RIVER VALLEY ASSN
Bennie J Watson
1952-A Hines Blvd
Wichita Falls, TX 76301-7961
Phone 940-767-0207
Fax 940-767-0207
Email wbennie899@aol.com

[CpnObvious]

What an interesting way to decide to start!  Welcome to the forum!  Keep us posted with updates on your experiences and progress... I'm sure I'm not the only one interested!

Think you could add some before  and after pictures?

[Barbarian]

Welcome to the forum.

You will get plenty of help and good advice here. As a newbee, you will need to take several deep breaths whilst reading the replies and hopefully not need to start the "anti-head-spin" tablets.   

[Riverrat]

welcome aboard. Hope to see you around

[Zweefer]

Welcome to the forum! 

[brooksbeefarm]

Welcome to the forum, your doing the right thing getting the bees away from the Plastic barrel Jack

[apisbees]

Welcome to the forum and beekeeping the plastic barrel does it have a open removable top or are the bees entering thru the bung hole? The bee build there comb and keep it vertical so if you move the barrel it need to be repositioned the same way, if the bees are staying in the barrel. If the bees have been in the barrel for a while and the comb is dark and tough elastic bands will hold the brood combs in place to the top bars. A cut out can get messy and get the bees riled up so having an experienced beekeeper assisting you would be a great help and comfort.

[tedh]

Hi emmapal!  Welcome to the forum.  I'm not sure how to get bees out of a barrel, but I'm guessing patience will be part of the equation!   Ted