Ice chest hive, time to remove them

[Yankee11]

We had a call last june, swarm moved in to this ice chest. I decided to let them be until they filled up the ice chest.

Looks like they did well over winter and now it's time to remove them and put them in a hive. They look very healthy.

[Jen]

So will you cut the styro away from them? This looks like a cut out I could handle.

[Yankee11]

Yep. That comb should fill deep frames nicely.

[Jen]

Gonna need a vid 

[LazyBkpr]

Gonna need a vid 

   

  Pretty innovative adapter board. That is one impressive set up.  How was the moisture in that hive with the styro top box?

[Yankee11]

I tried to get her to move down at end of summer and I was gonna put on an excluder and they and retain the ice chest as is. Put a piece of plexi glass over it for folks to see, but I couldn't get her to move down. I could try it again but I bet they go into warm mod before see would move down.

As far as moisture, you are seeing what I saw today, but they have chewed holes in many different places around the side and the top. I think they made their own vent holes to control it. It's been pretty cool to watch them.

They look dang healthy just looking at the numbers today.

[Jen]

Yankee- "As far as moisture, you are seeing what I saw today, but they have chewed holes in many different places around the side and the top. I think they made their own vent holes to control it. It's been pretty cool to watch them.
 
     That is Soo Cool! All of your story's are soo interesting 

[iddee]

As we were discussing about the swarm trap, could you set the chest upright, thus having the comb upside down, and put the adapter board and hive on top. She should move up quickly, as she will not lay in the down slanted cells.

[tefer2]

The comb looks fairly straight and uniform. It should fit well rubber banded into some empty frames.
I would cut out one side of the cooler and work my way in.
Should be a piece of cake.
 

[LazyBkpr]

Iddee has a good idea. The brood will still emerge but no more will get put into the cooler.

  If you get a chance, get a pic of the holes they made?   wondering how big (or small) they are.. Thanks!!

[Yankee11]

Will do. And this was funny. At end of summer i was working with hive next to this one and i kept hearing this crunching sound. It was the bees chewing the holes in the cooler. It was pretty loud.

[Yankee11]

Iddee, that a great idea. Think I will try that.

The more I think about this the more I think think that might be a waste of a lot of good comb. And that is a pretty big item to have sitting around.

So, I may turn upside down like Iddee suggested and let them move out on there own. Then once its empty, i may cut it open a put comb in frames down the the last comb, them maybe make something for a display. People could see it better if they could see the side of a full comb. Not sure if that makes any since. Maybe end up with one side  and part of the top of the chest with one complete piece of comb hanging down.

Anyway, I think it would be a lot better on them if I could get them to move out on their own. So, upside down she goes. lol

[rrog13]

I wonder if you could encourage them to move down faster if you cut some strategically placed holes in the bottom of that cooler and then placed another adapter board + fume board on top.

Richard

[Yankee11]

Probably but that may run them off the brood.

[rrog13]

I was kinda thinking it would help speed up the process and make it easier to cut out that brood comb, strap t into frames and get it into a good hive body.  It was just a thought.

[Yankee11]

Oh. I got you know now. I wasn't thinking about that way. Thanks,