Dallas, I wish I could tell you I have done more but that liquor store cut out has been my only one so far. I really loved doing it and want more of that.
It was one of the hardest things I've done in my life so far but I remember how great if felt after seeing a light at the end of the tunnel after 8 hours. lol I so appreciate all you guys here helping me through that!!! <3
I do have another cut out scheduled, besides this one, in Butte, also in a soffit. They were in there all last year and he agreed to wait til this spring. It was a rental so then he wanted to wait til the renters were out, which now they are, but weather has not been cooperating until now. It looks like it will be ok this coming Saturday though, so as long as things work out with my husband, I should have another hive then.
This time, I WILL put a queen excluder on the bottom for a week or so, so she can't leave. Idk if you remember, but shortly after that liquor cut out, I happened to see my queen on the front porch. I just put her back in, but they swarmed on me shortly after that. Made me sad too. She was a beautiful queen. Super dark and big. What was left never did make a new queen and I ended up having a laying worker hive. Fun fun. Seriously. It was! I learned a ton!
(If I ever see my queen like that again, I'm going to take her and put her in a new hive!)