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Author Topic: A General Hive Question  (Read 27856 times)

Online Terri Yaki

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #200 on: September 08, 2024, 08:59:53 pm »
Having not been stung by bald faced hornets explains a lot...like why you don't take proactive action against them. I grew up on a farm and worked on a horse farm for a few years early in life. I found a YJ nest between hay bales once and out along a creek whilst I was string trimming once. I've been hit by bald faced hornets about half a dozen times and other stinging vermin a few times. My experience with bald faced hornets is that they know what between the eyes is and what the temples are and they need no provocation. In my eyes, it's either me or them. Removing their nests is actually pretty easy if they are 15' or less from the ground. Go out at night with two cans of Raid Wasp and Hornet spray and empty the cans on the nest, starting at the entrance hole. If YJs are in the ground, a large pot of boiling water after dark puts them away and a skunk will probably be along to dig them out and eat them.

Online Kathyp

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #201 on: September 08, 2024, 09:55:56 pm »
Quote
Removing their nests is actually pretty easy if they are 15' or less from the ground. Go out at night with two cans of Raid Wasp and Hornet spray and empty the cans on the nest, starting at the entrance hole. If YJs are in the ground, a large pot of boiling water after dark puts them away and a skunk will probably be along to dig them out and eat them.

If I had one at my place, I'd remove it.  I wasn't going to go do it for someone else  :cheesy:  If the YJ nests are where you can get to them, then yes you can deal with them.  I have on my own property.  Nests under the neighbors construction leftovers are out of my hands. It was not until his workers started getting hit that he did something about it, but by then they had acres of nests so it was not fixed overnight.  We still have some, but nothing like before.
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Offline The15thMember

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #202 on: September 09, 2024, 12:05:47 am »
If YJs are in the ground, a large pot of boiling water after dark puts them away and a skunk will probably be along to dig them out and eat them.
I had this exact thing happen once with a nest in the apiary.  Poured hot water down the nest twice, and then the next morning it was all dug up.  I think it was a raccoon though, not a skunk, simply because we have lots of raccoons, but I've never seen a skunk on this property.
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Online Terri Yaki

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #203 on: September 09, 2024, 06:48:11 am »
Either is possible but skunks are nocturnal and they can be right there and you don't know it. But, I'd be surprised if they could be around for any length of time and not spray for some reason or other and that is hard to miss. There is one that lives in my area and when he's in my yard, he can hang around for a while and he (or she) stinks the place up. I forget how big an area they roam but they do roam a fairly large area.

Online Terri Yaki

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #204 on: September 12, 2024, 11:12:57 am »
How many days after merging hives should I inspect the hive?

Offline The15thMember

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #205 on: September 12, 2024, 11:43:48 am »
If you are doing a paper combine, I don't see why you couldn't inspect once they are through the paper. 
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Online Terri Yaki

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #206 on: September 12, 2024, 11:56:46 am »
How will I know when they're through the paper? It's down under a deep.

Offline NigelP

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #207 on: September 12, 2024, 12:14:29 pm »
I wouldn't bother with a newspaper unite, you have too few bees. I'd do an air freshener unite. Take a spray can of air freshener, any make; and spray both boxes and then put then together. Next day I'd  shake the bees down into 1 box, remove any badly infected frames.

Online BeeMaster2

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #208 on: September 12, 2024, 12:54:06 pm »
You can also do the same with a lot of smoke.
Jim Altmiller
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Offline Salvo

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #209 on: September 12, 2024, 01:12:59 pm »
Newspaper is easy peasy.

Make sure to make one 8+- razor  blade slash in the center of the paper. They'll be though it in less than one day. The bees will then shred the paper and remove it from the hive if you don't.

Sal

Offline The15thMember

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #210 on: September 12, 2024, 01:23:39 pm »
Yeah, I'd say if you slashed your paper, wait 24 hours, and if you didn't, maybe wait 48 if you want to be sure.  As Nigel said, these colonies are small and weak, they likely wouldn't fight even if you just threw them in together. 
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Online Terri Yaki

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #211 on: September 12, 2024, 02:46:56 pm »
OK, paper was slashed in several places so I'll get out there tomorrow morning and take a peek and see how small I think I can make what's left of them.

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #212 on: September 12, 2024, 04:58:32 pm »
Terri,
If you have one, just look at the oil tray. It will look like the bees were trying to insulate the bottom of the hive. If you only have a hard board for a bottom board, it will bee covered or they are pushing it out the front door.
Jim Altmiller
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
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Online Terri Yaki

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #213 on: October 21, 2024, 11:00:44 am »
While looking through my hive(s), occasionally, I'll find a yellow jacket on a frame. I suspect that they landed there while I had it in my hands and didn't see it happen. What would happen if I missed one or two of those and they got put into the hive? Could they kill a queen?

Offline The15thMember

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #214 on: October 21, 2024, 11:59:09 am »
In my experience, one or two yellow jackets can't do much of anything, and the bees in a strong colony will harass and chase them out if one or two enter the colony during an inspection.  They may steal a larva or a mouthful of honey, maybe kill one or two workers if they get into a serious fight, but that's all.  If however, you have yellow jackets entering the hive in force, stealing honey and brood and the workers aren't strong enough to stop them at the entrance, then yes, they can absolutely kill a queen.  But I really wouldn't worry about one or two jackets during an inspection. 
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Online Terri Yaki

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #215 on: October 22, 2024, 03:35:55 pm »
Our nights are cool here but we are getting some warm days, like high 70s and low 80s and I have what seems like abnormally high traffic on the porch. It doesn't look like robbing as there is no fighting going on and it's not too frantic. Would this be normal as the weather warms but there is no pollen or nectar to retrieve?

Offline The15thMember

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #216 on: October 22, 2024, 04:32:35 pm »
What time of day is this happening?   
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Online Terri Yaki

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #217 on: October 22, 2024, 06:00:02 pm »
It's all day and here's a picture of it, if you can make it out. There's usually more traffic out there than this.


Offline The15thMember

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #218 on: October 22, 2024, 07:31:03 pm »
Oh, I see what you mean.  I thought by "traffic" you meant bees coming and going, but if you are just talking about people hanging out on the porch, then it's likely just extra guard bees out because it's robbing season. 
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Online Terri Yaki

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Re: A General Hive Question
« Reply #219 on: October 22, 2024, 07:34:53 pm »
They were marching back and forth like sentinels.  :cool:  They just can?t sit still.