I have a honeybee nest under slates of single storey pitched roof. I have a honey stain on the ceiling below. I have just been quoted £300 to remove the bees and the comb. I can’t really afford this but don’t know what to do. Can anyone help pls?
Unfortunately, the problem you have is that is now their home, and they only way to get them out is to take off part of the roof to get to the comb/bees. The quote you've been given is probably reasonable for the work involved.
They may not survive the winter (they might succumb to the varroa mite), but they could survive to next year when the numbers will start to build up again.
If you have binoculars, pick a warm and bright day and stand for a bit and try and spot exactly where they are going in and out from. Keep checking the same spot next spring, and you'll soon be able to see if they they came through the winter. If they haven't, then you will know exactly where to seal up. You need to make sure you do this, as the smell of the comb that is still inside will attract any other swarms next summer .... and you will be back to square one.
If they do make it through the winter then you will have 2 choices. Either spend the money and get them removed, or, as @Fire has suggested, live with them and accept that you'll need to paint over the ceiling stain on a regular basis.
Good luck ... hope it works out for you. Bee x
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Posts
One of the regular posters on the forum might be able to help- @Bee witched
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Unfortunately, the problem you have is that is now their home, and they only way to get them out is to take off part of the roof to get to the comb/bees.
The quote you've been given is probably reasonable for the work involved.
They may not survive the winter (they might succumb to the varroa mite), but they could survive to next year when the numbers will start to build up again.
If you have binoculars, pick a warm and bright day and stand for a bit and try and spot exactly where they are going in and out from. Keep checking the same spot next spring, and you'll soon be able to see if they they came through the winter. If they haven't, then you will know exactly where to seal up.
You need to make sure you do this, as the smell of the comb that is still inside will attract any other swarms next summer .... and you will be back to square one.
If they do make it through the winter then you will have 2 choices.
Either spend the money and get them removed, or, as @Fire has suggested, live with them and accept that you'll need to paint over the ceiling stain on a regular basis.
Good luck ... hope it works out for you.
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime