Hi Caroline,Caroline wrote: ↑17 Jul 2019, 21:38Jazz, leave it to the professionals. BBKA does include liability insurance BUT it won't cover taking apart any part of someone's house. If any damage was caused the householder's insurance would not cover it either; leaving you to cover the costs of repair.Japey Edge wrote: ↑17 Jul 2019, 21:14I've been approached today about a colony in a an old lady's house - ceiling cavity. So I'm guessing smoke is off limits.
Can take the plasterboard panel off easy enough - 4 screws.
Any hints or tips on how to get them out with minimal fuss and minimal flying about, taking minimal time?
Taking swarms or established colonies from buildings can land you in unexpected trouble. That's why a decent pest controller will tell a householder to employ a builder to gain access to a cavity and then to 'repair' once the bees have been removed.
It all sounds exciting when first approached, but it is not something many established beekeepers will take on, and for good reason.
Thanks for the response, I appreciate straightforward advice. They say that the cavity is accessibly via 4 screws and the panel will come straight off. Also apparently the colony had been there 9 weeks.
If that's the case, and it is as easy as unscrewing, removing the comb and bees, then screwing back up, would you still advise I stay away?
At this point I said I'd have a look, so I'll make good on that. I'll go down, maybe see how easy it is to remove that panel, then advise they get professional pest control out. Apparently a guy from the council came out but couldn't exterminate as they were honeybees..
Jazz