Top Reasons Bee Removals Aren’t Free
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ค. 2024
- As we approach swarm season for beekeeping, it's not uncommon to see an increase in people who need swarm or bee removals. Often, people expect bee experts to remove bees for free. Sometimes, this is simply because the public doesn't understand the differences between relocating a swarm (which can be done for free) versus the time and resource investment of removing an established beehive. Let's explore the top reasons why bee removers don't perform the service for free.
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Expectations That Drive Beekeepers Crazy
02:55 What is a Swarm Catch?
04:30 What is a Bee Removal?
06:30 What Happens When You Spray a Beehive?
09:30 Tools for Bee Removals
16:42 How to Remove Bees
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Good video. I've seen many posts on community groups in which someone says they have bees in their [soffit/wall/shed/etc.] and want to know what to do. Inevitably someone will say "Find a local beekeeper and they'll get them for free". And I've seen the tactic of "come get them or I'll spray them". I've heard of some cases where homeowners expect beekeepers to pay them for a collected swarm - after all, "I've heard a colony of bees can cost a couple hundred dollars". I think I'd be tempted to just dump the bees back out if someone expected me to pay them. It's really surprising how many people believe a beekeeper's time has such little value that they'd be willing to spend hours taking care of someone else's problem for free.
Wow! Thankfully I’ve never seen anyone expecting a beekeeper to pay for the swarm. That’s a whole different level! Thanks for commenting.
Thanks so much for sharing all you do!! We have just done our second cut-out in 3 weeks. I am praying we can get through the winter. Our experience has been that people post that they have bees in their structure, please help. We provided our service and they offered to pay us. When they offered my husband said no. The last time the home owner said he would make a check to our church. It is a blessing that they appreciate our services. The time involved is always more than you think it will be, today's removal we thought might be about 4 hours, and it wound up closer to 6.5. God bless you for your great info!!
It’s always exciting to do cut-outs. They can definitely be quite a bit of work though. The first half dozen I did always ended up taking more time than expected, before things started to even out. Keep it up!
This is an important post for people disturbed with bees.
Good explanation!!!! I do removals and have the same conversation with clients all the time.
FYI you need a mic when you do these videos or turn up the volume. Had to put on headphones to hear you. I see in the comments i was not the only one.
Good note. I’ll up my levels next time. Thanks.
What do you usually charge. Like an estimate range with cut outs? I’m starting to get into this.
@@jacobsbeekeeping I tend to quote by the job based on likely hours reasonably expended. I try to keep my rate above $75 per hour when the work is done. Cost of rented equipment is additional, since it varies by job. For example, having to rent a lift. The reason I say “reasonably expended” is because a newbie is going to take longer, which isn’t fair to the customer. So, I base it on hour expenditures for experienced removers. I do have a $300 minimum, so that it’s worth going to the job site. It is also not uncommon for me to quote a job with a minimum, not to exceed. This is important when a job has a lot of unknowns. Removing bees from an old building, for example, may introduce unknowns because of inconsistent building codes back then. And, I never quote without seeing the location of the bees.
Great video! Very good explanation of cut outs. In the state of Georgia we are required to be licensed through the department of agriculture and carry liability insurance, which adds to our cost of doing business.
Thanks? Thankfully we haven’t reached that level of oversight yet. But, insurance is a good plan regardless. If I do an update to this video, I may make mention of your addition. I appreciate it.
Excellent advice all round. I never do cutouts but am always happy to collect a swarm
Swarms are awesome. I love how easy it is to get them to draw comb.
I tell people I will absolutely remove that third floor, over a cliff, 5 year old established colony for free. As long as they have them removed already and in a box for me.
Love this! 😂
I might have to try that. It certainly communicates how complex a project is without having to say it. :)
not “work OR knowledge” it’s work AND knowledge.
Absolutely right.
This would be a good video to send to those who want a free cutout or those that don't understand the estimated cost.
Thanks for the feedback!
you are preaching to the chior. so many people are clueless about bees. i have been called out to pickup some bees, they were hornets and couldn't understand why I didn't want them , she thought that they all were the same and didn't know that there was a difference.
Ha! So true! It is amazing how many people confuse bees & yellow jackets in our area. I had an invitation last season to “remove bees” in the bottom of a wall. I asked for a picture of what they were seeing, and it was clearly a paper nest that extended out of the cavity, not comb. So, I declined. Those girls are mean! :) Maybe I should be willing to extend my service offering though. If it pays, it pays. Lol!
@@macbeebuzzin You should, but as you won't go home with a new hive of bees, I would suggest a slightly higher per hour fee.
You are very good. I enjoyed the information!
Thanks, Dave!
Swarms yer easy to get with in reason when they get into a home well that is another thing. 1 if they do well maintenance on that home is down in a big way 2 could be a top area as well so there could be some one in that area that has a few hives some homes i did back in the 90ies had heaps turn up. At the end of the day it is better to spend a bit on homes seal up hot spots set swarm traps to stop bees getting in the first plase. Same goes for bee yards.
I agree.
I'm no beekeeper but I saw a lot of videos here for bee removal, some were easy others complex difficult to remove. But what could a beekeeper charge for a removal from easy , medium, large , difficult or complex?
There are quite a few variables. But, I try to keep anticipated hourly rate above $75/hour, but price by the project. For example, a straightforward drywall cutout may be 4 hours, so $300. But, it’s not uncommon to give a “$300 but not to exceed $450” quote in case a project encounters unforeseen delays. The more you do, the easier it is to approximate how much time it should take. My video of the removal 4 stories up was a couple thousand because it took a couple of days & involved renting a 45-foot lift.
This is a great video! I had a “terrorist” contact me last fall for a removal! I passed! 😂😂
Good! Let’s stick together. Lol.
Insurance, tools & time - all cost!
Absolutely!
Well said any cut out was done cost money which means time and damage what needs fixing and to be honest I'm even funny about swarm I'm very funny about disease coming back to my colonies so it's all a bit of a grey area uk
I understand your swarm reservations. I've never had issues personally. But, I can respect better safe than sorry. I like to take swarms to a separate yard than my main production yard. I haven't generally seen health issues in swarmy colonies - normally in long-established cavities.
@@macbeebuzzin totally understand mate I'm very small time I've got one yard so I'm funny about it no disrespect Trust
Wanted to watch the video but the sound was so low I can't turn the volume loud enough
Thanks. I’ve heard that from a small number of people. I wish I could replace the audio after-the-fact, but TH-cam editor doesn’t allow for that. Others with this issue have had success using headphones or earbuds.
The bee in the upper right hand corner has a mite on it.
Good eye. :)
what kind of question is that do you ask why the plumber gets paid why is it not free, its a job and people get paid for doing a job, really did someone actually ask that question or did you do it just for an idea for a video,
It is actually a VERY common request. Reliably, every spring, beekeepers hear those requests. People are wired to think “save the bees.” So, a lot of people assume that beekeepers will remove bees at zero cost because they want to save the bees. I think the deeper reason people make the request is that people think, “If someone won’t take them, I’ll just spray them,” not realizing the side effects of leaving the comb inside the structure. So, definitely not just a video idea. I made this video to circulate to people who will assuredly will ask for free bee removal in March & April. It’s easier to send a thorough explanation by video than explaining on messenger or by phone (since people don’t tend to have the patience to listen to the reason over the phone).
It is free unless the hive is in an extremely difficult position to get to.
I think it’s important to define “extremely difficult.” If a cut-out of any variety is involved, it shouldn’t be free. The last thing a homeowner should want is a “free” beekeeper without insurance cutting open their home. If you’re talking about planter boxes or compost bins, that’s arguably a bit different.
Isnt it against the law to kill honey bees
Rules about honey bees vary by state in the US. In my area, I believe there are ordinances that prevent exterminators from killing honey bees, but nothing that prevents homeowners from trying to spray.
@macbeebuzzin i not sure about Louisiana someone told that me it is illegal to kill honey bees but i wouldn't do that because honey bees are a good resource for alot things
Pesticides are designed to be carried back to a hive. Bummer
Can't hear a thing.
Interesting. I haven’t had anyone else report that issue, and it seems to be working fine on my end.
Free removals?
Hell NO!
By!
What about a stinger to the eye ball?
Ha! I stinger on the actual eyeball would be brutal.
I'd rather just spray em with a fogger from a good range and save my money. I am not paying to help a guy get a hive he makes honey and wax from.
That is certainly your choice. You then get the fun of treating roaches, mice, & honey dripping through drywall when the comb rots (potentially more expensive in the long-run). But, if you’re still leaning on the idea of free bees, it doesn’t sound like you watched through the full video. It’s interesting that people expect bee removers to work for free, but not auto mechanics, contractors, doctors, etc.
You should change your mindset.
You probably don't have a bee problem.