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Original poster

To be annoyed that killing things is so much more cost effective?

85 replies

Gotabadfeelingaboutthis · 25/06/2024 18:51

So long story short but basically on Sunday we had a giant swarm of honeybees land on our house and take up residence in our chimney. Bees were coming into the house via the wall where the electric fire is wired in, windows, everywhere. I have a 7 year old and 12 month old so we packed and left the house. I have spent Sun, Mon and today trying desperately to find someone to come and remove them but because the hive is at the top of a chimney which is bricked up at the bottom (supposedly, though clearly not well since bloody bees are still getting through!) access is obviously an issue.

I have phoned so many people. Lots haven't answered, lots haven't called me back, some have said no. One person has said they can do it in 6 weeks for £2500!!

The noise from the bees is awful, the fact they keep finding their way into the house is even worse. The fact that it means we can't open any windows and the house is currently over 30 degrees is unbearable.

So the only 2 quotes I have had are both in or around the £2000 mark. Yet someone has said they will come and just kill them all for £150.

How can that be right?! Aren't we all meant to be saving the bees? Morally I just can't accept killing them is the right thing to do, but nor do I have a spare £2000 and I need my house back!

OP posts:
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Anotherparkingthread · 25/06/2024 19:03

Op just get them killed. They are swarming and if they think they're protecting the queen they could hurt you, your children or people passing by.

It's not nice but you won't end the world culling one hive of honey bees.

It isn't illegal to kill honey bees what horse shit.

They also are poor pollinators and ruin biodiversity. Please Google the people who cannot tell bee species apart. They are domestic hybrid bees, they are not wild bees and not the same. It's like comparing diary cows and deer.

Original poster
Gotabadfeelingaboutthis · 25/06/2024 19:02

Roosnoodles · 25/06/2024 18:58

Try here. Maybe the moma bee has died or a moma bee is trying to make your home their home. Lots of people help with bees you could also try your local Facebook page we always have people asking on ours and it’s usually sorted pretty quickly. I’m surprised someone offered to kill them.

Hope this helps.

https://www.bbka.org.uk/find-a-local-swarm-collector

Thanks, I did try on here and neither of the people in our area answered or got back to me :(

OP posts:
cinnamono · 25/06/2024 19:01

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/think-of-honeybees-as-livestock-not-wildlife-argue-experts#:~:text=Western%20honeybees%20are%20a%20commercially,decline%20at%20an%20alarming%20rate.

“The crisis in global pollinator decline has been associated with one species above all, the western honeybee. Yet this is one of the few pollinator species that is continually replenished through breeding and agriculture,” said co-author Dr Jonas Geldmann from Cambridge University’s Department of Zoology.

“Saving the honeybee does not help wildlife. Western honeybees are a commercially managed species that can actually have negative effects on their immediate environment through the massive numbers in which they are introduced.

“Levels of wild pollinators, such as species of solitary bumblebee, moth and hoverfly, continue to decline at an alarming rate. Currently, up to 50% of all European bee species are threatened with extinction,” Geldmann said.

Think of honeybees as ‘livestock’ not wildlife, argue experts

Contrary to public perception, die-offs in honeybee colonies are an agricultural not a conservation issue, argue Cambridge researchers, who say that manged

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/think-of-honeybees-as-livestock-not-wildlife-argue-experts#:~:text=Western%20honeybees%20are%20a%20commercially,decline%20at%20an%20alarming%20rate.

MereDintofPandiculation · 25/06/2024 19:01

As I understand it, honey bees aren’t necessarily a problem for other bees. But in urban areas, there are so many bee keepers that there isn’t enough food for all the honey bees AND all the other species of bees.

we should still be protecting them in the countryside and not using pesticides that will harm them

Roosnoodles · 25/06/2024 18:58

Try here. Maybe the moma bee has died or a moma bee is trying to make your home their home. Lots of people help with bees you could also try your local Facebook page we always have people asking on ours and it’s usually sorted pretty quickly. I’m surprised someone offered to kill them.

Hope this helps.

https://www.bbka.org.uk/find-a-local-swarm-collector

Find a local Swarm Collector

If the bees have been identified as honey bees you can enter your postcode to find our nearest volunteer swarm collectors.

https://www.bbka.org.uk/find-a-local-swarm-collector

notnowmarmaduke · 25/06/2024 18:58

soupfiend · 25/06/2024 18:56

Are they honey bees? Because apparently honey bees are a problem for other bees and not the sort of bees we should be protecting.

The new trend for beekeeping apparently is part of this problem. Cant remember where I read it now.

honey bees collect nectar, that is exactly what we want bees to be doing

Cryingatthegym · 25/06/2024 18:58

It's illegal to kill honey bees.

But yes removing a hive is very expensive and time consuming, we had the same problem last year. If it's any consolation we eventually became quite fond of the noise and little visitors.

Original poster
Gotabadfeelingaboutthis · 25/06/2024 18:56

soupfiend · 25/06/2024 18:56

Are they honey bees? Because apparently honey bees are a problem for other bees and not the sort of bees we should be protecting.

The new trend for beekeeping apparently is part of this problem. Cant remember where I read it now.

Oh that is interesting, yes they are honeybees.

OP posts:
soupfiend · 25/06/2024 18:56

Are they honey bees? Because apparently honey bees are a problem for other bees and not the sort of bees we should be protecting.

The new trend for beekeeping apparently is part of this problem. Cant remember where I read it now.