How to care for bees in composter

[Liz Greeban]

Some bees have taken up residence in my composter! I would like to continue to host them, and want to know what to do/not do. They build the hive using only a couple of holes to crawl in and out of. I can open the top of the composter and see the hive. Today I was afraid to close it all the way without hurting them and left it cracked. Now that it is cracked they are using that as the main entrance…is it good to keep it a little open like this? Or should I return the composter to the state it was in when they originally built the hive?

I would like some advice on how to take care of my new friends. I hope you can see the image!

-Liz

[David B]

You ought to find a local beekeeper to get them out of there and move them to hive. It’s going to be impossible to manage the colony in the composter, and if they turn cranky you will have a problem.

[Karim Sahli]

It’s a very easy job.
Where are you located? Westside? Do want to keep the bees? If yes, do you have a mentor?

[susan rudnicki]

Hi, Liz—sorry—I am the moderator, but I am not getting the messages delivered to my inbox when someone posts, so I am just finding your note. It is not possible to use your composter if the bees are to be left undisturbed. They will attach their combs to the lid and sides and if you try to put materials in the composter, it will break their home in pieces. Also, sometimes hot weather will melt the combs attached to the black plastic and they will drop that way. In any case, moving hives from composters into a wood hive box is done all the time, but it takes expertise from someone who knows beekeeping. Also, you may not want to be a beekeeper, so you may want to offer the removal to someone in our club. You do not say what city you are living in—we need to know that. Please write back with a contact number too. thanks!

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