Author Topic: Swarm  (Read 5250 times)

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Offline RAST

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Swarm
« on: March 08, 2021, 08:22:59 pm »
 Too much watching YouTube and doing something different/fun had me build a swarm trap box out of my neighbors scrap plywood. It's hung on a tree about a mile or so from here. Thursday I took a used deep 8 frame hive body, a solid bottom board, put about a 2-3 in shim in between, one black comb and some starter strip frames. I put some lemongrass oil on some cotton balls in a baggy with slits in it on top the frames.  1 in entrance. Bees were checking it out the next day, LG oil I figured. A lot of bees in and out this morning. About 4 this afternoon I heard it, called my wife and went out looking up, I told her to watch that green hive and sure enough they went in. She was in awe of how many bees were in the air and I was in awe of they were coming into one of my boxes instead of going out. Hopefully they didn't come from one of my hives. Might go take a look at the one in the tree tomorrow. I sure didn't expect anything this fast.
 I videoed it and my computer won't see my phone, I will post if I get it figured out.

Offline Jen

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2021, 10:13:18 pm »
Hi Rast  ;D Swarms are my most favorite bee event! I love to stand right in the middle of them... Magical!
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Offline iddee

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2021, 06:27:58 am »
My apple computer won't see my android phone, so I just email pics and videos to myself. Works great.
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Offline RAST

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2021, 07:47:08 am »
Tried that, said file over the 25mb maximum.

Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2021, 09:37:40 am »
  Thursday I took a used deep 8 frame hive body, a solid bottom board, put about a 2-3 in shim in between, one black comb and some starter strip frames. 

I have been hearing about setting up swarm traps using starter strips on the brood frames along with some old comb. Glad it worked for you!

Offline RAST

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2021, 07:56:24 am »
I checked the other trap for the first time yesterday and another swarm. I should'a tried this before. 

Offline Jen

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2021, 12:06:22 pm »
Wow Rast! Free bees  ;D

Do you think these swarms came from your own hives?
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Offline RAST

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2021, 07:44:46 pm »
No, inspection on Thursday all showed good. A Sideliner parked close to here last year til the bear ran him off. I saw a hive in a hollow tree here not long ago.

Offline Zweefer

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2021, 10:30:36 am »
How is the swarm doing?
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Offline RAST

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2021, 11:51:33 am »
They are both doing fine. The first has mostly filled an 8 frame and the second was transferred to an 8 frame on Monday. I took one 8 frame with a July 20 queen that just sets there in 6 frames, pulled her and did a combine on the second at the same time.   

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2021, 10:40:56 pm »
Nice!!!  My Situation prevents me from chasing swarms or doing cutouts.. but as soon as the situation changes I will be back at it again...   Had some good times doing cutouts.  SO.. definitely need to live vicariously through you guys for now!
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Offline RAST

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2021, 10:56:13 am »
Cut outs are pretty much a thing of the past for me, some were enjoyable, others not so much. I have my third swarm in a trap box on the side of a tree right now. Swarm traps are hung with the top of the box abt. 6 ft up so I can just back my truck up to it and take it down easily.
 Good to see you posting LazyBkpr, I still visit your pages every now and then.

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2021, 01:34:12 pm »
Had a rough few years there, but attempting to get back on track! I'll also be working on updating the website! Good to be back!
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