Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees => Topic started by: RAST on March 08, 2021, 08:22:59 pm

Title: Swarm
Post by: RAST 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.
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: Jen 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!
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: iddee 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.
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: RAST on March 09, 2021, 07:47:08 am
Tried that, said file over the 25mb maximum.
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: Bakersdozen 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!
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: RAST 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. 
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: Jen on March 13, 2021, 12:06:22 pm
Wow Rast! Free bees  ;D

Do you think these swarms came from your own hives?
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: RAST 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.
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: Zweefer on April 09, 2021, 10:30:36 am
How is the swarm doing?
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: RAST 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.   
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: LazyBkpr 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!
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: RAST 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.
Title: Re: Swarm
Post by: LazyBkpr 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!