Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees => Topic started by: neillsayers on May 10, 2019, 09:26:16 pm
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Rained all morning until noon, then the sun broke out. Looked out my window and there's a swarm in the same tree as last time! Only this time they are about 15' higher up. After more trimming, pulling over with rope and dumping, followed with scooping I have them in a box. Then the rain starts all over. You'd think they'd have sense enough to wait for a clear day. :)
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Got em hived today. Need to check other hives to figure out if they came from one of mine but they don't look like my bees. I won't be surprised if they turn out to be ferals attracted to my apiary. I haven't seen the queen but their behavior leads me to believe she's in there. Fingers crossed. :)
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Now Neil... :) please clarify "they don't look like my bees" ???
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Jen,
The bees I have now are Italians, really bright yellow with bands. The ones I started with were russians and were brown with bands or sometimes black, more caucasian looking. I lost at least 8 swarms with them because I was working all the time building my daughter's house. So I guess I seeded the woods around here with those genetics. :)
Since I posted this I had another swarm! This one landed about 60-70' up an oak tree. They are still up there. I waved to them, wished em well and said a prayer for their safety.
The weather has been so wet and crummy, I can't get into the hives and as soon as the sun breaks out-bam-out comes a swarm and the afternoon is eaten up with that. I got all 6 hives through winter and I'm up to 10 already. Don't really want any more this year.
Heading out in a bit to inspect for more swarm cells. Ugh! :)
Thanks for the reply, Jen. How are your bees doing this year?
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I am hearing reports from other beekeepers around here (northeast Kansas) about the same. Too wet to inspect. When you do get a chance to inspect, the hives are filled with queen cells. In another post, rober sounded like he was having the same problems.
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just noticed this.
YUP- having the same issue. just started a thread about rain & swarms.
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Thanks everyone,
It is encouraging that I'm not the only one with this problem.
That swarm I mentioned earlier, is gone now. I didn't catch them leaving or I would have tried to follow. Hope they do okay. :)