Author Topic: Early catch!  (Read 3441 times)

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Offline Perry

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Early catch!
« on: July 10, 2017, 08:41:47 am »
Got a call just after 7 am this morning about a big swarm sitting a couple feet off the ground in New Minas (shopping district 10 minutes away).
It was a biggie, and I started out with just a single deep but then quickly realized they probably weren't going to be happy with the confined space so I added a second deep. 2 frames of drawn comb and a frame of honey in the upper deep, hopefully they stay put, they were there since yesterday.












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Offline Wandering Man

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2017, 08:59:28 am »
If it hadn't been for that last picture, I was going to accuse you of sneaking into Blueblood's apiary.

Nice catch.
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Offline tedh

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2017, 09:11:44 am »
Wow!  That's one BIG bunch of free bees!  I hope they stay put for you Perry.  Ted
Share that which you have an abundance of.  In doing so both the giver and receiver are enriched.
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Offline gibb

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2017, 09:10:15 pm »
Nice catch Perry, do you think it is getting late for swarming?
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Offline Les

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2017, 09:13:56 pm »
Wow, now that is a bunch of bees!  Great photos too, thanks for sharing. 
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Offline Perry

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2017, 10:01:16 pm »
Nice catch Perry, do you think it is getting late for swarming?

It is a bit late, but I have lots of available comb so they will hit the ground running.
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
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Offline Lburou

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2017, 10:13:03 pm »
Looks like a great day!
Lee_Burough
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Offline Jen

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2017, 10:20:23 pm »
Glad that went so smoothly for you Perry, because that blue spruce is one prickley tree
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Offline Perry

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2017, 07:07:01 am »
I must have caught around 12 swarms so far this year, but this was one of 2 that weren't from my hives.  :D ;D :D :-[
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
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Offline Barbarian

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2017, 01:06:32 am »
Nice catch Perry.  Thanks for the pics.

Perry.... Please excuse the following comments. Posted for member's info.

With large swarms, I have shaken the swarm into an empty swarm box then gently rested the frames (one at a time) on the bees. The frames slowly sink into the bees.
I like to place the box holding the swarm several meters away from the swarm tree. I like to think that the stragglers have a distinct location from the swarm tree.
An air freshener block, hung in the tree where the swarm was, seems to help the stragglers go to the fanning swarm box, which I leave til dark before closing and removing.
" Another Owd Codger "

Offline apisbees

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #10 on: July 13, 2017, 01:30:44 am »
I am like Barbarian and will remove the frames and shake the swarm directly into the super, add the frames and put the lid back on before the bees all boil over the top edge and put the lid on and be gone with them. I find the longer you leve the hive there the more bees start to come out and start their orientation flights.
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Offline efmesch

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #11 on: July 13, 2017, 03:44:14 am »
Where were the crowds of curious on-lookers following your amazing feat of swarm capture? 
A shopping district should provide an ideal opportutnity to give some bee teaching lessons--and line up potential customers for your upcoming crop.  ;D

Offline Perry

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Re: Early catch!
« Reply #12 on: July 13, 2017, 06:41:59 am »
I normally remove frames before shaking as well, but this blue spruce was some prickly, I had to use a shop towel on my hand to grab hold and lower it. This took place before the shopping district got active, but there was a big "Caution - Bees" sign just outside of the pic.
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