Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees => Topic started by: Nugget Shooter on August 18, 2016, 10:45:26 am
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I see on the various forums quite often that folks suddenly find that a swarm has taken residence in an empty brood box that was still set up for one reason or another. My question is do any of you leave out an empty hive in your yards to allow this as normal procedure? Should a new feller new at this set one out when my yard is in an area with 1 neighbor with 7 hives 2 miles away and feral bees in the washes and one hive in an old metal saw on my property. This hive in the saw has been here for 13 years I know of and are very gental. They live in the carport of one of my rental cabins where the saw is stored.
Just wondering if any keep an empty hive to atract scout bees and hope for a free swarm or two? Or waste of time? New at this as you know and curious.
Here is the colony in the saw....
(https://s3.postimg.cc/gz406yq9b/0630161403b_zpsaidjfuvv.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/gz406yq9b/)
(https://s4.postimg.cc/5qlp62gtl/0630161403a_zpsswrkuqzo.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5qlp62gtl/)
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Search for "swarm trap" and you will find it is common, and can be done many ways, not just with a spare hive body.
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Hey Nugget :) in addition, that first pic is a very cool photo
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Never had any luck with swarm traps in my own yards. I tend to think that when hives swarm they look for suitable housing some distance away (I guess).
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You will find that there are "hot spots" in areas. I get swarm calls and cut outs in many of the same areas year after year.
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I REALLY TRY to keep my hives from swarming.. In fact, this year I split most of my hives twice, but I STILL had three swarms move into two assembled nucs, and one hive that were set up in my bee shed....
(https://s4.postimg.cc/uaavi1nsp/DSCF4085.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/uaavi1nsp/)
I was also always of the opinion that a half a mile to a mile away would be better.. I had 2 swarm boxes set up AT that distance from my house, with used comb, and swarm commander, but the bees still moved into boxes about 25 yards from my hives..
So basically, when it comes to bees.. your guess is as good as anyone else's.
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1st trap built and going to make a few more as well..... Have a couple spots I feel will be productive since we see swarms there most years.
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Opted to put a 3/8 drain hole in the sealed bottom with #8 wire covering it. I set the trap out on a table last night and it rained very hard here (yay) for several hours, when I removed the lid this morning there was standing water inside that came in by wind through entrance :-X Other then that it is ready to set out and see what happens. Going to build a couple more as well, thanks for the help!
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Too small of a trap box and a large swarm may not accept it.
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The one I built is an 8 frame deep G3farms and hopefully that is large enough?
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I build my swarm traps as a bit of a compromise, between what the bees might think is best and what I can handle carrying through the woods, up and down ladders etc..
A Ten frame deep size is reportedly optimal, but a lot depends on what you can handle. ( Remember, it will be full of bees and weigh more when you take it down. )
With little time on my hands, I pulled a ten frame deep sized box out of a tree in the dark.. It landed on my head just about an eyeblink after my head hit the ground, I still have the scar on the side of my head to prove it. Then With the bees REALLY upset.. I had to carry it across the crick, through the woods, down the tracks to my truck... I left the ladder and had to go back a couple days later to get it.
Since then i have been a little more stingy on box size/weight, as well as how easy it was to get at the box. Back then, I was sure a box 12 feet up was the only way it would work.. Now I dont put them any higher that I can reach.. Usually while standing on the tailgate of my truck.
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With little time on my hands, I pulled a ten frame deep sized box out of a tree in the dark.. It landed on my head just about an eyeblink after my head hit the ground, I still have the scar on the side of my head to prove it.
I'm glad you're still with us!