Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees => Topic started by: Perry 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.
(https://s4.postimg.cc/6sniinmsp/20170710_075147.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/6sniinmsp/)
(https://s17.postimg.cc/dfo7q2esr/20170710_075224.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/dfo7q2esr/)
(https://s18.postimg.cc/7y5pwym39/20170710_075711.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/7y5pwym39/)
(https://s2.postimg.cc/hf9huv0rp/20170710_080134.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/hf9huv0rp/)
(https://s10.postimg.cc/8wlcoa6ud/20170710_080140.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/8wlcoa6ud/)
(https://s9.postimg.cc/jicfnn7jf/20170710_083139.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/jicfnn7jf/)
-
If it hadn't been for that last picture, I was going to accuse you of sneaking into Blueblood's apiary.
Nice catch.
-
Wow! That's one BIG bunch of free bees! I hope they stay put for you Perry. Ted
-
Nice catch Perry, do you think it is getting late for swarming?
-
Wow, now that is a bunch of bees! Great photos too, thanks for sharing.
-
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.
-
Looks like a great day!
-
Glad that went so smoothly for you Perry, because that blue spruce is one prickley tree
-
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 :-[
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.