Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees => Topic started by: rober on April 01, 2018, 03:08:27 am

Title: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: rober on April 01, 2018, 03:08:27 am

looks like the swarm season has started. had 2 calls for cutouts & then the 1st swarm call. homeowner said it looked like a storm cloud rolling it but wet herself ( literally ) when she realized what it was. local P.D. blocked off the alley. tons of onlookers. I brought my 5 gallon catch bucket with the screened lid & 3 white corrugated nuc boxes...........not even close to being enough. ended borrowing 2 plastic trash cans from neighbors. they settled on 2 horizontal tree limbs about 4' off the ground ( no ladders yay! ) & the bottom of the clusters were only 18"off the ground. I misted the outer bees with a water hose & angled the trash cans into position. I had an extra suit in the truck & talked a young cop into shaking 1 limb while I shook the other. lids in hand we shook, the bees fell, the crowd gasped & squealed, lids went on & the deed was done. I let stragglers settle down boxed em' up & headed home. it was getting dark so I left them to deal with today. so now what the heck am I to do with them?!?!?? this is about 6 hives worth of bees.

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: Perry on April 01, 2018, 06:45:15 am

What to do with them? :o
I see 6 more hives in your immediate future. :) 8)

PS, next time bring a camera! ;D

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: LazyBkpr on April 01, 2018, 08:46:38 am

WHAT Perry said!

   Finding the queen may be difficult in that mess, but thats what you need to do. Find her, look for where the bees are gathering, put her in a box with plenty of bees. Do you have the good fortune of having ANY hives with swarm cells? If not, give each extra hive you set up with them a frame of young eggs/larvae.   Wishing I had that problem right now!

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: CBT on April 01, 2018, 09:19:55 am

Rober, you give a good play by play. I can see it in my mind. But there’s lots of room up there for the big screen. ;D

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: Bakersdozen on April 01, 2018, 09:50:35 am

Thanks for posting rober.  Is there a nectar flow going on there?
This is the beekeeper's version of a fish story!   :laugh:

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: rober on April 01, 2018, 10:37:54 am

a few flowers, magnolias, & tulip poplars.........they are bringing pollen from somewhere. oh-there's one more detail

APRIL FOOLS!

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: tedh on April 01, 2018, 11:17:39 am

Well played sir!  Well played!

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: rober on April 01, 2018, 11:28:17 am

somebody had to do it.
this is a bigun'

(https://s31.postimg.cc/pu5rezr0n/SWARM.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/pu5rezr0n/)

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: apisbees on April 01, 2018, 12:43:44 pm

No Fooling yesterday nice and warm today it is snowing. I and the Bees are not amused.

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: Les on April 01, 2018, 06:17:43 pm

Good one!  I was wondering why no photos!

Title: Re: Guiness Record Worthy Swarm
Post by: LazyBkpr on April 01, 2018, 07:18:13 pm

Blah...  I fell for it.