A Swarm In July Ain't Worth A Fly

[Jen]

Curious....  what are your thoughts on this?

[Beeboy]

I've always heard this but I think I would take it in July if offered. Yep I'm a sucker!

[Woody Roberts]

I think this old saying dates back before most people fed their bees.
A swarm in may is worth a load of hay. Meaning these bees have a good chance of surviving the winter or filling a skep, depending on your intentions.

A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon. Meaning they have a chance.

A swarm in July ain't worth a fly. Meaning they won't survive the winter nor put any honey in the skep.


Nowadays I start most of my hives in July and August. They do require feed to overwinter. A price I'm willing to pay.

[Gypsi]

A swarm in July is ok, better than a swarm in September in Texas.

[Barbarian]

A swarm in May is worth a load of hay.
A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon.
A swarm in July  ..... Let it fly.

I have a feeling that this rhyme dates from when bees were kept in skeps.
At the end of the summer, the honey and wax were harvested from the skeps by killing or driving the bees.
The strong and the weak skeps were harvested and some of the medium skeps retained to over winter.

A study of local (death) property lists had people who died in the winter months having mainly one or two hyves. Summer property lists showed more hyves. A hyve (of bees) was reckoned to be worth roughly about a tenth of a horse.

[Jen]

That's what I was thinking, that the later swarms wouldn't have time to build up the hive to survive the winter. Same as beeboy, I think I would have to grab it. You can always combine ~

[LazyBkpr]

July swarms are great for overwintering in Nuc's. A lot depends on the fall flow. If we have a good one a july swarm or split will build up enough to overwinter decently..

[Riverrat]

July is about the latest you can pick up a swarm and hive on anything other than drawn comb and have them get through the winter.  As woody said this is an old saying that goes back before widespread feeding.  On the other hand there is no such thing as a worthless swarm. You just got to know what to do with them once you get them combine, hive them and hope they make it, etc.

[GLOCK]

I had two swarms in SEPT. of 2012  and hived them in TRI . nucs and they went through winter like champs.
And I'm in the north.

[Bsweet]

I to feel that with the current standards of feeding and the makeing of NUCs to overwinter that a July swarm is a good bet and should not be passed up. Jim

[apisbees]

This was a saying used before over wintering bees was a popular option for beekeepers who lived and kept bees in areas of harsh winter weather. Beekeepers in the more mild regions perfected the overwintering of smaller colonies in nucs. A small cluster in a regular deep super will have a hard time surviving the winter, but that same size cluster confined into the smaller space of a nuc with a bit of help from the beekeeper can come thru the winter and become a thriving full size colony by the next years honey flow. Now it has become a regular practice for many beekeepers to make splits and nuc out hives at the end of July and early August. this gives them the chance to increase the number of colonies servings the winter  it provides for wintering with new queens and provides nucs for sale in the early spring and not being reliant on the weather to allow for the mating of queens.

[riverbee]

i have hived swarms in late july and early august.  what rat said:

"there is no such thing as a worthless swarm. You just got to know what to do with them once you get them combine, hive them and hope they make it, etc."

[Jen]

Well I'm glad to hear this, cause I just wouldn't be able to pass a swarm up if I came across one 

[riverbee]

jen, how about TEN swarms...........

[Jen]

Riv- "jen, how about TEN swarms...........

     Uuuugh, I would definately be tempted for one reason only.... The weather is finally warm and we could process them outside Instead Of The Garage. Put some on craigslist, make a little cash.

Hoooowever! Hubby would not be amused and I might be a dead Jen 

Hmmm, right hand left hand weighing the odds....  I definately like living.... sooooo