« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: What to do with swarm?  (Read 3022 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline MGoodman

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: High Point, Guilford County, NC, USA
What to do with swarm?
« on: May 03, 2016, 05:41:58 pm »
I put out two 10-frame deeps with several drawn, some foundation, some bares with comb at top.  Put it chest high near some woods. 

Treated with SWARM COMMANDER.  GOT A SWARM!!!

1) I'd like to move the trap 30 feet close to my other hives ... do I need to close up for 3 days with a hivetop feeder? 
2) Do I take replace any frames with drawn or do I let them do their thing? 

Mike
Logged

Offline Perry

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 7382
  • Thanked: 390 times
  • Gender: Male
    • Brandt's Bees
  • Location: Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
Re: What to do with swarm?
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2016, 06:50:20 pm »
Swarms are in comb building over drive so take advantage of it. Feed syrup till they stop taking it. I would let them settle in for now in the location they are at. When you relocate, do it in the evening and put a bunch of brush in front of the hive to make them have to "work" a bit to get out in the morning. They will know something is different and will reorient to the new location.
Not sure why one would ever close up a hive for 3 days?
Logged
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
Forum Supporter

Offline CBT

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1047
  • Thanked: 80 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Age gets better with wine
  • Location: Sandhills of North Carolina
Re: What to do with swarm?
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2016, 09:04:20 pm »
I here if you put a frame of eggs and capped brood in the new hive the bees won't leave. Also you can take some drawn comb and pour honey on it and they will stay.
Logged

Offline Lburou

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2284
  • Thanked: 315 times
  • Location: DFW area, Texas, USA, growing zone 7a
Re: What to do with swarm?
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2016, 10:15:11 pm »
Great catch MGoodMan!

Sometimes the bees don't need a reason, they abscond.  Wet brood would help establish the bees.  I've heard of closing the hive for days, but have never done it.  If they want to go, they go!

It isn't much trouble to move a swarm hive three feet each day until you have them where you want them.

:)
Logged
Lee_Burough

Offline Jen

  • Platinum Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10175
  • Thanked: 240 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Upper California
Re: What to do with swarm?
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2016, 10:32:54 pm »
All of the above  :)  I live in a tight neighborhood with kids running around, and senior citizens in their backyards, so I can't leave the swarm hive there. I catch my swarms in my back alley up on a 10 foot bank. When I catch a swarm I wait until dusk when most of the bees are inside, then move it into my back yard right along side my other hives. Before it gets too dark, I put a queen excluder between the bottom board and the hive box, for about 4 days. That way the queen has to stay put.

Have never closed up a hive for 3 days, that would prevent them from foraging, getting oriented and pooping. I like what CBT says about a frame of eggs and capped brood. However, if you don't have a frame of eggs/brood to put in the swarm hive, that's where the queen excluder comes in handy.

Logged
There Is Peace In The Queendom

Offline apisbees

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 3723
  • Thanked: 331 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Vernon B.C.
Re: What to do with swarm?
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2016, 11:03:28 pm »
This is not a hive that he dumped into the swarm into. They chose this hive, leave them where they are till they have eggs and brood of their own. then move them, Moving them before they become established could be the motivating factor for them to abscond if they do not have brood to hold them
Logged
Honey Judge, Beekeeping Display Coordinator, Armstrong Fair and Rodeo.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »