Fellow Beek Catching A Swarm Question

[Jen]

Got a call from a fellow new beekeeper going into his second year. He said he had been watching this swarm for about 5 days, on a bottom limb about 4 inches off the ground. I walked him thru getting this basketball size swarm into his new deep.

My question is: If this swarm stayed on this limb for 5 days and wasn't making any wax paddles, is this a sign that there is not a queen in this swarm?

[apisbees]

Not a queen or a virgin. I have just shaken small swarms like that out in the bee yard and let the bees join where ever they can beg their way in. That was in the time before mites I don't know what i would do now.

[Jen]

Hmm, I don't know what mites have to do with this?

I do know that all the frames he put into this hive are new bare plastic frames. The bees don't have anything to work with. So, how about him adding a frame of eggs from his other hive?

[efmesch]

It should work.  If he only has one other hive, I think that's the best way to go.  You're always best off with a minimum of two hives.

However, if he already has more than one other hive and is interested in getting a honey crop, he might be better off using the swarm to strengthen out one of his other hives.(Uniting by newspaper.)

[Jen]

Thanks Apis and Ef    That will be good news for him

[apisbees]

Can his other hive afford to loose the frames needed to raise a queen. where did the swarm come from? If it is from his one hive Does it have a viable queen? I am not saying it can;t be done... Just use caution and don't rob if the colony can not spare it.

[Jen]

Okay, I'm thinking if his other colony has 6-7 good frames of brood, then it's a go...

Of course I'm not there to see just how many bees are in the other colony either.

[apisbees]

The best he can hope for is a virgin queen in the swarm if he finds one then let her mate if it doesn't have a v queen i would combine.
If the swarm came from his hive He may be looking at getting 2 virgins mated. the brood in the hive may be all hatched out and disturbing the colony could cause more damage if he transfers the virgin queen from the colony to the nuc or disrupts the it's mating, if it is an swarm from another colony then it should not be an issue.

[Jen]

Apis,  that is too many options for me to explain to a newbee. This swarm stayed on the branch for 5 days, no wax paddles were being built. I think he has two other hives.

I would like to give him two plain and clear options.

Shake them out and let them beg into the other hives.

Add a frame of brood with eggs.

Or, I have a nuc that has queen cells in it right now, can I give him a queen cell?

[apisbees]

You, I, He, doesn't know until he knows that ue is dealing with. If he picked the swarm up in his yard it most likely was from his hive and dew to its size it is a cast swarm with a virgin. If he has more that one hive then his potions will increase. If you are close to him go over and go through his hives and make your plan from  what you find.

Make a mini mating nuc cardboard box 4 inch cube. cut a 1/2 inch entrance hole in the side and one in the top for a syrup jar. in 2 to 3 weeks decide if you have a laying queen that it is worth doing something with.

[vvand111]

Thanks guys   I am filing this info away even as I have another set of issues. Great stuff