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Author Topic: Guess What  (Read 11350 times)

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Offline kebee

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Guess What
« on: March 15, 2014, 04:12:36 pm »
God bless me with a swarm this morning and only 64 degrees. I finish cleaning the leaves off the back of the shop and decided to walk around when I came upon the swarm over in next door property hanging about 4 feet off the ground on a limb. My adrenaline rose so much trying to get the hive on the wagon to take over and shake in the bees I though I would pass out. I know where they came from, the english garden hive on the end, I was planning on splitting her anyway but this is better. I now have 3 hives and will have 4 by the end of month, I have a package coming. Here is a picture of swarm, they are out beaming in on hive and one of hive they swarm from.




Hope all get them as easy as I did today.

Ken
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Offline Jen

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2014, 04:15:04 pm »
Nice! Glad it all came together for ya! I know that adenaline rush! Love It!
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Offline tbonekel

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2014, 06:25:00 pm »
Quote from: kebee on March 15, 2014, 04:12:36 pm
My adrenaline rose so much trying to get the hive on the wagon to take over and shake in the bees I though I would pass out.

I really know that feeling.  Last year, I had no bees at all. I put out some swarm traps and a few weeks later, I saw that one had set up house in the trap. I compare that feeling to when you ask the prettiest girl in the school to the prom and she says yes. Well, at least I imagine that it feels like that.
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2014, 06:35:12 pm »
LOL ken!!! you truly made me laugh.  it sure is nice to capture swarms, and it sure is even better to capture our own....... :D
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Offline apisbees

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2014, 12:28:07 am »
Have you gone thru the swarmed hive and adjusted the hive against swarming again? the hive could still issue cast swarms.
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Offline Jen

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2014, 12:44:08 am »
Tbone- ""I compare that feeling to when you ask the prettiest girl in the school to the prom and she says yes.""

Hey Tbone, I had that feeling Today!! I SAW MY QUEEN! Ya Wanna Go To The Prom? ;) :D 8)
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Offline barry42001

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2014, 12:51:22 am »
yes you do have to be careful it's not all that unusual for a colony to cast several after swarms, each one smaller than the last headed by a Virgin Queen. this time of year at least remotely possible with assistance they can survive were a little later in the year their survival would be in doubt.

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Offline Jen

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2014, 12:57:59 am »
That happened to my hive last year. Three swarms. We were able to catch the last small one. Frankly, I was soo sorry to loose the first large one, but it was soo awesome to stand right in the middle of a swarm in flight ~ Magical
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Offline apisbees

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2014, 04:05:31 am »
Jen do not stand in the middle of a swarm and do nothing. There are a couple of things you can do to get a swarm to settle quicker. A tub and a stick the side of the metal shed anything to make a loud crashing sound like thunder and the bees will quickly take refuge. Hit the bees with the spray of water from a hose and they will drop to the ground place a hive entrance near then and they will walk in on their own.
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Offline kebee

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2014, 04:30:50 am »
apisbees I have not done that, will have to wait until tomorrow or Tuesday for we are having rain today and raining now and in forecast for Monday also. What should I bee looking for?

Ken
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Offline apisbees

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2014, 04:47:01 am »
Only leave a couple of swarm cells in the hive. They are delicate so no shaking the frames or turning them up side down. If you have cells on different frames pull a frame with a cell and make up an extra nuc of 2. If some thing happens to one of the queens you will have an other ready to go and be united.
Rainy weather will keep the virgin queens in the hives so there is a better chance that they will fight rather than issue cast swarms but no guarantee as the bees can be starting new cells as the older ones are emerging. and if the bees decide to protect them the virgin in the hive has no choice but to swarm as a cast swarm.
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Offline kebee

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2014, 06:30:43 am »
Thanks apisbees that was what I was thinking just wanting to be sure, thanks again.

Ken
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Offline apisbees

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #12 on: March 16, 2014, 06:38:07 am »
Your Welcome
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Offline minz

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #13 on: March 16, 2014, 01:10:29 pm »
Bricks and black plastic! I know that is not the thread but that is a great idea.   I set up a couple of hives in two different locations that are not my property and last year it looked pretty shaggy. In about a 2 week period between inspections it should be dead?
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Offline kebee

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2014, 05:08:04 pm »
Had a couple of nice warm days and the queen of the swarm picked some good girls to go with her for they are out bring in tons it look like of pollen. I had the front reduced down to the smallest open and there was a bad back up of bees trying to get out and in, so I took it out completed so they can work the hive easyer. I sure glad I got this one for they are full steam ahead.

Ken
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Offline Perry

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #15 on: March 20, 2014, 05:17:22 pm »
When you think about it, catching a swarm is sort of catching the best part of what was obviously a very successful colony.  ;)
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Offline Jen

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #16 on: March 20, 2014, 06:07:39 pm »
Perry ""When you think about it, catching a swarm is sort of catching the best part of what was obviously a very successful colony.""

I like the way you think Perry  ;) 8)
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Offline apisbees

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #17 on: March 20, 2014, 07:25:02 pm »
Try to keep the heat in the hive especialy at nite. They will draw more comb when they are warmer and will not need to use much honey warming the hive.

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Offline barry42001

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #18 on: March 20, 2014, 08:16:45 pm »
hey Perry, I know a swarm marks the height of  colony development it's an attempt to perpetuate the species during a time of great abundance. and that we can agree.

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Offline apisbees

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Re: Guess What
« Reply #19 on: March 21, 2014, 05:58:21 pm »
Quote from: Perry on March 20, 2014, 05:17:22 pm
When you think about it, catching a swarm is sort of catching the best part of what was obviously a very successful colony.  ;)
BUT Having a colony swarm on you is, losing the best part of what was obviously a very successful colony.  ;(
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