My first swarm of the year

[Bamabww]

Got a call from a friend who had a swarm in his apple orchard. When I got there I saw the largest swarm I've ever seen. They had broke the limb and the swarm was spread out on the ground under the tree. I got the limb picked up, a box under it and shook those on the limb off and into the box. Moved the box out of the way and let the limb back down. I was taping the box shut and the bees on the ground started crawling up on the limb where the others had been. I waited 10 to 12 minutes and shook them into box #2 and repeated the process. Finally most of those on the ground had crawled on the limb and with box #3, I had most of the bees under control.

I carried them home and in the excitement didn't notice a storm coming my way.  I got box #1 & 2 dumped in the deep hive body when it started thundering, lightening and raining cats and dogs. I hurriedly dumped box #3 in and closed the deep up. I placed the the boxes in an open position in front of the hive and left. It rained the rest of the evening and I didn't check them until this morning and only found a handful in the deep. The boxes were blown 15 to 20 feet away. I looked everywhere around and didn't see them anywhere.

I thought about it for a couple of hours and decided to combine the handful with the gourd bees. I walked past one of the boxes and noticed a few bees on the outside. I raised it up and the entire swarm was back in the box! Apparently I had not got the queen out on my initial try and the bees I dumped in the deep found her and joined her in the box.

I was more thorough this time and successfully got them into the deep. They were settled in by supper time. I count myself very lucky to still have that swarm. I'll post some pictures later.

[LazyBkpr]

WOO!!   A wipe your forehead moment!  I am glad someone has good luck, if that had been me I would have found the entire swarm under my wifes lawn chair with her sitting in it....   
     hrmmmm,,,, do I say something..... or.....

[Bamabww]

WOO!!   A wipe your forehead moment! 

Yeah, LazyBkpr sure 'nuff. I looked everywhere for them before checking the box. I have 16 acres of hardwood trees about 5 years old and walked it without finding them. Duh! But anyway, here's the pictures as promised.

[tbonekel]

I'm hoping for a swarm this year so bad! Not from my hives of course, but if that happens, I'll take them back if I can. Sounds like an experience for sure. Glad you go them taken care of.

[blueblood]

Great job Wayne! I was starting to get sad half way through reading your post and then I was happy again.  Now, looking at the pics, am I right in assuming that large branch narrowly missed some hives?  And, was that swarm from those hives?  Boy, policemen ask allot of questions don't they?   Oh, and that swarm broke that whole branch?

[tmrschessie]

Nice catch, glad it worked out for you. Tom

[G3farms]

Nice easy catch, glad you got them put up!

[jb63]

Way to go Wayne, nice catch.

[tmrschessie]

Very well done...sure would like to have some swarms up here in Nebraska near where I live like that. Tom

[Bamabww]

am I right that large branch narrowly missed some hives?  And, was that swarm from those hives?  Boy, policemen ask allot of questions don't they?   Oh, and that swarm broke that whole branch?

Thanks Dave and I don't mind questions, especially those I can answer! Yes, but it fell from a wind storm previous to the swarm. My friend had 12 hives and 9 of them have swarmed and he just ran out of boxes to place them in, so I got the call.  He has caught 8 of the 9 swarms. To each his own I reckon but it appears from the outside his boxes are severely overcrowded. I saw 6 with a substantial beard. Mine only do that in the middle of the hot part of summer.

This swarm is already actively working. I believe they'll give me a good late season honey crop come September.

[Barbarian]

I am not sure I should count this as my first swarm of 2014. The swarm at my first call had gone when I arrived. This is my second call.







When I saw this I thought "this should be no problem  ..... put a box above and smoke them up".

Welllllll ! ...... as mother used to say ...... THOUGHT followed a muck cart and thought it was a wedding.

The bees had arrived the day before and had a thorough drenching from two showers. I arrived on an overcast and damp morning. I tried smoking them up into a box but they were not for moving  .... just clustered. After trying different things, I finally resorted to scooping handfuls and throwing them into the box. Got most into the box and saw fanning. Left the box overnight and collected the swarm the following morning. There was still a small bunch on the pallet.



Swarm now back at my home.    Hope other calls are easier.

 

[Garden Hive]

Very nice sized. Looks to me that I'd have picked up a couple pallets and just lightly scraped them into the top of the box. But great that you got them!

[Bamabww]

Barbarian, great pictures! Thanks and good luck.