Author Topic: Swarm #1 (Read 9137 times)

Jen · « **on:** March 30, 2015, 04:04:57 pm »

I have the swarm lift off on video, I'll try and get it posted on this thread later on. This swarm came from the hive I least suspected would swarm. I'll be back later, it's an easy catch ~

Fortunately hubs and I are home today. He went directly into the garage and is whipping me up a bottom board

xo

CpnObvious · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2015, 04:16:38 pm »

Looks massive! Also looks like they're forming in two locations?

Go get 'em!

Jen · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2015, 04:31:38 pm »

I'm back for a minute. Yah, it's not the biggest swarm that has left my yard, but it's are good one, and they have slid down the top branches and formed on the lowest branch... Bless Their Little Hearts

Back Soon

efmesch · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2015, 04:41:17 pm »

Go get'em Jen!!!!

Don't waste your time posting about them till you've completed hiving them. It would be a terrible shame if while you were keeping us up to date on your progress, they would decide to abscond.
We'll be glad to read your full report when the job is successfully behind you.
That swarm looks great, losing them would be a tragedy.

Perry · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2015, 04:51:02 pm »

What Ef said, go get 'em!

Jen · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2015, 06:14:09 pm »

TAA DAA!

Hubs shoved his beer into my hand grabbed the camera and said "Strike A Pose Honey!"

tbonekel · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2015, 06:39:05 pm »

Good for you, Jen!

kebee · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2015, 06:45:30 pm »

glad you were able to get them, looked like a good size swarm.

Ken

rcannon · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2015, 08:26:22 pm »

Way to go, Jen. Looked like a good size swarm.

pistolpete · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2015, 08:32:44 pm »

good work. I'm always amazed that that mass of bees is just 1/2 of what's in a hive.

Jen · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2015, 10:19:10 pm »

Thanks guys

I was surprised as I watched the bees hit the sky, it's what I thought was the hive with the most room for queen. I put on the top med about 10 days ago, no later. So after I got swarm hived and settled, I looked into the hive it swarmed from. Turns out the top med was all nectar, every frame. This hive was chock full of brood before I put on the last med on, I expected that they would expand and make more brood. But they didn't, they stored nectar. That's what I get for doing my own thinking

I also have a queen excluder on this hive for about three day. This evening hive #4 seems just fine, I can hear buzzy humming inside and they are quietly reorienting, pretty sure queens in there

Not the nuc to the left, but the one in between the two taller hives, hive #2

efmesch · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2015, 01:24:07 am »

Crop that picture your husband took and you've got a great new avatar.

Jen: "That's what I get for doing my own thinking "----
Ef: You keep on thinking and doing----that's the way you'll learn best.

pistolpete · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2015, 02:19:28 am »

would have been a good time to look through the parent hive and look for "extra" queen cells to make a Nuc with. The swarm often leaves a day or two before the new queens are ready to hatch. Swarming preparations usually take place three to four weeks before the swarm, so adding that super when you did would not have affected the outcome anyway.

Up here in the great white north I haven't even seen a drone yet. It will be another month before we have to worry about swarms.

tbonekel · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2015, 07:42:11 am »

Question Jen. And this may not matter really, but why do you use a robbing frame instead of a regular entrance reducer? I guess that it would be useful if you really have some high temps and want to maximize ventilation. Plus if you didn't put any frames of honey in the new hive, there is nothing to rob, right? I'm just scratching my head over things especially with my own hives right now.

Jen · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2015, 12:38:33 am »

Hey Tbone

You must be looking at the pic with 4 hives. That med to the far left is the nuc I pulled from the Hot Hive next to it, did that a couple of weeks ago. I did put a full frame of honey in this nuc, and I didn't get very many bees in it, still learning nucs $:-\$ So there weren't enough bees to protect themselves. Since then I have done some equalizing and I added two more frames full of bees from my stuffed mother hive. Learning how to equalize

This nuc is full of eggs and brood, I think when they are all hatched out, I will take the robbing screen off. They also have another small entrance.

CpnObvious · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2015, 09:17:55 am »

I'm still waiting for that video!

Jen · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2015, 10:56:42 am »

Hi Obvious - along with the bees I've been busy with hubby recently prepping and having a light surgery, been out of town with doc appts. Also, I need hubs to help me learn how to get the vid out of the vid recorder and onto the computer. Patience grasshoppah

CpnObvious · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2015, 01:04:36 pm »

No explanation needed. I'm just excited for you and trying to enjoy the excitement vicariously through you. My apologies, Kwai Chang.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2015, 02:57:50 am »

He stuffed HIS beer into your hand.... Riiiight...

Doesnt sound like there was any Panic and those are not Jammies your wearing.. A beekeeper she be!

Jen · « **Reply #19 on:** April 02, 2015, 12:06:17 pm »

Nope! No panic at all

It all came natural. I kept hearing in the back of my head, "Calm down, take a breath, mix a drink..." LOL

And, may I plead my beer case..?.. I don't use an insulated beer holder, but I did enjoy the last half of hubby's beer