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Author Topic: What to do with swarm?  (Read 3023 times)

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Offline MGoodman

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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
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Offline Perry

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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?
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Offline CBT

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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.
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Offline Lburou

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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.

:)
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Offline Jen

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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.

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Offline apisbees

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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
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