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Author Topic: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....  (Read 6982 times)

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Offline Nugget Shooter

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Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« on: April 08, 2017, 07:59:24 pm »
The small colony I cut out of the birdhouse last fall decided to leave this week for no apparent reason, they never did get very strong and not sure what their issue was. So sitting there pondering that very thing next morning on our chair swing at corner of the bee yard I hear a loud BUZZZZZZZ and look up to see thousands of bees appear from the desert to our East and land in the Mesquite tree in front of me. A big swarm of maybe 6 pounds of bees lands and balls as I watch. Moved quickly to the shed and prepared a deep with frames and foundation, couple drops of lemon grass oil and since only 8 feet up simply used a step ladder and shook them in. They are doing well and settled in nicely  :)

So lost one colony, but with the cutout from last week and a swarm I am ahead by one hive already just starting April.... Would have wondered if was from my own hives if I hadn't watched them come in from the East.  :laugh:
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Offline Wandering Man

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2017, 08:28:06 pm »
Lucky you!
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Offline Nugget Shooter

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2017, 08:42:05 pm »
Forgot the photo....

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Cheers, Bill

Offline Perry

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2017, 08:54:01 pm »
Nice size swarm! :)
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Offline Lburou

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2017, 10:22:43 pm »
That will be something to remember Nugget Shooter.  :)
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Offline neillsayers

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2017, 11:38:15 pm »
Wow NS,

They just volunteered! How cool is that. :)
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Offline Jen

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2017, 12:19:41 am »
Smart Bees! That is a big swarm too! Let's see, that swarm would prob break up into two packages of bees. That's $200 worth of free bees there  ;) 8)

How nice Nug, to have a swarm fly right to you like that.
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Offline Nugget Shooter

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2017, 12:23:59 pm »
Well the darn things hung around a couple days, ate a quart of sugar syrup and off they went yesterday afternoon apparently. Perhaps plastic frame and foundation was not to their liking.... On top of that there was a battle of some sort in front of one of our other hives leaving 200 or so dead out front??? Looked inside and all seems well so perhaps a robbing attempt??

Darn critters....  :-\
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Offline Mikey N.C.

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2017, 12:47:24 pm »
Wondering if birdhouse bees had AHB genetics ?
Did you give swarm drawn comb ?
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Offline Jen

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2017, 01:52:40 pm »
Just a thought Nug... I've learned from this forum a trick or two about helping a swarm stay put.

You can put a frame of brood from another hive into the swarm hive, that can serve as an anchor to keep them in the box.

Or, you can put a queen excluder between the bottom board and the hive box for about 4-5 days. If the queen can't get out then the bees won't leave.

You prob already know this, just adding my two cents  ;) 8)
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Offline Nugget Shooter

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #10 on: April 09, 2017, 01:59:41 pm »
Quote from: Mikey N.C. on April 09, 2017, 12:47:24 pm
Wondering if birdhouse bees had AHB genetics ?
Did you give swarm drawn comb ?

No I didn't have drawn comb to spare Mikey....
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Offline Nugget Shooter

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Re: Birdhouse cutout bees absconded....
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2017, 02:02:12 pm »
Quote from: Jen on April 09, 2017, 01:52:40 pm
Just a thought Nug... I've learned from this forum a trick or two about helping a swarm stay put.

You can put a frame of brood from another hive into the swarm hive, that can serve as an anchor to keep them in the box.

Or, you can put a queen excluder between the bottom board and the hive box for about 4-5 days. If the queen can't get out then the bees won't leave.

You prob already know this, just adding my two cents  ;) 8)

Will remember this advise next time Jen, have had good luck just feeding until now.... Learning as I bumble along  :laugh:
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