2nd swarm

[tedh]

Caught a swarm from one of the hives here at home. Actually saw it issue while i was mowing.  It came from a nuc we started this spring which surprised me.  It landed about 20' up a maple, in a patch of weeds and grass that was over my head.  I used a telescoping apple picker with a 5 gallon bucket hung on the tines.  Rather cumbersome but i think it worked, will know for sure in a few days.  Ted

[neillsayers]

 

[tedh]

Thanks Neil!

[Bakersdozen]

Good timing, tedh!

[Jen]

I love swarms! I enjoy standing right in the middle of them, magical! And then feel lucky that I get to see where they land.

[tedh]

I gave them a frame of mixed brood and food last night and moved them to the stand this morning.  I'll remove the queen excluder tomorrow afternoon and see what happens, but I think they'll stay put.  We're up to 21 colonies now and 25 is the absolute limit. I  mean it this time!   Ted

[iddee]

Famous last words.... 
Post again when the count hits 50.

[tedh]

Isn't that the truth!  We're only selling about 45-50 gallons of honey per year so we won't NEED any more hives even in a bad season.  Notice I said need? Yeah, this is about me enjoying myself, not selling honey!  Ted

[Jen]

Good Morning Ted  I've been keeping my apiary down to 2 big hives and what ever nucs I have left at the end of the season. Last year I was able to sell 14 nucs, all medium frames, at $120. So, that's $1680.00 minus $350 for purchased queens = $1330.00 In My Pocket Tax Free!

I was a happy beekeeper last year However, I did learn that I depleted my hives a little too much, so that was a lesson learned for this years hives. But with a good eye and constant care of the hives over winter, they all made it through.

[tedh]

Right on Jen!  Side story:  I was at a yoga class the other day and there was a gal there that l looked familiar but I couldnt remember her name.  After the class i admitted that to her and she said " oh yes, I'm so and so and I recently bought 6 jars of "Helen's Honey".  Now, the "company name" is Hermann's Honey and my wifes name is Helene.  So i said, "That's right now I remember. My name is Ted, I'm Helen's beekeeper."  I want a raise, man.  I want a raise.  Ted

[tedh]

Caught another swarm yesterday (number 3).  They were in a lilac bush, about 18 inches ofthe ground.  Slid the box under them, tapped the branch, put the lid on.  I brought them home this morning, added a frame of brood and food along with enough undrawn frames to fill the box and an entrance reducer.  I'll pull the queen excluder and add a inner cover tommorow.  Any more and I'll have to set up another stand.