Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: malabarchillin on October 13, 2008, 08:03:40 PM

Title: How much Honey leaves with swarm ?
Post by: malabarchillin on October 13, 2008, 08:03:40 PM
Just picking a number of 15,000 bees swarming. How much honey would they take with them ?
Number of frames or pounds worth of honey ? Do they usually pick from a top or bottom super to take from ?
Thanks
Mike
Title: Re: How much Honey leaves with swarm ?
Post by: Michael Bush on October 14, 2008, 07:41:10 AM
They usually take it from open cells unless all those are empty.  Then they open whatever is near where the open cells were which could be the top super or the near the brood nest.  I don't know of a for sure number, but they aren't hauling nectar, so it's pretty concentrated and it's all they can carry.  Obviously the honey can't weigh more than the bees, so a five pound swarm must not have more than a pound or two of honey in them.
Title: Re: How much Honey leaves with swarm ?
Post by: malabarchillin on October 14, 2008, 04:50:30 PM
Thanks a lot (like always) for you reply Michael.