How long does it truly take for a swarm to set up a 12 comb condo in the exposed eve of a house entry way. We got a call from Fort Worth about it ... and the contractor told me that one day it was not there ... and the next it was.
(http://api.ning.com/files/wFvIiebu4VDL1BqcT-bp0lhQq9*tMjY-g9yT2v93v2YaNOlUvBP*OuHZPKtAg5OPKp3so-ERm3eKPnLwiVC*x6FWkbAtAj9-/AlsBeeHive003.jpg)
(http://api.ning.com/files/wFvIiebu4VDoALRjYPobZV3WwesRT-5Wdqzz6nUI4Uw8VoYdZ2SKYLquSps-P-g5BI7oknQOK7xCUSePZ25sMvzUfnsx7bzV/AlsBeeHive004.jpg)
(http://api.ning.com/files/wFvIiebu4VDd74AhLiVxy5WfuGAtJ16piccXlchHMK*lxo96gCuMK1daoVgHaj6W3vCnVmQ2SgXwaL7*n8KxHh9LDuW*QoM8/AlsBeeHive005.jpg)
Depends on the size of the swarm and the size of the combs. In my experience, it takes a large healthy colony about a day to produce a full, deep-sized comb - and the speed of production declines after that first comb to something more like two days. Assuming a typical arrangement where there are a couple of long combs in the middle, getting progressively shorter to either side, I'd guess a really strong swarm could produce twelve combs in two weeks.
Of course, I live where the bees can't be very active at night. If you have warm nighttime temperatures, I'd guess they could crank the comb out more quickly.
I know for a fact this one was 8 days old (http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6484/cimg1607i.th.jpg) (http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg1607i.jpg)
...JP
I love swarms! They are on a mission. And they know what to do. I hived 3 swarms on May 15 on undrawn foundation & foundationless frames. I just added another super to each of these. :)
They were running out of room!
Reg,
I would think it was more than one day, but would not say it was impossible.
This one was 10 days old.
(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/gallery2/d/979-1/IMG_1181.JPG)
Quote from OK "How long does it truly take for a swarm to set up a 12 comb condo in the exposed eve of a house entry way. We got a call from Fort Worth about it ... and the contractor told me that one day it was not there ... and the next it was."
If I had to lay money on the table with one good guess as the age of that colony/comb I would say its been there no less than four days but it looks like it could have been there a week or more, so my best guess is, to pick one number, my final vote is 7 days.
Of course it all boils down to size of swarm, genetics and resources.
...JP
I assume you did not drive down here from Tulsa, so what did you do? Have you already contacted someone local?