So what's your earliest swarm relative to when you think that the bees should swarm?
(we're all in different climates, that is why I throw in the "relative")
3 weeks
So I just got my queens, I'm going to do some splits tonight. I think I'm still 3 weeks before I should need to worry about swarming (ok, I know I'm not this year, but I'm not ready for them yet!).
Bam! my strong hive splits itself! ARRGGHH! I'm not ready!!! Hopefully I can get them out of the tree....
Rick
In this area, swarms start in early Feb.... a buddy of mine always has several of his swarming the 1st week of Feb... really weird... gotta bee ready! Git' that swarm trap up! :-D
...DOUG
KD4MOJ
Rick,
Thanks for the heads up. I have one hive that is very strong, but wasn't going to worry about it for 3 weeks or so.
Guess I got to get in and take a peak.
Jay
Quote from: skflyfish on April 20, 2010, 05:45:58 PM
I have one hive that is very strong, but wasn't going to worry about it for 3 weeks or so.
Guess I got to get in and take a peak.
Yep I would definitely check the frames for swarm cells... that will let you know if they are about to swarm. I had 4 frames with at least 4 cells on each frame! YIKES!
...DOUG
KD4MOJ
Well, one swarmed, the other 3 hives were definately close. So I made up 4 strong nucs off of them. I'm also going to swap places with a couple of my weak hives soon. If they are this strong now, what happens in May when they normally swarm??
This year is crazy!!
While the strong hive has two deeps to work with, and the top one is full and I noticed some cups on the bottom of a couple of frames but they weren't capped yet. Some drone brood too. I didn't get into the bottom but I could see some bees there too. My other strong hive has a bit of drone brood on a frame opposite a frame they didn't pull out well but no cups or cells.
I am leaving for a long weekend, so they are going to have to wait (hopefully) till I get back.
Thanks again.
Rick,
I had to go to a client in Grandville today and wow are you leafed out and in bloom. No wonder why they think a flow is on and are a swarmin. The subdivisions north of the mall where all in bloom. If Jenison is like Grandville, then your girls are happyyyyy.
We have had hard frosts all week and only a few trees are in bloom. Maybe next week we will like y'all.
Jay
I don't usually want to get supers on yet, but I put an extra deep on each of my strong hives, and nothing capped yet,but they had nectar in every single frame already.