Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Blackbird on May 08, 2005, 06:23:12 PM

Title: I just caught my first two swarms!!!
Post by: Blackbird on May 08, 2005, 06:23:12 PM
They were both on the same property. One was basicly on the ground in a low shrub and the other was up in a tree. I got stung. It was really fun.  :D

Now I have 4 hives and I need to get some more equiptment in a hurry.

How can I combine one of these swarms with an existing hive?

Stacie
Title: I just caught my first two swarms!!!
Post by: Apis629 on May 10, 2005, 05:35:32 PM
To get the swarm into a hive the newspaper meathod usually works well.  Just put the swarm inside a super aove the broodnest and sperate the swarm from the bees in the hive with a newspaper.  The newspaper should have a few staple-sized holes in it to let the scents of the colonies mingle.  You can either find the queen in the swarm and kill her first or leave here with the swarm and let the queens fight, the stronger one will win.I've heard of this technique having great success.  Hope this helps.
Title: I just caught my first two swarms!!!
Post by: latebee on May 11, 2005, 12:42:17 AM
I have used the newspaper method to combine a weak colony with a strong one and it works every time. I have never tried it by  combining a fresh swarm  with an established hive but it should also work.