Text only | Text with Images

Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: Grandma_DOG on May 26, 2010, 09:07:06 PM

Title: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: Grandma_DOG on May 26, 2010, 09:07:06 PM
I almost cried today.   :(

I captured two swarms over the weekend. One was the smallest of the season at under a lb, the other was the largest at about 8-10 lb. Today the big honking swarm absconded. They built 30 sq inches of comb but left it. No eggs.

I thought i had a good routine for swarms:


On cutouts, I also plug them up for 48 hours to reduce absconding. Should I now do that for swarms as well?
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: Kathyp on May 26, 2010, 09:14:23 PM
it happens.  the only other thing you could have done is put an excluder between the bottom box and the bottom board.  i will confess that i often (today) forget to do that.  they do their thing.  sometimes it's not our thing.

also...are you sure you got the queens?
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: asprince on May 26, 2010, 09:17:45 PM
A frame of brood should anchor them. Works for me.

Steve
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: AllenF on May 26, 2010, 09:40:23 PM
With that huge swarm, do think there was a queen, or maybe there are a lot of AHB genetics in that swarm?  They do move around a lot.
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: Jim134 on May 26, 2010, 11:07:20 PM
Quote from: asprince on May 26, 2010, 09:17:45 PM
a frame of brood should anchor them. Works for me.

Steve


Use unsealed brood for and anchor.


   BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: Jim134 on May 26, 2010, 11:32:23 PM
Quote from: kathyp on May 26, 2010, 09:14:23 PM
 the only other thing you could have done is put an excluder between the bottom box and the bottom board.  

If you do this take the excluder out in 2 or 3 days.


    BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: Kathyp on May 26, 2010, 11:35:09 PM
oh yeah....thanks.  didn't mean leave it on forever.  :-)
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: D Coates on May 27, 2010, 05:04:18 PM
Never lost a swarm when I've put a frame of brood in there.  I do it everytime and recommend it to everyone who'll listen.
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: bud1 on May 29, 2010, 10:54:39 AM
cage or clip queen;they leave brood here ; tried it bunch here and just wasted brood, even leave own brood, cage queen for a coupla days and they usually stay
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: marksmith on May 29, 2010, 01:04:08 PM
How the world does a person find a queen among 3 gallons of bees?
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: AllenF on May 29, 2010, 01:14:50 PM
She is the one on the throne.


Or take your time and look, look, look.
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: Jim134 on May 29, 2010, 05:01:30 PM
Quote from: marksmith on May 29, 2010, 01:04:08 PM
How the world does a person find a queen among 3 gallons of bees?

  In a big swarm you may find more then 1 queen


           BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)
Title: Re: How to reduce absconding with a captured swarm?
Post by: bud1 on May 29, 2010, 06:31:51 PM
i have spent at least an hour befor i could get my fingers on her a few times
Text only | Text with Images