My strongest hive swarmed this afternoon. I've just spent 3 clutzy hours collecting them (and I'm sort of worn out). Each time I tried to shake them off their chosen tree branch and into the box, they went back to the branch. Eventually I just cut off their favorite part of the branch and put it in the box with them. Is that okay?
It's a small, football-sized swarm. Maybe smaller. I put them in an 8-frame medium super with what few scraps of old comb I have on hand. I have no unused drawn frames, so they're in there with nothing but 5 or 6 undrawn frames and their hunk of branch. I have three questions:
1. Should I keep them in the 8 frame medium box, or should I move them to a 5 frame nuc?
2. Feed them?
3. Why did they insist on clustering on that tree branch? Each time I shook them from the branch, there weren't any bees to speak of left on it (I never saw the queen there).
Perfectly normal for them to keep homing in on the branch, they're attracted to the scent left there. That's one good reason to carry bee quick or bee go with you.
It sounds like you've done a fine job. As far as 5 frame deep nuc or 8 frame medium that's up to you. The volume is roughly the same so either one will work. It's more about what you plan to do with them in the future. Will you put them in a 10 frame deep when they have built up? If so you'll want to put them in the deep nuc so you can easily transfer frames. If using all med equipment go with med frames.
I always feed swarms but if you have other hives close and are not feeding them be very careful of robbing...you may want to set up an open feeding area away from them all. At the minimum reduce the entrance.
Scott
Which box has drawn comb already? I would put them on wax if you got it. They are going to need all the help they can get and you are going to have to feed them all winter. Keep the feeder inside the box and for the entrance, make it just big enough for 2 bees, that is all they need at this point. That will stop the robbing.
You can always use a sliding division board to keep the space cut down. I much prefer that to moving them again out of a 5 frame box.
TwoHoneys:
I had the same thing happen to me yesterday. I ended up putting them up in a cobbled together 8 frame medium cause that is all I use. I pulled one good frame of solid honey and pollen out of the hive they came out of plus, I had a couple of new plastic frames. I was also processing a honey super yesterday (crush & strain) so I basically just cut the middle out of a few of those frames leaving behind some uncapped honey areas and some empty drawn out areas. I want to see if I can kind of go foundationless with them on a couple of frames so I left the top rows of comb for them as a guide.
I am not sure I got the queen (couldn't find her--but I usually never can) so I think later this week when I get into the big hive i will pull some eggs to give them to raise a queen, if they need one. I have a top feeder I will put on tomorrow and feed the heck out of them till they close down for the season. They may not make it through the winter but hopefully I can at least get them to draw out some comb so any swarms I catch next spring will have a headstart.
Thanks for the feedback, friends.
You know, I can't figure out how they can possibly build up enough to live through the winter (and, like ldaxon, I'll be happy to get some drawn comb from them even if the bees don't make it). But what are the chances they would have lived if they'd found a tree to nest in? I mean, why would they swarm if there's so little chance of making it through the winter?
Liz
You never know about their survival. You may think they wouldn't make it on their own but they've been "making it" for several million years just fine. Now that you have them captured, fill the box up with frames and start feeding 1:1 so they can draw comb. Later, you can switch to 2:1 when they have room to store it. Or, give them some honey from your other hives. Lots of folks overwinter nucs. Take good care of them and you'll have another hive for the spring.
If you've got drawn comb and you feed a lot you should be able to get them settled. If you don't have drawn comb, they probably won't have time to build up. I'd use the size box they fit in for now...
This swarm sought greener pastures...there was no drawn comb on the frames in their box (I don't have any available drawn comb!), and I would have left, too. I'm relieved that I don't have to worry about them anymore. It was good experience, but next year when my bees swarm in September, I'm letting them go.
Are you in a Bee Club or know of one maybe you came Bum up some comb from other Keepers
around Town I am new to keeping but this swarm I wonder like you said WHAT would have happened
had you not taken them Is is Natural selection and they Left and were Just Not going to make it
Like a Pack of whales Beaching them selfs??
are they snowbird bees going south for the winter :?
Just thoughts of a new Guy
Tom