Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: TwoHoneys on May 25, 2011, 07:57:21 PM

Title: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: TwoHoneys on May 25, 2011, 07:57:21 PM
I have an opportunity to collect a nice-sized swarm that settled in today. However, I can't get there tonight, and I have to work tomorrow...I'd like to collect the bees in the morning at around 7AM. Is that a good idea? I've never tried it so early in the morning and don't know what to expect.

-Liz
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: iddee on May 25, 2011, 08:31:10 PM
Suit up well. They may be in cluster mode. If so, they will be mean.
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: AllenF on May 25, 2011, 08:36:10 PM
Go for it.
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: Kathyp on May 25, 2011, 08:36:19 PM
also check before you go. they may be gone by morning.
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: vmmartin on May 25, 2011, 09:02:15 PM
I got a call last week that a swarm settled on a limb at 3:30pm.  It was a little drive and my girls had two softball games so I asked him to call me if they were there in the morning.  6:00 am came and they were long gone.
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: TwoHoneys on May 25, 2011, 09:03:20 PM
They just got hailed on. I'll bet they're grumpy.
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: Kathyp on May 25, 2011, 09:07:00 PM
cover yourself well.  swarms in storms can be nasty.
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: TwoHoneys on May 26, 2011, 03:51:06 PM
Thanks for the encouragement, friends. I collected a nice swarm of bees this morning...after they endured pummeling by hail and a beating by storms all night long. Rather than being angry, they were extremely docile. Wet clusters of them were in the grass when I arrived at 6:30AM, but most were still waiting quietly on a low branch for me. I put them in a bee-worn, dry box with some old comb...they began perking up on the ride home, and they were soon flying around in their new yard. I'm calling them the "Hailey" hive.

-Liz
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: G3farms on May 26, 2011, 08:00:32 PM
Sounds good, bet they were glad to find a dry place and a roof over their heads.
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: hardwood on May 26, 2011, 09:48:41 PM
You done good Liz X:X X:X
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: AllenF on May 26, 2011, 09:57:01 PM
Way to go
Title: Re: Okay to capture a swarm early in the morning?
Post by: SmokeEater2 on May 27, 2011, 12:06:19 AM
Very nice!  :)