One of my hives started to swarm, but the bees came out flew around then went back into the hive. If I try to make a split before they try to swarm again, what are the chances of success? I'm still at work, but if they don't leave before I get home I'm going to try. Any suggestions on how to separate the frames will be appreciated. Usually the bees are gone before I get a chance to make a split.
you can split the colony but you need to take the old queen with the split. It might already be to late better hurry!!!!
I am new beek, and This is my story.
I had the same situation a week ago. A lot of bees was outside of the hive and I was not sure if they swarmed or came back. I did the split. However, I could not find the queen. I just divided the queen cells, brood and storage. In 4 days original hive had a swarm anyway.
I am not sure what was happend - Either they had swarm first time and in 4 days they had a second swarm. Or, It was the first swarm because the queen was still in the original hive and I could not find her. She was marked and big, no way I could miss her.
Irina
Not all the uncommon the to have bees swarm with a virgian queen caught one just last week. Tried to catch her she was running everywhere.
Quote from: vikoch on June 02, 2011, 02:30:52 PM
I am new beek, and This is my story.
I had the same situation a week ago. A lot of bees was outside of the hive and I was not sure if they swarmed or came back. I did the split. However, I could not find the queen. I just divided the queen cells, brood and storage. In 4 days original hive had a swarm anyway.
I am not sure what was happend - Either they had swarm first time and in 4 days they had a second swarm. Or, It was the first swarm because the queen was still in the original hive and I could not find her. She was marked and big, no way I could miss her.
Irina
By just removing the swarm cells to make your splits will not prevent the hive from swarming. Like stated above, the best way to keep from losing your bees to the wild blue wonder, take the original queen from the hive for you split. The remainder of the colony thinks it has swarmed.
Quote from: VolunteerK9 on June 02, 2011, 02:50:24 PM
Quote from: vikoch on June 02, 2011, 02:30:52 PM
I am new beek, and This is my story.
I had the same situation a week ago. A lot of bees was outside of the hive and I was not sure if they swarmed or came back. I did the split. However, I could not find the queen. I just divided the queen cells, brood and storage. In 4 days original hive had a swarm anyway.
I am not sure what was happend - Either they had swarm first time and in 4 days they had a second swarm. Or, It was the first swarm because the queen was still in the original hive and I could not find her. She was marked and big, no way I could miss her.
Irina
By just removing the swarm cells to make your splits will not prevent the hive from swarming. Like stated above, the best way to keep from losing your bees to the wild blue wonder, take the original queen from the hive for you split. The remainder of the colony thinks it has swarmed.
Thank you, I could not find the queen and the hive was very overcrowded with from 8 to 10 queen cells. I decided to do the splits anyway.
Great forum - I learn a lot here.
Quote from: vikoch on June 02, 2011, 03:13:15 PM
Great forum - I learn a lot here.
Yup, me too and I learn something here on a weekly if not daily basis. The things like queen rearing and splits were way over my head my first year. Now Im going back and searching older posts on things that Im wanting to try for this year.