Yesterday I got a call to capture a swarm. I got there and it was a pretty easy catch. Got them home, weighd them ( 5lb 4oz) and set them up in a medium hive. I gave them 2 frames of honey and one of brood and the rest drawn comb. I went inside showered and got ready for work. when I came out they were swarming again..... they landed on a bush in the backyard and I swear that there were more than before. I had to go so I just prayed that they would be there when I got home.
About 4 hours later I got home and they were still there all nicely clustered together. Still swear thet it looked bigger than before. could they have picked up a few from my other hives?... anyway I went to look over the hive that I had put them in to see if there was anything wrong with it. then I picked it up to take it over to where the were and when I turned around they were gone, and I mean gone no trace, no stragglers. I never heard them or saw them go they just vanished, left me holding an empty hive. Bummer Bummer Bummer and such a nice looking swarm.
Cage that queen or stick an excluder under your box to hold that queen in for a few days in the hive until they know it is their home. Do you think a med box could have been too small for them?
i also find feeding to be helpful. don't know if it's coincidence or not, but i have never lost a swam (knock on wood) and i always feed them...i'm not so good at remembering to use the includer :-)
When feeding a swarm, are you not afraid of starting a robbing frenzy?
no. small entrance and jar feeder over inner cover. at this time of the year, there is usually enough other stuff out there for the established bees. i only do it for a day or so, usually one jars worth.
I usually put a feeder on as well. I just didn't have time this time. I did give them some comb with honey.
I also thought that maybe the medium was too small, this has never been a problem in the past but this was a very large swarm at least by my standards. When I went to do the second hiving I was going to use two because that was the only thing that I could see that was maybe wrong. But, then they left before I could hive them.
I have often in the past thought of using an excluder to make sure that they stay, but again I have never had a swarm leave like that before. I will probably begin using one in the future. That or catch the queen and put her in a cage. I guess that I need to get some cages.
Alfred
Excluder is easier than finding that queen.
the first thing i do is get the queen and cage her. the medium box was way to small for them.you should have had a deep and a medium for them.they won't stay in a place that is too small.i always put a feeder on the hive and close the entrance off to less than 1".just remember that if she can't leave the swarm can't either. ...schawee
Schawee,
Not all of us have your "eagle eyes" when it comes to finding the queen. The excluder/includer is the way to go for those of us who failed Queen Spotting 101.
Linda D
I can't seem to find queens in swarms consistently and or quickly so I put a frame of open brood in there instead. Knock on wood I've never lost a swarm when I've put in open brood and it gives them a great population boost right when they are starting to dwindle. With that said, I did just lose a swarm a week or so ago. I put them in a 5 frame nuc in the evening and installed a feeder on top but I was in a hurry and didn't put a frame of brood in there. The stayed there over night, were there in the morning, and left sometime before I checked on them the next evening. I got lazy and I'm still kicking myself over it. With enough kicking, hopefully I won't repeat this. :-P