Know the experts are all at Bud4, so I thought I'd show you how a Kansas amateur handles swarms.
http://youtu.be/0_9N84R4A8s (http://youtu.be/0_9N84R4A8s)
Don
enjoyed the video and I got a chuckle out of your retreat! :lau:
(http://maps.google.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=51.152112,-102.650548&zoom=15&size=480x320&maptype=roadmap&markers=51.152112,-102.650548&sensor=true)Unnamed Rd, Willowbrook, SK S0A 4P0, Canada
You're a lot braver than I am lol
Don
Were those frames with starter strips?? Did you place a frame with full drawn out comb in the center of the supers?
Nice video, thanks for sharing.
Annette
Quote from: annette on April 25, 2012, 04:14:31 PM
Don
Were those frames with starter strips?? Did you place a frame with full drawn out comb in the center of the supers?
Nice video, thanks for sharing.
Annette
Yes, I have almost no absconding issues catching swarms using foundationless frames. The drawn frame in the middle is just to provide a guide to help the bees draw their combs straight, the bees actually will adopt the box sooner without the drawn comb.
If your not able to catch up the queen (like I am), the secret to keeping swarms happy is NO PLASTIC in the hive, and then to move them at night fall and then not to bother them for a couple of 3 weeks.
My wife got me a yellow good luck parasol.
Thanks,
Don
Great video Don,
That 2nd swarm turned out to be a lot bigger than it first looked like. Three swarm captures in six min. Great job.
James
Yes Don, I also do just starter strips with a drawn out comb in the middle. I was just curious because I could not see the starter strips in the video.
That's very sweet about your wife getting you the parasol. She must have a great sense of humor as well :-D
Quote from: annette on April 26, 2012, 12:55:32 AM
Yes Don, I also do just starter strips with a drawn out comb in the middle. I was just curious because I could not see the starter strips in the video.
That's very sweet about your wife getting you the parasol. She must have a great sense of humor as well :-D
Ornery, is what she is:
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj72/DSemple/Bees%202011/Pam%20D/4eb1e1c8.jpg)
How many of the tree swarms are still boxed today?
Quote from: AllenF on April 26, 2012, 09:59:46 AM
How many of the tree swarms are still boxed today?
Very good question Allen, 2 of the 3. The one I lost was the last little one hived in the video.
When I went back to pick them up later that evening I found one hive helter skelter with the lid removed and the bees gone, I think kids or a dog must have upset the hive. I suspect the bees joined one of the other swarm boxes but I don't know for sure it was dark.
Stupid mistake on my part I generally ratchet strap all my hives before I transport them and I should have done it before I left, still very much a rookie.
Other than that (knock on wood) I've only had 1 of 14 abscond so far this year and I think that was because I inadvertantly dumped 2 primary swarms that had combined into the same box.
Just for the record I think it's alway better to catch up the queen, I'm just lowsy at finding queens.
Don
Enjoyed the video.
Wow, three swarms - looks like you found the magical bee tree!
I bet if you added a swarm lure to the tree and next time they might just move themselves in. :)
Wow that was great!