Hello,
Newbie here.
I just installed my first bee package 2 days ago. Everything looks good.
Yesterday a friend finds a small swarm in his apple tree(I guess i could have saved a hundred bucks).
I caught the swarm in a medium that I had bought to put on my first hive, with plywood screwed to the top and bottom. My first ever catch. It went well.
I am planning to leave the new swarm in the medium(with the bottom cracked open as an entrance) until I can buy or build a bottom and top and some more supers.
My questions are--
1. I have already put the new hive about 200 feet away from my first hive. How long does it take a hive to imprint on a location?
2. Should I locate the new swarm hive near my first hive, or should I put some distance between the two?
3. Would it be ok to move for it the first few days, before they learn their location?
4. Should I transfer the new hive to a deep, or would it be ok to just start off with the medium body?
Thanks in advance,
Wadesisk
Wow you are a lucky beginner. I only can answer about the hive. I am using all mediums western 8 frames, now have shaved the frames with two strokes of a hand plane and 9 frames fits great.. What you start of with is your choice I think. What works for you?
Quote from: JackM on May 06, 2012, 10:04:23 AM
Wow you are a lucky beginner. I only can answer about the hive. I am using all mediums western 8 frames, now have shaved the frames with two strokes of a hand plane and 9 frames fits great.. What you start of with is your choice I think. What works for you?
You forgetting about bee space???????????? :?
Once the bees glue those 9 frames together in an 8 frame box, you are going to have a real hard time getting those frames out.
It does not matter if you use meds or deeps for bee hives. (I like deeps) But there is no right or wrong. The bees learn an area is no time. Once they do an orientation flight. You can put swarms and hives side by side. It won't hurt a thing. Reduce entrances until they get their numbers up.