Hi Guys: Well this has really been a great season for me! I started with 3 and now haVE 14 HIVES AND AM STRUGGLING TO KEEP Equipment made and in place.
I have caught 4 swarms done 3 cut outs and 1 huge trap out!I have 1 caught in a trap and I am waiting to get the frames fixed to install them in a permanent hive.I am done trapping this year!All seem to be doing well and I need to add second brood box to a couple of the swarms!I have some boxes but out of frames at the moment waiting for foundation from Man Lake which was back ordered!UGH!!
Congratulations.
Just add a piece of wood the thickness of
The slot in the top bar, paint it with melted bees wax and the bees will make their own foundation
Jim
Thanks Jim: I just got a sheet of foundation and cut it into small strips and installed that so maybe they will be busy for a while.Ha Not expecting any honey from them anyway since it is a spring swarm!
Blacksheep,
I only had 4 hives survive the winter. I caught 6 hives this spring, most in my swarm traps. Only the newest 2 hives did not have any honey to remove and right now I am hoping all of them are going to provide another 50 pounds each. I just added a couple thousand bees to the 2 newest swarms, from bees left by commercial beeks, hoping to help they bring in a full load of honey.
Jim
Congrads there Blacksheep. Keep at it and you'll have more than you want to fool with :wink:
Hey I already have more bees than I need that is for sure!Fun to catch them in a trap kinda like fishing!Ha Well not really cause you can eat the fish!
Blacksheep,
If you have more hives than you really want, you can sell them as nucs which go from $130 to $200. Just make sure you have a good laying queen with 3 frames of brood and a frame or 2 of honey/pollen. There are a lot of new bees out there that would love to be able to buy them.
Jim