I have NO luck with swarms I have had 5 of 6 abscond this spring, I lost 2 of 5 last year. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Explain what method(s) you are using and others here may be able to help.
paus
Don't put the bees in a hot box. I have only hived one swarm but have moved three out of traps. I had luck with dropping two drops of lemon grass oil in the hive body before putting bees in it. I got this Ideal from michael bush's website. It has worked for me so far.
Good luck
gww
I've caught 15 so far and 13 have stayed put. I've had the benefit of left over drawn comb. I put a couple frames in the box when catching the swarm. It helps. I shook on swarm into a box. About half fell beside the box on the ground about 2 ft. below the box. I took a drawn frame and sat it next to the pile of bees on the ground. It didn't take but about a minute for those bees to cover that frame. Then I just picked it up and added it to the box. If you can pull a frame of brood from one of your hives, that will almost always anchor them to the new box. One of the 2 that left was only foundation and a new box. Didn't smell like a hive. I don't know why the other one left. I guess the other one just didn't want to stay put.
The last to abscond was a DSBB the others were solid bottoms. They left from top entrances, bottom knot holes in a board,open bottom entrances and limited entry bottom entrances. The last one to leave was baited lightly with swarm lure. I am limited on drawn frames but have some old comb in every trap or swarm box. We have one swarm with a piece of plastic Qx over the entrance, two days OK. I will try to get drawn frames and a Qx for all the swarms from now on. Thanks for all the info.
Two of the swarms were put in empty mediums with solid bottom and foundationless frames and two drops of lemon grass oil. Luckily both stayed. These were out of traps on the day they moved in. I have heard that it is easyer to get a trapped swarm to stay then a swarm taken out of a tree before they have decided where to go. I have only caught one that I shook and I put a frame with some open brood with them and gave them to some one. I don't know if they have stayed or not cause I have not talked to the guy about it yet. I bet they did since he moved them about a mile and a half away but don't know for sure yet. I am new enough and catch few enough swarms that it is going to break my heart when my first one leaves.
Good luck
gww
Assuming that the hive isn't too hot and doesn't smell of fresh paint etc., you could try shutting them in for 3 days. By that time they'll have exhausted all, if not most of the honey they're carrying, and so will have no option but to stay put. During that period of confinement, the hive should be placed in the shade with adequate ventilation and with water available. Once they've started drawing comb and brooding-up, they'll be anchored ok. Putting some drawn comb into the box would certainly help, the older and smellier the better.
Confining bees at any time is a contentious practice - I didn't use to do it, and yes - I've lost my fair share of colonies by not doing so. Try doing it once - and see what results ...
LJ
All of the above
1. Old drawn comb, black from brood box
2. New drawn comb with no honey in it
3. add brood from another hive
4. Lock them up until the next day
5. Older box better than brand new box
6. Put in box with Qx and the entrance above the Qx, if in single of nuc,, close entrance and crack the lid open 1/4" above the QX.
7. Make sure there are no ants around to hassle them
Pick one or many or all, then if they don't stay they weren't meant to