Got another swarm last week. My neighbor said he had a beehive that needed removing from a public tour area where he works; I was happy to oblige. Went after dark and taped up the holes in the barrel and brought it home on the truck. Carefully extracted the bees the next morning, found the queen and marked her. Kids and I had a great time and the bees are happy in their new home. We put the barrel back where it was hoping it will be our seasonal swarm trap :cool:
Awesome!
Yes the whole situation sounds awesome! You are right. This should wind up being a yearly swarm trap! And this season is not over yet. Keep an eye on this barrel. It is a possibility that you may catch another one this year with this arrangement. Keep up the good work!
Quote from: Ben Framed on May 18, 2021, 07:06:44 PM
Yes the whole situation sounds awesome! You are right. This should wind up being a yearly swarm trap! And this season is not over yet. Keep an eye on this barrel. It is a possibility that you may catch another one this year with this arrangement. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Ben! Yeah maybe that will end up being my yearly bonus swarm catcher haha! I am told there is a hive nearby in the woods. So I may still setup a swarm trap near there with some lemongrass oil still this year. Plus I still have a cut out to do in my neighbors chimney. Will definitely have to post pictures of that one :)
Quote from: AustinB on May 18, 2021, 09:38:03 PM
Quote from: Ben Framed on May 18, 2021, 07:06:44 PM
Yes the whole situation sounds awesome! You are right. This should wind up being a yearly swarm trap! And this season is not over yet. Keep an eye on this barrel. It is a possibility that you may catch another one this year with this arrangement. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Ben! Yeah maybe that will end up being my yearly bonus swarm catcher haha! I am told there is a hive nearby in the woods. So I may still setup a swarm trap near there with some lemongrass oil still this year. Plus I still have a cut out to do in my neighbors chimney. Will definitely have to post pictures of that one :)
Wow, you are on the ball! I looked at a potential cutout in a chimney once but it was not doable. I hope yours is. Those boys will pro beekeepers in no time! lol
When you were dealing bees before, had varroa mites entered into the beekeeping scene?
Nice work. Good luck on the chimney. Yes post pics
Quote from: Ben Framed on May 18, 2021, 10:03:54 PM
Quote from: AustinB on May 18, 2021, 09:38:03 PM
Quote from: Ben Framed on May 18, 2021, 07:06:44 PM
Yes the whole situation sounds awesome! You are right. This should wind up being a yearly swarm trap! And this season is not over yet. Keep an eye on this barrel. It is a possibility that you may catch another one this year with this arrangement. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Ben! Yeah maybe that will end up being my yearly bonus swarm catcher haha! I am told there is a hive nearby in the woods. So I may still setup a swarm trap near there with some lemongrass oil still this year. Plus I still have a cut out to do in my neighbors chimney. Will definitely have to post pictures of that one :)
Wow, you are on the ball! I looked at a potential cutout in a chimney once but it was not doable. I hope yours is. Those boys will pro beekeepers in no time! lol
When you were dealing bees before, had varroa mites entered into the beekeeping scene?
So back when we had bees growing up we did have varroa mites. I don't ever remember them being very bad, and we never lost a hive to them. But we did have some and I remember treating them toward the latter part of the season. I have discovered any in my hives yet. I have sacrificed a few capped drone to double check. Though I do have some SHB in my weakest hive :angry:
Quote from: Nock on May 18, 2021, 10:59:23 PM
Nice work. Good luck on the chimney. Yes post pics
I will, its going to be a fun one. It will entail some liner demo and service work, so hopefully once we are in I can access the bees and the comb, but its going to be tight. I am contemplating a trapout prior to demo, not sure yet. The bees have to come out, so I'd rather do all I can before my demo guys poison them.