Early Swarm (my first)

dlmarti · April 16, 2008, 09:40:26 PM

My Dad asked for a hive to help pollinate his apple trees this year. Being the dutiful son I gave in :)

I inspected the hive a few days ago, and it was bursting with bees, and contained lots of swarm cells.

So I gave my parents a quick lesson about what a swarm is, and asked them to call me if they saw one.

Its still in the 30's here I night, so I figured I had plenty of time. My game plan was to do a split this weekend.

Well, I got the call tonight, thirty minutes before sundown they swarmed.

Now you guys know me, I've done tons of book reading on bees, but my experience level is still pretty low. When I saw that swarm I was shocked. Three feet long, foot and a half tall, and a foot thick.

I only brought over one medium super :(

I took out six of the frames, and place a sheet under the bush (they were only about 3 feet off of the ground). I then placed the medium super directly under them. I then knocked the heck out of the branch they were on. They filled the medium super half full, and about half landed out side the hive.

I did one more good shake, and then brushed them off of the frame rests, and installed two more frames (now up to six). I put on the inner cover, and the telescoping cover.

WOW, exciting time.

Hopefully the ones on the outside will find there way in before the temps drop. I honestly never expected to be dealing with a swarm in the dark, hopefully everything turns out OK.

Tomorrow, I will give them another medium, and install the other frames. With any luck, everything will be ok.

Should I feed the original hive?
Should I feed the new hive?

The original hive has no capped honey, but does have a super of uncapped necter.

dlmarti · April 16, 2008, 11:03:18 PM

Most of the pics didn't come out, too dark.
This one did:

Brian D. Bray · April 16, 2008, 11:54:19 PM

QuoteShould I feed the original hive?

Why, If it was strong enough to produce a swarm like that it probably doesn't need it.

QuoteShould I feed the new hive?

Since all it has is undrawn foundation I would for a week or so, a swarm that size could very likely draw out the entire box in that time.

Scott Derrick · April 16, 2008, 11:59:59 PM

Delmarti,

Good Job and Great Swarm! Ain't it fun! And best of all it Free Bees!!!!

JP · April 17, 2008, 12:11:59 AM

Nice size swarm!!!

...JP

Michael Bush · April 17, 2008, 08:32:14 AM

I love swarms when I catch them. I hate them when I don't. The adrenaline rush is one of a kind.

dlmarti · April 17, 2008, 09:29:29 AM

I stopped by early this morning, about 6:30am.
The temp was just below 40.

The box still had a small cluster of bees on the back that never made it around to the front.

I have no idea how I'm going to get those last few frames into the box, its just too full.

Hopefully late this afternoon most of the bees will be out foraging, and that will give me a chance to get the other frames in.

Given the size of the swarm, should I put another box on?

Brian D. Bray · April 17, 2008, 11:11:32 PM

Quote from: dlmarti on April 17, 2008, 09:29:29 AM
I stopped by early this morning, about 6:30am.
The temp was just below 40.

The box still had a small cluster of bees on the back that never made it around to the front.

I have no idea how I'm going to get those last few frames into the box, its just too full.

Hopefully late this afternoon most of the bees will be out foraging, and that will give me a chance to get the other frames in.

Given the size of the swarm, should I put another box on?

Add a super, even if it's only a shallow as large swarms need the room. In my experience a swarm that can't fit entirely into a new home will leave looking for a space where they can all fit. So time is of the essense. Add the super and the frames and feed you should get a 2 super of more harvest off that swarm this year.

dlmarti · April 18, 2008, 09:34:19 AM

I put another medium on.
Once I get them to their new location, this weekend, I'll do another inspection.

How soon should I be checking the old hive for eggs?

They swarmed on the 16th.

dlmarti · April 18, 2008, 02:29:57 PM

darn, I just check the new hive, all gone :'(

I guess I didn't get the other box on soon enough, I just wasn't prepared for a swarm that large.

Bennettoid · April 18, 2008, 05:04:41 PM

Quote from: dlmarti on April 18, 2008, 02:29:57 PM
darn, I just check the new hive, all gone :'(

I guess I didn't get the other box on soon enough, I just wasn't prepared for a swarm that large.

Bummer.