Just acquired a swarm

Steve M. · September 01, 2008, 10:46:50 PM

After a long day of cutting firewood, and building a new chicken coop, we were just about to sit down for a late supper, when a friend called to tell me his bees swarmed again, and he didn't have any more room, or a box to put the swarm into. He wanted to know if I wanted some more bees. Needless to say, I headed right over. All I had was an empty nuc box. I just dumped the swarm into the box and put the top on. I figure I will go in the morning and put in some frames. Then, tomorrow evening I will move the hive back to my place.

Is there anything in particular I should be doing with a swarm this late in the year? I am planning on feeding right away. I am also thinking of foundationless frames. I would appreciate any input given. Thanks.
--Steve

CVBees · September 02, 2008, 02:05:11 PM

Sorry to give you any false hope at advice I just had to say hi to a fellow Mainiac. My wife's family and my own come from Doverfoxcroft. I can't wait to move back to New England. *wave* Have a nice fall!
jason in PA

Steve M. · September 02, 2008, 03:37:52 PM

Howdy!

Dover's not too far from here. Don't really get up there too often, but our bee association meetings are in Dexter.

It is only just September, but there are already signs of some early Fall color. I hope this doesn't mean an early hard Winter.

In reference to my original post: I checked on the swarm this morning, and they have cleared out of Dodge, so I guess I don't need any advice on how to get them through the winter! Maybe some advice on keeping them from absconding would have been more appropriate.

--Steve

Brian D. Bray · September 04, 2008, 12:31:58 AM

Quote from: Steve M. on September 02, 2008, 03:37:52 PM
Howdy!

Dover's not too far from here. Don't really get up there too often, but our bee association meetings are in Dexter.

It is only just September, but there are already signs of some early Fall color. I hope this doesn't mean an early hard Winter.

In reference to my original post: I checked on the swarm this morning, and they have cleared out of Dodge, so I guess I don't need any advice on how to get them through the winter! Maybe some advice on keeping them from absconding would have been more appropriate.

--Steve

2 ways to keep a swarm from absconding: 1. Use an excluder between bottom board and hive body as an includer, Drop swarm into the box and put the lid on, the queen can't get out. 2. Put a frame of brood (eggs and larvae) in the box. The 1st works best, but the 2nd works 2nd best.

SgtMaj · September 04, 2008, 10:15:03 AM

Quote from: Steve M. on September 02, 2008, 03:37:52 PM
Howdy!

Dover's not too far from here. Don't really get up there too often, but our bee association meetings are in Dexter.

It is only just September, but there are already signs of some early Fall color. I hope this doesn't mean an early hard Winter.

In reference to my original post: I checked on the swarm this morning, and they have cleared out of Dodge, so I guess I don't need any advice on how to get them through the winter! Maybe some advice on keeping them from absconding would have been more appropriate.

--Steve

Steve,

Up there in Maine, it would have been hard to keep them alive all winter anyway, so you're probably not missing out on too much. I've heard others say that this late in the season, it's best to just combine them with other hives to strengthen those hives.

KONASDAD · September 04, 2008, 11:07:13 AM

They will likely have left w/o frames or an excluder. I would put on top of excluder, wait 48hrs and determine if a queen exists. If she does, you have some choices. Attempt to get them winter ready. Kill and combine w another hive, or take frames of evrything from a strong hive and strengthen them. Personally, I would not weaken a strong hive to save a late season swarm. i would kill queen, and combine, unless they are lots of bees. Then I would attempt to get them winter ready.

Steve M. · September 04, 2008, 11:56:02 AM

Thank you all for the good advice. I will store it away for the next swarm that presents itself. I should have gone with my gut in the first place, and dumped the swarm into the box with frames installed, but my friend was pretty sold on the advice an old timer had given him not to put frames in until the next day. As for the queen excluder used as an includer, I didn't have the the where-with-all to cut down an excluder to fit the entrance of my nuc box, so I went without it. There were certainly a lot of things I should have done differently, but that is just the way it goes.

Thanks again,
--Steve