Early swarm!!

Scadsobees · April 20, 2010, 04:21:44 PM

So what's your earliest swarm relative to when you think that the bees should swarm?

(we're all in different climates, that is why I throw in the "relative")

3 weeks

So I just got my queens, I'm going to do some splits tonight. I think I'm still 3 weeks before I should need to worry about swarming (ok, I know I'm not this year, but I'm not ready for them yet!).

Bam! my strong hive splits itself! ARRGGHH! I'm not ready!!! Hopefully I can get them out of the tree....

Rick

KD4MOJ · April 20, 2010, 04:36:35 PM

In this area, swarms start in early Feb.... a buddy of mine always has several of his swarming the 1st week of Feb... really weird... gotta bee ready! Git' that swarm trap up! :-D

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

skflyfish · April 20, 2010, 05:45:58 PM

Rick,

Thanks for the heads up. I have one hive that is very strong, but wasn't going to worry about it for 3 weeks or so.

Guess I got to get in and take a peak.

Jay

KD4MOJ · April 20, 2010, 06:01:13 PM

Quote from: skflyfish on April 20, 2010, 05:45:58 PM
I have one hive that is very strong, but wasn't going to worry about it for 3 weeks or so.

Guess I got to get in and take a peak.

Yep I would definitely check the frames for swarm cells... that will let you know if they are about to swarm. I had 4 frames with at least 4 cells on each frame! YIKES!

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

Scadsobees · April 20, 2010, 09:48:17 PM

Well, one swarmed, the other 3 hives were definately close. So I made up 4 strong nucs off of them. I'm also going to swap places with a couple of my weak hives soon. If they are this strong now, what happens in May when they normally swarm??

This year is crazy!!

skflyfish · April 21, 2010, 04:55:34 PM

While the strong hive has two deeps to work with, and the top one is full and I noticed some cups on the bottom of a couple of frames but they weren't capped yet. Some drone brood too. I didn't get into the bottom but I could see some bees there too. My other strong hive has a bit of drone brood on a frame opposite a frame they didn't pull out well but no cups or cells.

I am leaving for a long weekend, so they are going to have to wait (hopefully) till I get back.

Thanks again.

skflyfish · April 22, 2010, 05:54:12 PM

Rick,

I had to go to a client in Grandville today and wow are you leafed out and in bloom. No wonder why they think a flow is on and are a swarmin. The subdivisions north of the mall where all in bloom. If Jenison is like Grandville, then your girls are happyyyyy.

We have had hard frosts all week and only a few trees are in bloom. Maybe next week we will like y'all.

Jay

Scadsobees · April 22, 2010, 11:21:04 PM

I don't usually want to get supers on yet, but I put an extra deep on each of my strong hives, and nothing capped yet,but they had nectar in every single frame already.