Swarm boxes

Haddon · April 18, 2011, 04:10:54 PM

I was just wondering how many swarm bait boxes people where putting out this year.

This is the first year I am going to put out true bait boxes normally I just throw lemon grass in empty hive bodies.

Also spring came really early here but I have yet to have a single swarm call and the old hive bodies I use around my house normally have scout bees in them all the time but this year its alike a dead zone.
Can Lemon grass get to old to work mine is about 2 years old smell like lemon pledge to me lol.

I have built 5 nuc/bait hives so far and plan on more.

Midwest WI · April 18, 2011, 06:55:51 PM

I built 13 this year. I'm going to report back later in the summer if I catch anything. Mine are all 6-frame deep boxes.

AllenF · April 18, 2011, 07:36:30 PM

Only 5 out right now. 5 sitting in the basement ready for a spot.

CapnChkn · April 19, 2011, 01:45:34 AM

I have two out, and will set out 5 more as things progress. I still need to get some frames of top bars in them.

Haddon · April 20, 2011, 12:15:39 AM

thanks for the insight anyone having any luck with bait hives yet

think i am going to have to branch out my area had the worst drought in my life last year so the wild hives most likely are weak

I open feed one back to life during the winter lucky winter was not harsh

I want more hives and I am broke with a new baby so swarms are my only hope I really need more frames God help me you might see a video frame building from me next on youtube

GWDawg1 · April 23, 2011, 10:59:44 PM

I have 4 out. No luck thus far but swarms are picking up here.

BjornBee · April 24, 2011, 07:51:49 AM

I have somewhere between 100 and 150. :roll:

Of course, I catch more swarms in dead-out hives that are sitting around than in anything else. They make great swarm catch boxes.

I probably catch 5-10 swarms per year in stacked equipment.

sterling · April 24, 2011, 08:57:10 PM

This is my first year to try swarm traps. I built a dozen this winter and have ten out. I used scrape wood so they are different sizes as far as the number of frames they hold. Some are six frames deeps some are ten frame mediums, ect. I didn't want to tie up money on frames so I made top bars with guides and put one frame in the middle and I just hope it works. The topbars wil fit in a standard lang. Didn't have any drawn comb to spare but did have alot of burr comb so I put lemongrass oil on the burr comb and worked in some and put it in the boxes.
I did have a swarm on one yesterday, don't know yet if they went in. Going to check tomorrow. Got my fingers crossed.