Using swarms for pop build up

Started by L Daxon, June 02, 2011, 11:14:10 AM

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L Daxon

June 02, 2011, 11:14:10 AM
Honey flow is just about to start.  I've always thought one of the best ways to build up the hive populations in anticipation of the flow would be to add caught swarms to the hive/s, probably with a newspaper combine.  That way you'd be adding thousands more bees at just the time they are needed to collect surplus nectar.

What would be wrong with this strategy? Would the combine disrupt the hive in some way that would be detrimental to honey production? I take swarm calls but I really don't want any more hives right now. This would enable me to still make use of the swarms I collect and strengthen the hives I already have.  I'd just let the queens (if I get one with the swarm) eventually fight it out.

Pros and cons????

Linda D
linda d

hardwood

#1
June 02, 2011, 11:33:51 AM
Nothing wrong with your plan except don't let the queens fight...you may end up with both dead.

Scott
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

iddee

#2
June 02, 2011, 12:04:16 PM
Agree with hardwood. YOU choose the queen. If your hive is weak, the swarm queen may be a good choice.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*
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