Caught a swarm today

[Johnny253]

I had a swarm of bees come through today. They were buzzing around for ages and moving from place to place until they finally decided to stop in a roof truss of a shed. I put an empty super with some part filled frames from another hive underneath, hoping they would move in but I ended up having to climb up a ladder to get them. Obviously I couldn't shake them so I had to brush them onto frames and bring them down into the box. The brushing seemed to agitate the bees a bit, is there any way I could have got around this? I eventually got most of them and hopefully got the queen!

[iddee]

A wide plastic scraper, a sheet of cardboard, even a hive tool. Sliding an edge under them and making them fall is many times better than brushing.

[yockey5]

When all else fails, I just start bringing them into a box with my bare hands. Never been stung this way..... yet.

[Johnny253]

Thanks guys, I'll avoid the brush in future. You're a tough man Yockey, like your work!

[Pete]

I take an ordinary dustpan and brush. Some of the brushes are softer that bee brushes. But i try not to brush and just use the pan to scoop.

[Harpo]

As a newbie I had help with my first and they grabbed a frame and sort of zig zag'd up from the bottom of the swarm so they landed on the frame - that frame was put in and she grabbed another... she then let the bees figure out the queen was in the box... sure enought they started marching in in rows...  :shock: was amazing to watch...