I caught a swarm! Will it stay??

FlexMedia.tv · June 22, 2019, 03:59:28 PM

Quote from: MikeyN.C. on June 22, 2019, 03:02:23 PM
I'd be careful of treatment to soon. With swarm that small small , let'em get more established and make sure it's a secured hive. Meaning bee's are OK with new home.

Ok, good point!

FlexMedia.tv · June 22, 2019, 04:09:06 PM

Quote from: ed/La. on June 22, 2019, 03:44:05 PM
A small entrance (1/4 or little bigger hole) on the bottom often works for a situation like yours. I have drilled the hole while they were hanging there. Odds are they will stay. I like to requeen after they are settled in (no rush) . I give them a queen. Takes to long for them to make one. Agree a frame of brood helps lock them in and gives them a jump start.

Ed,
I have the entrance reducer on small. I was thinking of opening it up because at night when they are coming back, they pile up at the entrance, both the swarm and my new package install. I'll keep the entrance small. I have a top feeder I can use. Re-queen is another thing I have never done. You don't think the queen from the swarm will lay well?

Thanks,
Art

Donovan J · June 22, 2019, 05:54:53 PM

Quote from: FlexMedia.tv on June 22, 2019, 04:09:06 PM
Quote from: ed/La. on June 22, 2019, 03:44:05 PM
A small entrance (1/4 or little bigger hole) on the bottom often works for a situation like yours. I have drilled the hole while they were hanging there. Odds are they will stay. I like to requeen after they are settled in (no rush) . I give them a queen. Takes to long for them to make one. Agree a frame of brood helps lock them in and gives them a jump start.

Ed,
I have the entrance reducer on small. I was thinking of opening it up because at night when they are coming back, they pile up at the entrance, both the swarm and my new package install. I'll keep the entrance small. I have a top feeder I can use. Re-queen is another thing I have never done. You don't think the queen from the swarm will lay well?

Thanks,
Art

Just see how she does. If shes not laying too well she may be old and you may have to kill her and introduce a new queen

van from Arkansas · June 22, 2019, 06:58:53 PM

Art, CONGRATULATIONS, I can tell you are excited. A beautiful tight swarm cluster. Large enough to create into a nice hive in time.

Four different beeks advised you to add capped brood if you have it, IT LOCKS THE SWARM IN. This is absolutely the best advice a fella can give: a lil trick I use frequently on nucs, queen castles, basically any time I want to prevent bees from absconding. Those nurse bees will stay with the capped brood and will die if needed to to protect the brood.

Now some tough thoughts?? Is this a swarm from overcrowding or an abscond from a problem hive. If you are in a flow, chances are it?s a reproduction swarm from overcrowding and You end up with a beautiful hive.

If an abscond, that is the hive does not prosper, queen does not lay, then requeen as previously suggested and you end up with a beautiful hive.

You have a beautiful swarm and a mowed lawn that is eye candy to observe. Thanks for the pics, so green and plush. Enjoy your freebees!!!

cao · June 22, 2019, 10:49:06 PM

Quote from: FlexMedia.tv on June 22, 2019, 12:15:29 PM
CAO,
How have you been?
I was hoping those were stragglers. This morning, there were only 4. The new hive is only about 30 feet away. I'm excited to see them going in and out of the hive. Remember last year I tried and slipped and dropped the branch with the swarm? This is the closets I've ever come. I might have some open brood in the new package install next to it. I'm a little nervous about that...I'll wait a week and open it up. I do have a feeder to use. I have a buddy here in Michigan who is doing well. I'll ask him about the flow. Somebody told me to treat swarms for varomites. Do you agree?

Art

I've been fine. Busy with bees. Up to close to 90 hives. Hope you and your bees are doing well and they can make it through the winter this year.

Most everyone who has responded has given you good advise. But reading through it, it seemed to me like it could be too much advise. I will try to simplify it some. When you catch a swarm, you put it in a box and come back a week or so later and see if they are still there.

There are things that can help. If you have a frame of open brood, at the time of putting the swarm in the box, then that will help them call it home. The next best thing is a couple of drawn frames. Once in the box leave them alone for at least a week. They need time to get there house in order and for the queen to start laying. IMO no good can come from opening them up early. Once they are settled in, you have options. You can treat them. I will defer to anyone else who wants to advise on this subject since I don't treat any of my bees. You can requeen them. Here again I will defer to someone else, since I haven't seen it necessary to requeen any of my hives or swarms. You can feed them. I normally don't feed swarms but this is getting late for swarms and it may need some help especially if you have a summer dearth coming up soon. This is definitely location dependent. You need local advise for this.

Whatever you do you have time to decide. The only thing about swarm catching that needs to be done quickly is the catch and you have already done that.

Wish you the best.

jimineycricket · June 23, 2019, 12:00:03 AM

Art, the white "sticky" board with the grid on it will be fine. I think most of us use a plywood slide the same size as the sticky board because they hold up better.
jimmy

Nock · June 23, 2019, 12:00:45 AM

Congrats on the catch. I?m jealous. I?m still waiting for my first.

FlexMedia.tv · June 23, 2019, 09:48:15 PM

Quote from: van from Arkansas on June 22, 2019, 06:58:53 PM
Art, CONGRATULATIONS, I can tell you are excited. A beautiful tight swarm cluster. Large enough to create into a nice hive in time.

Four different beeks advised you to add capped brood if you have it, IT LOCKS THE SWARM IN. This is absolutely the best advice a fella can give: a lil trick I use frequently on nucs, queen castles, basically any time I want to prevent bees from absconding. Those nurse bees will stay with the capped brood and will die if needed to to protect the brood.

Now some tough thoughts?? Is this a swarm from overcrowding or an abscond from a problem hive. If you are in a flow, chances are it?s a reproduction swarm from overcrowding and You end up with a beautiful hive.

If an abscond, that is the hive does not prosper, queen does not lay, then requeen as previously suggested and you end up with a beautiful hive.

You have a beautiful swarm and a mowed lawn that is eye candy to observe. Thanks for the pics, so green and plush. Enjoy your freebees!!!

Van,
Yes! I'm excited as heck! I almost used foul language. LOL! I didn't want to mess this up and end up causing more harm than good. Last year, in the same location which is about 30 feet from my hive, (actually every year) I saw a swarm in the same tree. I'm horribly afraid of heights. I ended up sawing a branch, losing my balance and dropping a swarm. I tried to scoop as many as I could and place them in a hive. They left. This time I set out a trap and got lucky. I only have one hive and I was hoping it wasn't my own!

I hope it is a reproductive swarm. With my limited knowledge I'll wait and see but I inspected my solo hive I placed the 2nd brood box on 12 days ago. I looked at it last night and it's doing pretty good. I didn't see any eggs but I did see a ton of bees with pollen and most of the frames had a little bit of honey/nectar and pollen cells. There are alot of flowers in my area with alot of rain lately.

I had a few frames from last year I froze that had partial honey. I put those in the new hive along with all the drawn frames I had in hopes to give them a new start. If I knew about the capped brood advise, I would have looked deeper into my new package bee hive. I'm a little shy about messing with that one since I only have one. I am really excited about this one but this time, I'm taking my time!

Art

FlexMedia.tv · June 23, 2019, 10:01:57 PM

Quote from: cao on June 22, 2019, 10:49:06 PM
Quote from: FlexMedia.tv on June 22, 2019, 12:15:29 PM

I've been fine. Busy with bees. Up to close to 90 hives. Hope you and your bees are doing well and they can make it through the winter this year.

Most everyone who has responded has given you good advise. But reading through it, it seemed to me like it could be too much advise. I will try to simplify it some. When you catch a swarm, you put it in a box and come back a week or so later and see if they are still there.

Whatever you do you have time to decide. The only thing about swarm catching that needs to be done quickly is the catch and you have already done that.

Wish you the best.

I could never see myself tending to all your hives!
Patience is the best advise. They are still there so I'm thinking they will stay! I'll give her a chance to do her thing since I have to learn about re-queening anyway. I'm waiting to hear from some Michigan friends but I think we are doing pretty good on the flow so far. My solo hive I have is doing well and I'm not feeding that one. Lots of bees with fat pollen legs for sure. I have a good article from Meghan Milbrath about swarms in Northern States that should help this year. The goal is to get through this Michigan winter! I'll wait a few more days and check the new swarm and send you some pictures.

Thanks!
Art

FlexMedia.tv · June 23, 2019, 10:09:21 PM

Quote from: Nock on June 23, 2019, 12:00:45 AM
Congrats on the catch. I?m jealous. I?m still waiting for my first.

Thanks! I'm lucky because this same tree has some type of swarm every year. One year, my own bees swarmed there and flew away before I could get to it. I don't know what's so special about that tree! I caught one last year there, same spot but lost it.
Keep trying!

Art

Bob Wilson · June 23, 2019, 11:15:04 PM

Flexmedia,
I heard that a beekeeper can often catch swarms in the same spot, year after year. I am planning to put a swarm box in the same place I caught one this year. And if I catch one again, to hive it in another place, and reset the swarm box again after a week.

Ben Framed · June 24, 2019, 01:18:07 AM

Quote from: Nock on June 23, 2019, 12:00:45 AM
Congrats on the catch. I?m jealous. I?m still waiting for my first.

I know how you feel Nock. I caught my first one in late April. I was very excited. I put them in a five frame nuc in the very exact way which I advised here to Felx, adding one frame of capped brood which was mixed with and had a border of honey, along with some uncapped brood and eggs, in this very same frame. The other four frames were foundation-less with fishing line with the X stranding method. Soon and very soon, they needed a second nuc on top. Soon after that they needed to be transferred into a 10 frame. Just today I added another 10 frame on top, placing three of the brood frames, which were loaded with capped and uncapped brood in the new top chamber box. I am amazed at how fast this hive has grown and is growing! This will be my breeder queen this fall when I raise late season nucs. Natures Best!! And best to all.
Phillip
PS She is a beautiful, big, fat tailed caramel colored queen. And yes , I added a green dot!!

Ben Framed · June 24, 2019, 01:21:39 AM

Quote from: van from Arkansas on June 22, 2019, 06:58:53 PM
Art, CONGRATULATIONS, I can tell you are excited. A beautiful tight swarm cluster. Large enough to create into a nice hive in time.

Four different beeks advised you to add capped brood if you have it, IT LOCKS THE SWARM IN. This is absolutely the best advice a fella can give: a lil trick I use frequently on nucs, queen castles, basically any time I want to prevent bees from absconding. Those nurse bees will stay with the capped brood and will die if needed to to protect the brood.

Now some tough thoughts?? Is this a swarm from overcrowding or an abscond from a problem hive. If you are in a flow, chances are it?s a reproduction swarm from overcrowding and You end up with a beautiful hive.

If an abscond, that is the hive does not prosper, queen does not lay, then requeen as previously suggested and you end up with a beautiful hive.

You have a beautiful swarm and a mowed lawn that is eye candy to observe. Thanks for the pics, so green and plush. Enjoy your freebees!!!

Very good advise Mr Van
Phillip

Donovan J · June 24, 2019, 01:56:21 AM

Quote from: FlexMedia.tv on June 23, 2019, 10:09:21 PM
Quote from: Nock on June 23, 2019, 12:00:45 AM
Congrats on the catch. I?m jealous. I?m still waiting for my first.

Thanks! I'm lucky because this same tree has some type of swarm every year. One year, my own bees swarmed there and flew away before I could get to it. I don't know what's so special about that tree! I caught one last year there, same spot but lost it.
Keep trying!

Art

Usually they swarm there because the pheromones stick around and other bees smell it and go to that spot.

CoolBees · June 24, 2019, 11:49:27 AM

When I caught my 1st swarm - 4 yrs ago - I gently cut the branch they were on, carried it over to the hive, and shook it in. Then I called my beek friend and told him. He got really upset. He said "never EVER cut the branch. If 1 swarm come to a branch, chances are they like that spot, and more swarms will come every year to that branch". That was his opinion.

This yr when I got a swarm at his house - he said that it was the 9th swarm he had caught on that exact spot on that exact branch. He showed me - the branch is high up on his neighbors property - and he has all tools that he designed and made up to reach up and over to get them. Says he uses the tool 1 or 2 times a yr.

Me? I don't know ... just passing along his opinion and observations. But he really believes it.

Ben Framed · June 24, 2019, 12:08:54 PM

Quote from: CoolBees on June 24, 2019, 11:49:27 AM
When I caught my 1st swarm - 4 yrs ago - I gently cut the branch they were on, carried it over to the hive, and shook it in. Then I called my beek friend and told him. He got really upset. He said "never EVER cut the branch. If 1 swarm come to a branch, chances are they like that spot, and more swarms will come every year to that branch". That was his opinion.

This yr when I got a swarm at his house - he said that it was the 9th swarm he had caught on that exact spot on that exact branch. He showed me - the branch is high up on his neighbors property - and he has all tools that he designed and made up to reach up and over to get them. Says he uses the tool 1 or 2 times a yr.

Me? I don't know ... just passing along his opinion and observations. But he really believes it.

Wow! Thanks Cool, I hate to tell you this but I cut the branch also!!

FlexMedia.tv · June 24, 2019, 03:07:19 PM

Quote from: CoolBees on June 24, 2019, 11:49:27 AM
When I caught my 1st swarm - 4 yrs ago - I gently cut the branch they were on, carried it over to the hive, and shook it in. Then I called my beek friend and told him. He got really upset. He said "never EVER cut the branch. If 1 swarm come to a branch, chances are they like that spot, and more swarms will come every year to that branch". That was his opinion.

I won't do that again. Live and learn! Come to think of it, last year same spot, I had my trap out and a swarm went in but I lost it before I could get to it. Probably just as well cuz it would have swarmed again from my hive I bet...
I'm really happy with this one. I thought about putting my trap back up because there have been years I've seen two swarms there or the same one that just reformed. Wonder why that same tree? It's not tall or standoutish

CoolBees · June 24, 2019, 06:01:05 PM

Flexmedia, I don't know. My buddy says, that since the bees can see the earth's magnetic, and electrical fields, they choose a spot that is magnetically and/or electrically "pleasing" (lack of a better word) to them. He says that's why swarms from different hives often seek out the same transition locations when swarming ... I don't think he has any science to back him up, but that doesn't mean he's wrong. I dunno.

I can say this: he lives "in the city" (Silicon Valley), with about a 150 sq ft backyard - and he caught 9 swarms in his yard this year. Says that's why he got into beekeeping - because the bees kept coming to him.

In May he called me over to get another swarm. While we are waiting for all of the scouts to return to their new box, we were relaxing in his yard. He says "go look under that hive ' there's abother swarm that moved into the cinder blocks under the hive, and their building comb". Sure enough. I asked what he was going to do with them. He say "leave them there. I'm out of equipment, out of room for more hives, and I'm curious to see what they do".

... I dunno ...

FlexMedia.tv · June 24, 2019, 06:32:04 PM

Quote from: CoolBees on June 24, 2019, 06:01:05 PM
Flexmedia, I don't know. My buddy says, that since the bees can see the earth's magnetic, and electrical fields, they choose a spot that is magnetically and/or electrically "pleasing" (lack of a better word) to them. He says that's why swarms from different hives often seek out the same transition locations when swarming ... I don't think he has any science to back him up, but that doesn't mean he's wrong. I dunno.

CoolBees,
Crazy!
I live on this lake now where my bees are but for the last 14 years we treated this house like a cottage where we would come here once a year for our family reunions. The last 4 years we've had the reunion on the same days in July. Each of those years we would watch a swarm build high in this birch tree that's 10 feet from my hives (now) and about 30 feet from where I caught my last swarm. I remember the kids running every year, yelling and screaming because they are some pretty spectacular swarming. In this tree, they end up high as they can go on a branch to the left. Last year, I watched two hives swarmed there. One landed on that branch and left the area in an hour. The other a few days later, landed on the same branch, came back underneath the hive next to it and took it over. Unbelievable but I have pictures and decent witnesses! LOL! I think I figured out how to keep my bees from swarming now but I bet you, in another 12 days or so I'll tell you about another swarm in that birch tree!

Art

FlexMedia.tv · July 09, 2019, 12:57:28 AM

I checked my swarm hive today. (caught June 21, 2019, peaked at June 28, 2019) I think they are doing ok. It's a medium 8 frame only one brood box. I added another brood box because there were some full frames and some partials. I couldn't find the queen but she is laying. I've heard in Michigan here we should have a good 3 weeks coming up! I'm going to try to post two pictures but do you think I should feed them?