Guess it was a good sign.

Nock · April 20, 2020, 10:36:56 PM

[attachment=0][/attachment][attachment=1][/attachment]
Looks like I may have my first swarm. Stopped by this afternoon and looks like they were just starting to move in. Bees consistently going in. A lot of bees in air. Several on entrance fanning. And small cluster on the bottom. I?ll give them a few days to settle in. When I bring them home should I give them a frame of brood to help get them to stay?

Ben Framed · April 20, 2020, 10:52:32 PM

How do you have it arranged on the inside Nock?

cao · April 20, 2020, 11:15:14 PM

IMO if they chose the box, they don't need a frame of brood to get them to stay. Assuming you have some frames in the box, they should have comb drawn and eggs being laid in a couple days. So they will have their own brood by the time you take them home.

Nock · April 20, 2020, 11:32:32 PM

It has 5 frames in it. 4 are starter strips. One has about half a frame worth of old comb.
Cao you are right. I forgot about how quick they will draw out some comb. So yeah she will probably already be laying.

Ben Framed · April 20, 2020, 11:55:02 PM

Quote from: Nock on April 20, 2020, 11:32:32 PM
It has 5 frames in it. 4 are starter strips. One has about half a frame worth of old comb.
Cao you are right. I forgot about how quick they will draw out some comb. So yeah she will probably already be laying.

The reason I ask is I was trying to help you avoid a problem. The box does not look level to me. When the bees start building comb from starter strip in an unlevel box they tend to follow gravity. You can guess the rest. Maybe the picture is an illusion. Anyway congratulations.

Bob Wilson · April 21, 2020, 10:03:32 AM

Congrats, Nock. I always waver on when to move a swarm also. I know some people immediately move them into a hive body, usually over the distance of several miles. My catches have always been close by, so my box is set up with frames and I leave them alone for week, to develop brood, and that inclines them to stay.

Nock · April 21, 2020, 10:28:16 AM

Quote from: Ben Framed on April 20, 2020, 11:55:02 PM
Quote from: Nock on April 20, 2020, 11:32:32 PM
It has 5 frames in it. 4 are starter strips. One has about half a frame worth of old comb.
Cao you are right. I forgot about how quick they will draw out some comb. So yeah she will probably already be laying.

The reason I ask is I was trying to help you avoid a problem. The box does not look level to me. When the bees start building comb from starter strip in an unlevel box they tend to follow gravity. You can guess the rest. Maybe the picture is an illusion. Anyway congratulations.

Yeah it?s not level. Best I could do when I hung it. I told you wrong. It?s got one frame of wax rite in it as well. Im going to take a wedge by there today and try to straighten it up some.

Ben Framed · April 21, 2020, 11:09:29 AM

Good with one frame of wax foundation you should be ok for a day or so. But remember swarms are very industrious. Goodluck Nock. And good catch!!
Keep up the good work!!

Phillip Hall

Nock · April 24, 2020, 09:46:15 AM

[attachment=0][/attachment]
They have been in there three days and with rain chances all weekend. I decided to move them home this morning before work. Got over there at daylight. It was 51 here. No activity outside so I put some wire screen over entrance. They were woke up after a short ride home. Nice mess of bees probably 4-5 lbs. they had started drawing on 4 frames. I didn?t look for Queen but I did blow on them so I could look into some comb and I did see eggs so all good. Gave them a frame of honey and a full drawn out frame. For some extra quick laying space. I?ll get some feed on them this afternoon.

Ben Framed · April 24, 2020, 10:47:40 AM

Quote from: Nock on April 24, 2020, 09:46:15 AM
[attachment=0][/attachment]
They have been in there three days and with rain chances all weekend. I decided to move them home this morning before work. Got over there at daylight. It was 51 here. No activity outside so I put some wire screen over entrance. They were woke up after a short ride home. Nice mess of bees probably 4-5 lbs. they had started drawing on 4 frames. I didn?t look for Queen but I did blow on them so I could look into some comb and I did see eggs so all good. Gave them a frame of honey and a full drawn out frame. For some extra quick laying space. I?ll get some feed on them this afternoon.

Good deal Knoc, It doesn't take them long to set up housekeeping does it? Amazing creatures. Do you have other traps out?
Phillip

Nock · April 24, 2020, 11:33:10 AM

I got 12 more out. I will get that one put back in same location tomorrow. I hope to catch one or two more.