south louisiana swarm storm

bailey · March 15, 2008, 11:12:38 PM

hello all, just thought i would report the local swarm activity for the past few days.

on monday a swarm showed up at my home while i was at work, hy wife hived the swarm by herself! ( her first attempt ) by the time i got home they were settled in and doing fine.
tuesday i got 2 swarm calls from the local sherriffs office and caught and hived them both that day.wednesday no calls no swarms.
thursday another swarm showed up at my father in laws house across the street and they were hived, left the hive and were rehived with jp,s assistance.
they are doing fine. friday no swarms.
today my father in law shows up at my work site saying that a swarm is at the church down the street, swarm placed in a swarm trap by my father in law and is hanging in his back yard. a swarm trap hanging 2 feet from an existing hive in the peak of the church roof had a swarm in it as well. it,s in my backyard next to my hives now. another swarm showed up at my father in laws house this afternoon and they were hived right at dark. we also got reports of 2 other swarm on the street next to us today but didnt have time to go for them. ( father in law plans to get them tomorrow morning).
i dont know if anyone else is having this type of activity but in south louisiana IT IS ON! hope others are having great luck as well.

bailey

JP · March 16, 2008, 01:02:39 AM

We definitely got bees! And you're deep in them my friend. Hey the wife and I had stuffed snapper fillets with shrimp tonite, from guess who? Thanks again!

...JP

bailey · March 16, 2008, 09:49:02 AM

glad you liked the seafood. father in law is going to go after the other 2 swarms this morning.
he is also going to lowes to get more lumber for bottom boards and top covers.
peggy assembled 3 mediums and 50 frames yesterday, ( i think she is going to be the best bee keeper in the family!) have a great day.

bailey

JP · March 16, 2008, 10:21:06 AM

Yes we loved the fish, thank you! Either my alarm went off at 7:30 and only at 7:30, or I got up a bunch of times and hit the snooze button between 5:30 and 7:30 this am. I have no recollection, anyway, this means now I have to go back tonite and retrieve the hive body I set up from my removal yesterday.
I have a removal estimate at 9:30, will be building boxes and frames later.

...JP

Kathyp · March 16, 2008, 12:14:22 PM

with your nailer!! :-)!!

i envy you guys all your swarms. for just one removal, i have to travel two hours today...and that's if the weather lets me do it. with the cost of fuel, and providing i get a healthy hive, i'll just about break even on it. guy says there may be more than one, but even so :-(

maybe after i get more experience, i'll have to charge a bit for these removals that are far away. at least the cost of diesel.

JP · March 16, 2008, 11:57:08 PM

Quote from: kathyp on March 16, 2008, 12:14:22 PM
with your nailer!! :-)!!

i envy you guys all your swarms. for just one removal, i have to travel two hours today...and that's if the weather lets me do it. with the cost of fuel, and providing i get a healthy hive, i'll just about break even on it. guy says there may be more than one, but even so :-(

maybe after i get more experience, i'll have to charge a bit for these removals that are far away. at least the cost of diesel.

Kathy, you better believe with my nailer! Man that lil brad gun I got is the bomb!

Kathy, I wish you could experience what I go through down here, its crazy, in a great way, just ask Bailey. We are infested with bees. Yes I drive a diesel and am paying $3.79 gal, now that's through the roof! Sucks!

...JP

bailey · March 17, 2008, 12:09:36 AM

she dont have to ask!
we are being covered up with swarms down here!

i cant believe how many are appearing.

i got another one today in a swarm trap i hung out a week ago and really expect to see more tomorrow.

i am getting swarms so fast (7 in one week ) that i am out of bottom boards and top covers, and will soon be out of mediums!
i am going to the lumber yard to look for cypress lumber so we wont have to paint any more as the drying time is causing delays in hiving the influx of swarms.

sure hope this lasts for another month then jp and i are gonna go fishing!

bailey

Kathyp · March 17, 2008, 12:10:09 AM

well, i hope for more business as the weather warms. i have had a few calls, but they were questions about honey and stuff like that. i had to put my removal off as the weather just will not let up.

oh ya.....i got a call from a lady who thought beekeeping was cool. she pictured herself playing the accordion out by her hive and making happy bees. i pictured an accordion full of squished bees!............craigs list :roll:

mudlakee · March 17, 2008, 07:40:48 PM

Holy Cow, You have caught more swarms in one week than I have seen in my life.(Long Time) Tony

poka-bee · March 17, 2008, 07:49:09 PM

Oh My goodness! I've never even seen a swarm..not that I've been actively looking but I woulda noticed the unusual! I love reading about all the adventures & seeing the pictures!!

Jody