I need ideas

Fannbee · May 18, 2008, 10:04:32 AM

Caught one of my hives swarming. I am out of brood frames. I place the swarm in a medium box with foundation.

I do not need another hive. I would like to get the medium foundation drawn and filled with honey and those swarm bees back into honey production this year.

Any ideas?

thanks

Privet is finished. Sumac and Chinese Popcorn trees are about to start in MS.

papabear · May 18, 2008, 10:40:08 AM

why dont you try putting the two hives back together with news paper in between. I tried it in the past and it has always worked.

KONASDAD · May 18, 2008, 10:55:02 AM

not likely to get much honey from original hive or swarm hive as both are too small now. If you can recombine, you might.

JP · May 18, 2008, 12:02:12 PM

Do you know which hive it came from? Have you thoroughly checked that hive? They could swarm again. How many hives do you have now?

...JP

Dubhe · May 18, 2008, 09:51:06 PM

You could do a couple of things.

1) put the swarm colony on top of your weakest hive & let them draw that foundation. When they've drawn up most, do a newspaper combine with the weak colony below. They'll be oriented to the area already since you've placed them on top. Pinch the poorest of the 2 queens or let them sort it out.

2) if you know which hive threw the swarm, put the swarm where the original hive was, entrance facing the original direction. Move the original hive & face the entrance in another direction. All the field bees from the original hive will populate the swarm colony & since there is no brood, they'll have nothing to do but put up honey for a while. Meanwhile, the original hive will tend to brood & won't throw any more swarms (probably) since they're not so crowded. Later you can recombine if you want.

Good luck

Michael Bush · May 18, 2008, 11:12:32 PM

It's always good to have a spare hive (top, bottom, a couple of boxes). You never know when you'll have a swarm and the extra equipment is handy for juggling things around.

Fannbee · May 20, 2008, 11:29:03 PM

I do know which hive swarm. Will check the hive as soon as I can. I have six hives and do not want more at this time (space, equipment, time). Will try and do a combine with original hive.

thanks everybody