What to do with swarm cells in a cutout?

Started by Grandma_DOG, May 25, 2009, 01:26:17 PM

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Grandma_DOG

Did a cutout last week, had swarm cells. I treat them like insurance if i miss the queen.

SHould I not keep them? IS there risk they will swarm after a tramatic cutout?
Here is my new book on Swarm Trapping at http://learningbeekeeping.com/beekeeping-articles/how-to-swarm-trap/ and follow me on youtube at OutOfaBlueSky

Michael Bush

If you put the comb with the queen cell, some comb with honey and enough bees in a two frame nuc or a "queen castle" or a "mating box" (depending on the bee supplier) or a standard box with a follower reducing it to two frames, you can let them mate the queen and care for her.  What do you mean by "keep" them?  Leave them in the cutout?  One might be good insurance if you didn't see the queen.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Grandma_DOG

That answers part of the question.  So let me rephrase, will a hive that was about to swarm, still swarm even after it suffers the trauma of a cutout?

Quote from: Michael Bush on May 25, 2009, 02:03:37 PM
If you put the comb with the queen cell, some comb with honey and enough bees in a two frame nuc or a "queen castle" or a "mating box" (depending on the bee supplier) or a standard box with a follower reducing it to two frames, you can let them mate the queen and care for her.  What do you mean by "keep" them?  Leave them in the cutout?  One might be good insurance if you didn't see the queen.

Here is my new book on Swarm Trapping at http://learningbeekeeping.com/beekeeping-articles/how-to-swarm-trap/ and follow me on youtube at OutOfaBlueSky

Michael Bush

>That answers part of the question.  So let me rephrase, will a hive that was about to swarm, still swarm even after it suffers the trauma of a cutout?

You never know with bees.  I'd be more afraid of absconding than swarming because of the trauma.  But I doubt they will do either if you have brood in the cut out.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin