Using swarms to build up numbers in a hive

[SlickMick]

After losing all (2) my hives to the SHB last November, I was determed to rebuild this year. This year I have gone from zero hives to 5 (iincluding nucs) by catching swarms, I am still on the swarm list and dont want to come off it. Only 1 hive is booming another is growing nicely but both the others are in need of numbers. I dont want to go over 4 hives as I live in a large city and dont have any places I can hive my bees away from home. So later I will be combining 2 of my weaker hives in preparation for the spring build up .

When swarming season starts around September/October I have been thinking that a way of building up numbers of bees in the weaker hives would be to combine the swarms with them. I am supposing that there is always the risk of introduced disease but Aussie is relatively free of some of the problems of the US and swarms that I have combined previously have presented no problems at this stage.

Has anyone done this before and how successful was it?

Mick

[JP]

Mick, I have had no problems combining with swarms, but our swarms are so strong, they build up quickly and fiercly and it is common to attain a harvest within a few months of setting them up.


...JP

[SlickMick]

Thanks JP. What would you do about the 2 queens?

Mick

[jdpro5010]

If you don't need them then just combine them and let them duke it out.

[Kathyp]

them and let them duke it out.

that's what i did with a couple of small swarms that i got early.  if i had gotten them a little later, i would have taken one and made nucs with brood from stronger hives.  the swarms would have been strong and i would have had nucs to set aside for next years growth.  i hate to kill queens when i don't have to!   :-D

[JP]

I have a friend I give swarms too quite regularly, he usually throws them together and let the bees decide.

I'm like Kathy, I hate giving up queens, I think they're all pretty special, just like the women on this site! :-* :-* :-*

I actually hate pinching queens, just ask Bud. I would catch them and give them to him, they were plump and beautiful, but with the problems he's having with his hives, it was something we had to do. :'(


...JP

[annette]

I'm like Kathy, I hate giving up queens, I think they're all pretty special, just like the women on this site! :-* :-* :-*


...JP

Very Nice JP, I like that one alot!!!!! :rainbowflower:

[Irwin]

Annette you better get ready for the BRAT attack :-D

[JP]

Hey, where's Cindi when you need a good ribbing? :shock: :evil: :-D


...JP

[annette]

What I was really going to say in response to that was,

Hey JP are you going to put us all together to fight it out, or are you going to pinch the ones you don't want?

(I know I am getting pinched because I know who is going to win - rock mean anything?)

[Irwin]

What I was really going to say in response to that was,

Hey JP are you going to put us all together to fight it out, or are you going to pinch the ones you don't want?

(I know I am getting pinched because I know who is going to win - rock mean anything?)

:fishhit: :buttkick: :rainbowflower: :cindi: :lau:

[Kathyp]

Hey JP are you going to put us all together to fight it out, or are you going to pinch the ones you don't want?

i'd love to see him try!

we hijacked slicks thread.....we may all get pinched.

[SlickMick]

GGRRRRRRR  :hissyfit:

[JP]

This drone loves all his queens, equally! :-* :-* :-*

:stayontopic: :wierd: :imsorry: :lau: :rainbowflower: :pop: :idunno:


...JP

[annette]

 X:X X:X X:X X:X

[SlickMick]

JP I can tell by the girls' reactions that you are a real ladie's man  :-D

Mick

[JP]

Mick, my wife is cuban, she says I can look but I can't touch, or I'm in deep trouble! :chop: :lau:


...JP