NewBee Caught a September Swarm...Now what??

Ibmerlin · September 18, 2009, 09:51:11 PM

So I am at work the other day. Suddenly there is a call and a frantic voice tells me that there is a swarm of bees outside in a bush. They heard that I was a beekeeper and could I do anything?? I tell them sure no problem. I'll be right over.
Truth is that this is my first year, I have never even seen a swarm before other than on a utube video. All I know about swarm removal is what I have read. So I show up and ask for some goggles and a cardboard box. Soon the swarm is cut from the bush and in the box. I walk off with the box O bees and everyone thinking I know what I am doing.

That part was easy. Now what to do? I had an extra hive body and top feeder for them but is there anyway possible that they can make it through winter this late in the game? What should I do?

Thanks Merlin
Ottawa IL

Kathyp · September 18, 2009, 10:16:21 PM

you have all your frames in now? feed the daylights out of them and if you have any pollen patties, you might put one, or a half of one, on. other than that....wait and see.

nice catch! if nothing else, you have had the experience :-D

hardwood · September 18, 2009, 10:35:44 PM

Isn't that just the most awesome experience though? I think any beek dreams of swarms for the taking!
Great job!
Scott

JP · September 18, 2009, 10:39:35 PM

The thing is, they most likely would not have made it, but, now they have you to be their daddy, feed the daylights outta them!

...JP

Ibmerlin · September 18, 2009, 10:45:45 PM

Yes, I have all the frames in. I Just ordered pollen patties last week and plan on feeding one to them as soon as they arrive. I also have a super full of honey that is not all capped that I was going to save for one of my other hives. Do you think that it would be worth it to give it to them?

Thank you again
Merlin

Kathyp · September 18, 2009, 10:47:49 PM

if it's not capped, you need to feed it or freeze it. wouldn't hurt to give them a couple of frames of it and see how much of the syrup they will store. you can save the other for later if you don't need it.

Ibmerlin · September 18, 2009, 11:17:31 PM

If I give the super to them and then fed them would they finish capping for winter stores? I gave them a few empty frames that I had extracted honey from in hopes that they would get some brood going a little faster.

Cheryl · September 19, 2009, 12:19:40 AM

They might finish capping for winter stores. If it is a small swarm and the super is more or less full, they probably don't need much else. They'll most likely winter on that just fine.

That's more than a lot of my colonies have right now. It's been a lean year. I'm also in my first year. I half dread the new knowledge this winter will bring....

Sparky · September 19, 2009, 11:44:37 AM

Congrats! Ibmerlin. Isn't the first swarm catch exciting ? It is nice to see the person contacted someone like you to remove the bees and give them a fighting chance and possibly save them rather than kill them. BEE HAPPY!

Ibmerlin · September 19, 2009, 09:57:29 PM

I opened the swarms hive today and the little girls have restored the comb I gave them and started to draw out foundation in other frames. They have even started storing pollen.

Maybe they do have a chance!

Merlin

Kathyp · September 19, 2009, 10:30:12 PM

did you look to see if you have a queen? you don't need to find her if you find eggs or larvae.

Ibmerlin · September 20, 2009, 12:16:39 AM

I have not seen her. It's only been 4 days since I caught the swarm. I have been assuming that the swarm follows her scent. Don't you have to have a queen to have a swarm?

Thanks
Merlin

Kathyp · September 20, 2009, 12:43:37 AM

you may not have a mated queen with a swarm. late swarms or multiple swarms from the same hive will often have a virgin queen. if you have a virgin, you may not have drones around this late for her to get mated. you might want to give them a few more days and check again. if you have no drones in your other hives, and you do not find eggs or larvae, you may need to combine this swarm with another of your hives.

how large was the swarm?

Ibmerlin · September 20, 2009, 04:01:58 PM

The swarm fills about four frames. It was between a softball and volleyball in size when I caught it.

Will drones from other hives mate with the queen? I noticed drones in one of the hive next to this one.

I will check in a few days and see if I can spot any eggs.

Merlin

Kathyp · September 20, 2009, 04:33:08 PM

the queen goes out on a mating flight and drones from other hives will mate with her. you can lose her on that flight also. swallows like to get mine. :-) if you had a mated queen and gave them drawn foundation, she should have started laying right away. if you had a virgin, you should know in a week to week and 1/2 from the time you hive them whether or not she got mated and made it back.

if you had an excluder on the bottom, remove it.