What do you do with a swarm after it's hived?

OzBuzz · September 10, 2010, 11:01:48 AM

Hi everybody, I got my first ever swarm the other day in a five frame nuc with four drawn frames and one foundation. What do you do with a swarm after it's hived? I.e feed? Leave it closed up for a week or two prior to inspection?

JP · September 10, 2010, 11:06:19 AM

I always like to offer feed with a new colony but if there is something available they likely will ignore what you give them.

BTW, a swarm on four drawn frames and one foundation could bust their britches pretty quickly. Keep an eye on them and be ready to transfer them to a deep.

...JP

harvey · September 10, 2010, 11:09:00 AM

I put all my swarms in a Dadent deep with foundationless frames and they have all filled the first box rather quickly. Once they are in the hive they really seem to go to town. I have not fed a swarm yet. During swarming season around here they normally have loads of stuff to go after.

Kathyp · September 10, 2010, 11:14:24 AM

i feed, but if they find something they like better, they ignore it. other than that, i pretty much leave them alone the first week, then i check for eggs and make sure all is well...

montauk170 · September 10, 2010, 12:23:48 PM

It's Spring time in Oz, probably don't need to feed.

OzBuzz · September 10, 2010, 07:08:21 PM

Thanks guys for your help-I appreciate it. I've put them in with the drawn frames because I'm looking for a quick build up and transfer to a deep. They're definitely in wax building mode-once i got the nuc home I had a beard of bees out the front-after three hours they had already started building some comb on the outside-needless to say that's not where I wanted it so I scooted them inside the nuc. When bees swarm do they consume all of the honey they have gorged on or do they keep some to deposit in new comb? It is spring here and there are nectar sources around but I haven't exactly seen huge 'clouds' of bees flying to gather nectar although there has been a steady stream-no pollen brought in yet. Is it normal not to see masses flying for foraging? I'd have thought replenishing their stores would be a priority

Kathyp · September 10, 2010, 08:54:44 PM

stores are important but so is tending to brood if the queen gets to laying. to be honest, i would feed. if they don't take it, that's ok. if they do, they need it and it will get them going faster. if you see that there is no pollen, there's no harm in giving some of that also if you have it.

JP · September 10, 2010, 10:40:43 PM

If you captured the swarm a short while after they swarmed out they will have stores in their honey stomachs. Sometimes an amount that will more than surprise you.

Sounds like your queen may have stayed on the outside of the nuc, hence the exterior comb.

Seriously, keep an eye on them as they could possibly fill that nuc in no time.

...JP