My hive has swarmed and I have a few questions..

Mamichi · March 05, 2011, 02:33:47 PM

:'( One of our hives has swarmed and is located in a nearby tree. Someone told me they may have swarmed for lack of space. He suggested we go into the hive and look for a new queen (or queen cell) and that if we find no evidence of one, then we can try to put the swarm back into the old hive with an added super. Has anyone heard of this? Everything I've read says to put the swarm in a new hive.

If we should use a new hive we're in trouble b/c we don't have one and I wouldn't be able to buy one until late Monday afternoon. I suppose my husband could try his hand at building a bottom board (he already knows how to build a brood box and we have frames and foundation), but the inner and outer cover look a little more complex. Is it possible to just use a simple board on top for the cover if necessary until we get a proper one?

Thank you in advance,
M

The Bix · March 05, 2011, 02:39:20 PM

I would capture the swarm immediately. Find a cardboard box if you have to in order to contain them. It's certainly not ideal for the bees, but I was in a similar situation two years ago. The bees stayed in the box (weren't exactly happy about it), but that colony is still in one of my bee yards today. If you have some way to ventilate but also contain, that would certainly help, but in absence of that too, just keep them in a cool dark place until you can score the woodenware.

Also, if you have any beekeepers local you can call, they might have something you can use even temporarily. But by all means, nab the swarm, right away.

HTH,

John

Kathyp · March 05, 2011, 02:42:33 PM

i would not recombine. if there is a virgin queen in there, chances are you won't see her. do as bix says and put them in something. yes, you can use a board. you can use anything until you have equipment. if you have a frame or two of drawn comb, or can snag one from the other hive, you can stick it in whatever you put the swarm in until Monday. that will help keep them happy and give the queen something to do.

T Beek · March 05, 2011, 03:08:46 PM

I once kept a swarm in a cardbord box covered with a window screen in my garage for a week while waiting for boxes to arrive. That won't ever happen again. Now I'm always well stocked and ready for swarms, unless I have to climb something ;).

thomas

JP · March 05, 2011, 03:18:42 PM

Shake/house them immediately or you may wind up losing them forever. Yes, you may have a virgin in the old set up and shaking the swarm back in is bound to cause some of the bees and one of the queens to leave again.

Use anything for temporary housing and if you have a queen catcher I would cage the queen.

...JP

hankdog1 · March 05, 2011, 03:53:03 PM

QuoteUse anything for temporary housing and if you have a queen catcher I would cage the queen.

JP did you work at a jail in a former life? :-D

Nah in all honesty though everything you have been told is correct even putting a board on top cause that's basically what a migratory cover is. You should be fine. By the way keep us posted on how the capture went.

Mamichi · March 05, 2011, 03:59:26 PM

Thanks everyone for the info. Makes sense that they would be fine for a few days in a box since they came to me that way :)

We made some screened windows in a big cardboard box but now we're having problems with logistics. The hive is up kinda high on a thick branch. I was hoping we would be able to easily cut the branch and stick the whole thing in the box but that doesn't seem likely now. If we manage do get the branch down and we shake the swarm into the box, how likely is it that the queen will be in there with them?

Thanks, everyone!

JP · March 05, 2011, 04:05:27 PM

Quote from: Mamichi on March 05, 2011, 03:59:26 PM
Thanks everyone for the info. Makes sense that they would be fine for a few days in a box since they came to me that way :)

We made some screened windows in a big cardboard box but now we're having problems with logistics. The hive is up kinda high on a thick branch. I was hoping we would be able to easily cut the branch and stick the whole thing in the box but that doesn't seem likely now. If we manage do get the branch down and we shake the swarm into the box, how likely is it that the queen will be in there with them?

Thanks, everyone!

Extremely likely.

...JP

Mamichi · March 05, 2011, 04:37:10 PM

Wow, I must say my husband is awesome :) As he stood at the top rung of the ladder sawing, his legs began to tremble a lot! LOL Poor guy. All went well though and we got the whole branch into the box. Thank you everyone for your help. I love this board! :-*

The Bix · March 05, 2011, 04:48:57 PM

Excellent!

sc-bee · March 05, 2011, 05:24:02 PM

Do you have an empty super of any kind? Like a shallow honey super, it aint got to be a deep or medium. Make shift a top and bottom from plywood and leave a gap propped open for exit. They could care less.

The screen box you have them in will be fine for a few days. If the limb is in the box I think I would remove it. They will build a mess of comb in the limb. Others opinion I am sure may differ on this matter :-D

Need to spray some 1:1 sugar water thru the screen wire to feed them and calm them. Don't soak them!

backyard warrior · March 05, 2011, 08:02:03 PM

I dont know about the rest of the guys in the north but im jealous im ready for the bees to start flying up here :)

Kathyp · March 05, 2011, 10:50:16 PM

mine flew good for the first time today. even some orientation flights!! a sure sign of spring....and they didn't take any of the syrup i put out. that makes me happy.

skatesailor · March 06, 2011, 09:35:43 PM

Try to get ahead for the next time. Its bound to happen again.I always try to keep extra hive bodies handy. If you want to keep expenses down odd pieces of plywood will suffice for top and bottom boards until you can pickup or make them.
Also now that you have the first capture under your belt you see how easy it is?