Swarm entered empty hive, 3 meds high...Should I break it down to 1?

DayValleyDahlias · April 28, 2014, 09:43:06 PM

Hi All,

Long time no talk...I had an empty hive ( 3 meds high ) a swarm came into it today...should I go out tomorrow and break it down to 1? I plan to put some syrup on as well...

Thoughts?

Thanks!

BeeMaster2 · April 28, 2014, 09:53:36 PM

How strong is the swarm?
What is in the box? Was it drawn or just foundation. If the latter, I might let them alone. They liked the size. If it was a huge swarm, it might be the right size. If it is small they are probably in the top, just remove the bottom 2. I would let them be long enough for them to start building and let the eggs hatch so that they have live brood to anchor them to the hive before opening it.
Jim

DayValleyDahlias · April 28, 2014, 10:14:46 PM

Huge strong looking swarm, mostly all drawn foundation...

I am guessing I will still need to feed though right?

Thanks!

BeeMaster2 · April 28, 2014, 10:25:26 PM

Quote from: DayValleyDahlias on April 28, 2014, 10:14:46 PM
Huge strong looking swarm, mostly all drawn foundation...

I am guessing I will still need to feed though right?

Thanks!

Nice.
If the bees are swarming, there should bee a good flow on. They are better off using natural nectar than using sugar water. They are not the same. I would not bee feeding them. With a flow on, they usually will not use it.
I might if the weather was going turn rainy for the next several days but other than that I would not.
Jim

DayValleyDahlias · April 28, 2014, 10:30:01 PM

I can smell the nectar...and peeked inside the top lid, it is full of bees! Yipppeeee

BeeMaster2 · April 28, 2014, 10:39:57 PM

Is it where you want it to be?
If not, after dark, use a red light, put a strap around it, put a screen in the opening and lock them in. Move it and open it up.
Jim

DayValleyDahlias · April 28, 2014, 10:55:19 PM

Oh it is right where I want it to be...thank goodness...

BeeMaster2 · April 28, 2014, 11:03:35 PM

Sounds like life is good.
Jim

tjc1 · April 29, 2014, 10:21:21 PM

Talk about lucky! I'm curious - how long was the hive sitting without any bees in it? What was the cause of it being empty - a dead out? Was wondering how long it could sit without getting wax moth or other pests.

Joe D · April 29, 2014, 10:52:03 PM

I had caught a swarm last spring, they were doing good. Over the winter they died off, figured the queen died. Around the first of this month a new swarm moved in their hive. Good luck to you and your new bees.

Joe

jayj200 · April 30, 2014, 09:40:58 AM

cool

tefer2 · April 30, 2014, 10:19:23 AM

The scouts liked the size enough to choose it. I would just leave them setup as is.
Enjoy the free bees!

JP · April 30, 2014, 11:19:16 AM

If it has a bottom board & a top cover on I'd leave them alone or add each if needed, as mentioned, they chose the set up so give it to them :)

...JP

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DayValleyDahlias · April 30, 2014, 02:20:42 PM

This particular hive housed a new package of Italian's...they were building up beautifully, then one day...no bees. No dead bees, no evidence of disease. I cleaned out the hive, left the frames in with many drawn. No evidence of wax moth...My intention was to break it down, but clearly that never happened...Now this very large swarm has made it "home" we'll see what happens now :)

annette · May 01, 2014, 12:45:19 AM

I hope this happens to me on one hive I lost 2 months ago. I did not clean it out and really should to see if the wax moths got into it. But one year I lost a hive and never got around to cleaning it out, and a really nice swarm moved in. It was so exciting.
Good luck with your beautiful swarm.

Happy to see you again on here Sharon

Annette

BeeMaster2 · May 03, 2014, 07:25:32 AM

I just added a swarm to a 2 medium hive because it would never fit in a single and I will have to add another medium to it tomorrow to put the rest of the swarm that is in the swarm trap into the hive. The swarm hanging outside of the trap was huge and they already had a large piece of comb hanging from the bottom (outside) of the trap.
This swarm would not fit in a single box.
See the new thread "I just checked on the swarm trap tonight"
Jim

DayValleyDahlias · May 27, 2014, 11:15:27 AM

Hi Annette!!

Great to see you as well, I am still dabbling in bees, the swarm hive is doing well, yay!

jayj200 · June 28, 2014, 09:05:29 PM

We are here because we need help or guidance. or conscious thought before it becomes a major problem. with no time for cool headiness.
At a month out. ask yourself these questions. Is it hot (mean)?
do you live in a city neighborhood? and can your area stand difficult bees?
one episode does not make mean bees.
second month look again
here the state says mean re queen
it is also said African bees after re queening will themselves re queen again. making that management technique unproductive.

If the hive is mean then how to remedy this?
some say bag them!
not quite that easy.
approach at night fully suited up.
Close up the entrance totally! with a complete entrance blockage. this is paramount!
That blockage probably should be made of 2 x 4 rather than a lighter wood one by two. Don't risk a reducer they could push away. my girls have eaten considerably at reducers.
Then when few are outside cover with a black plastic bag wrap the hive completely leaving no escape routes.
any one else have good management practices for rectifying a bad situation.

giving away Africans only helps the species spread.