Swarm and Splits

[Kris^]

Unusual occurance last night.  I hived a swarm that issued from one of my hives at the beginning of May.  I put it in a single deep and placed a comb honey super over it.  They drew it out and filled it nicely, only needing to cap it.

Yesterday I looked in to see if they'd finished capping it, and noticed that some of the honey they'd stored was missing.  I also noticed that there seemed to be fewer bees in the hive since I'd last looked.  So I looked toward the apple tree where I'd gotten the swarm, and there was another huge swarm hanging there.  Okay, change of plans for the evening.

Got the ladder and another brood box with some frames of honey and foundation, gathered the swarm into the box and placed it on a pallet.  I checked the box 1/2 hour later and it was empty.  Instead, the original hive was all bearded up -- they'd returned there.  My partner says, "They're gonna swarm again tomorrow, aren't they?"

Well, not if I could help it.  I went into the hive, saw many frames with brood and swarm cells.  Since I'd been planning to make some splits, I divided them up, left four of those frames in the box, placed four in the second box I'd set up, and put two in a four frame nuc.  Filled the rest of the boxes with frames of capped honey and foundation.  I couldn't find the queen, but made sure each split had some swarm cells.  Closed them up and reduced the entrances.

Was this the right thing to do?  I know I took the hive out of production, but will the swarm impulse be relieved?  What else can I do -- or should have done?

-- Kris

[Michael Bush]

>Was this the right thing to do?

It's what I would have done.

> I know I took the hive out of production, but will the swarm impulse be relieved?

Probably.

>What else can I do -- or should have done?

That's all I'd have done.

[Kris^]

Hmmmmm . . . I got it right?  I must've learned something in the past couple years.   :D

-- Kris

[Brian D. Bray]

>>I put it in a single deep and placed a comb honey super over it. They drew it out and filled it nicely, only needing to cap it.

Waited to long to super hive so it went into a swarm mode from overcrowding.  Only needing to cap it is 97% full.  super at 80-90% full to prevent swarming.  Thats 8 frames drawn and filled with brood and honey 2 frames partially drawn and uncapped.