Use of a Queen Includer

[RHBee]

I was wondering how long others leave a queen includer under a captured swarm? I have found that 3 days will pretty much anchor the swarm. It's pretty interesting to watch a swarm try to move only to return to the hive because the queen can't leave.

[Moots]

RH,
I've heard of the practice, and I think that maybe I've even tried it once, but typically I don't bother with worrying about it....I simply give them a good home, dump them in it, and try to leave them along until they get settled. 
Not sure if I'm doing something right or it's just dumb luck on my part, or what....but I've had little to no problem with swarms absconding on me.  :-D
However, I did catch a couple last year where I put eyes on the queen and decided to cage her for a few days...As it turned out, I did witness one of those reswarm and have to return because they didn't have the queen.  :laugh:.....That was pretty cool!

I was in New Orleans for the day yesterday and got a call from a co-worker, his neighbor had a swarm in his tree.  I managed to get home and there JUST before dark so I decided to vacuum them up.  I left them in my catch bucket last night (well ventilated) and need to go hive them this morning. 
As usual, I had absolutely no intention of using an excluder.....but now you have me thinking about it and second guessing myself. lol!  :laugh:

I would agree that if you do use one, three days is probably sufficient to assume they're anchored and won't leave on you.

[tefer2]

We don't trap the swarm queen with an excluder.
My best success is adding a frame of open brood to anchor them.

[Joe D]

I may try it, haven't yet.  Never had a swarm leave, just made sure I had the queen.  I haven't been a beek a long time, I have caught appr. fifteen swarms.  Good luck to you and your bees





Joe

[Moots]

RH,
Another afterthought, wet hive that swarm this morning and was going to throw on the queen excluder, until my nephew raised a good point..."We don't know if the queen is matted."

Hmmm, I thought, good point!  Come to think about it, I think that's why I've avoided the practice.

[RHBee]

RH,
Another afterthought, wet hive that swarm this morning and was going to throw on the queen excluder, until my nephew raised a good point..."We don't know if the queen is matted."

Hmmm, I thought, good point!  Come to think about it, I think that's why I've avoided the practice.

Jeff, I believe most primary swarms are leaving with the old queen. Secondary swarms can have unmated queens. Really though I realized I'm just getting into my 3rd year. What do I know. At least that's what Finski used to tell me.

[Moots]

RH,
Another afterthought, wet hive that swarm this morning and was going to throw on the queen excluder, until my nephew raised a good point..."We don't know if the queen is matted."

Hmmm, I thought, good point!  Come to think about it, I think that's why I've avoided the practice.

Jeff, I believe most primary swarms are leaving with the old queen. Secondary swarms can have unmated queens. Really though I realized I'm just getting into my 3rd year. What do I know. At least that's what Finski used to tell me.

RH,
I think that's pretty accurate, the larger, first, "primary" swarms have the existing queen...but they aren't always numbered and labeled, and sometimes the bees don't follow the rules!   :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Anybrew2]

I've done it heaps of times anywhere up to a week seems to work just fine. I wouldn't leave it much longer as the Queen could be unmated.

Cheers
Steve

[RHBee]

RH,
I think that's pretty accurate, the larger, first, "primary" swarms have the existing queen...but they aren't always numbered and labeled, and sometimes the bees don't follow the rules!   :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

LOL, You got a point there. I've never seen them numbered either.

I've done it heaps of times anywhere up to a week seems to work just fine. I wouldn't leave it much longer as the Queen could be unmated.

Cheers
Steve

G'day Steve,
Thanks for the input. Seems like I remember that a new queen has about ten days or so to mate. In my limited experience, three days is enough. Like I said, watching them leave only to return is pretty cool.

[Anybrew2]

RH I agree, I say ha you guys will be back. They leave then return all bothered. It feels like a small win to me.

Cheers
Steve

[dprater]

RHBee I'm in my third year too so still a newbee, not sure how many years it takes to not be a newbee, seems like even the 30 years guys are still trying to figure this thing out LOL.

I've caught 8 or 9 swarms, I give them one frame open brood, one pollen, one with a little honey and a jar of 1/1 inside a empty super and close them up for 48 hrs. May just be beginners luck but I have not had any leave.

dan

[RHBee]

Dan, When you say close them up for 48hrs what exactly do you mean?

[dprater]

I block the entrance and exit to the hive, making sure they have ventilation and if its hot I keep them in the shade then move them to there new location about dark and remove the block from the entrance. Same thing for robbing, close them up with the robbers in the hive, they think its there home by the time I let them out :).

dan

[2Sox]

I always put some lemongrass oil on the inside of the boxes I install a swarm into.  A drop or two on a Q-Tip and rub it along the inside walls.  Two frames of honey and two or three frames of drawn comb.  Never fails.