Signs of swarming

[Acebird]

What are the tell tail signs of swarming?

In the old country they kept bees in skeps and threw a net (cheese cloth I presume) over the entrance to catch the swarm as it left the hive.  They must of had an idea when the hives were going to swarm without going inside (they couldn't).

[cao]

I know with my hives this spring, heavy bearding in the middle of april means they are full and getting ready to swarm.  I got a little behind this year and had to catch swarms instead of preventing them.  14 so far.  12 have stayed put in there new homes.  I couldn't tell the exact day but knew that after a couple cold rainy days that they would swarm on the first warm and sunny day.

[tjc1]

Is it usual to have swarms in Indiana this early?

[BeeMaster2]

If you watch the old utube videos of skeps in Yugoslavia the Beekeepers would watch the hives all day and I forget what they were looking for but the bees did something just before they swarmed and the Beekeepers put the nets on. It did not work if they did it too soon.
The videos are still on utube if you want to review them and find out what they do just before swarming.
Jim

[Acebird]

I have watched them Jim it is not obvious what the sign is.

[BeeMaster2]

Sounds about right. They do mention that the Beekeepers are watching for a sign. I do not recall them saying what.
Jim

[erbs honey]

It just will not stop raining here!  Boy, feast or famine.  Droughts or floods.  We had one sunny day, and I'm sure my bees swarmed, but I had to work.  I did one split (I'd like to do, and had planned to do many, of course).  I'm afraid this will not be a proliferative year.  Well, the best laid plans....

[cao]

Is it usual to have swarms in Indiana this early?

We had a relatively mild winter and we warmed up early with a good flow and lots of flying days.  Only had one week where it got freezing cold after it warmed.  Lost one hive then due to starvation because they had no feed for all the brood they started raising. 
We are probably 2-3 weeks ahead of normal. 
The ironic part is that the hives of mine that I know have swarmed are the ones that I put sugar bricks on last winter because they were light last fall and I didn't think that they would make it.

[Bush_84]

I watched those videos a while back but one thing I do recall. They put all of their swarming skeps into one yard. I believe they'd just tip the step up and look for swarm cells. Those that'd swarm would be put into this yard where they'd sit and watch. I don't recall what exactly they were watching for. I do recall bees everywhere however.

[Acebird]

I believe they'd just tip the step up and look for swarm cells. Those that'd swarm would be put into this yard where they'd sit and watch.

Maybe they checked them everyday and started the clock the instant the first one was capped or just before.  They didn't have the problem of multiple frames with top and bottom bars.  All or mostly all the cells would have been right on the bottom.

[BeeMaster2]

I recall they sat and watched the entrance for what the bees were doing at the entrance to determine when to put the nets on.

[Bush_84]

I believe they'd just tip the step up and look for swarm cells. Those that'd swarm would be put into this yard where they'd sit and watch.

Maybe they checked them everyday and started the clock the instant the first one was capped or just before.  They didn't have the problem of multiple frames with top and bottom bars.  All or mostly all the cells would have been right on the bottom.

I think you are right. I recall them using a tool to push aside comb. Swarm cells would have been readily visible on the bottom of the comb. Those skeps went to a specific yard. Swarming was their means of splits.