Swarm traps

[Bush_84]

Just to clarify - at the moment I already have far more colonies than I need for my own experiments, and it's the easiest thing in the world to just keep multiplying them - the only limiting factors then become the number of boxes available and the cost of sugar for winter feed.

So why on earth would I want swarms ?  They're just more bees that I don't have any need for - and more importantly - they're bees from unknown sources.  When I re-started beekeeping a fair time ago - I used to collect every available swarm in order to swell apiary numbers.  But, those swarms were ALL (with the exception of just the one) really bad-tempered mongrels which I then had to re-queen. 

Sure, I could still re-queen swarms - but re-queening doesn't cure aggression immediately - that takes a month to six weeks - and I'm no longer prepared to put up with that kind of nonsense when I really don't need to.

So - I'll let someone-else collect swarms around here, and wish them the very best of luck ...
LJ

Boy I envy you!  I have been trying to get there for a few years now. It seems like whenever I feel like I?m about to take the leap I get a big setback. This is the year though!

[little john]

Boy I envy you!  I have been trying to get there for a few years now.

Well, there are many factors involved - climate perhaps being the most obvious one - and we don't have SHB either (long may that continue ... ).

I'm very conscious that somebody saying they have more than enough bees must sound like bragging to anybody who's struggling - and I apologise in advance if my posts should sound like that to anyone - but believe me, once a beekeeper gets up to a dozen or more colonies then numbers can really start to take off, with an apiary's numbers getting completely out of control unless some kind of regulation is self-imposed.  (Also, bear in mind that I'm not a honey-farmer - so multiplication of colonies has been the main focus here)

Now selling-off (or even giving away) excess stock is the most obvious answer - but until the last few years I haven't had a genetic line I was truly happy about supplying to beginners, which is the main market for nucs - and so colony numbers have been increasing whilst I worked to establish one.  Ever the perfectionist, I'm still not 100% happy (probably never will be), but I reckon there are now two which are 'acceptable' for now - but I still want to keep improving on those.

I fully accept that AI/II would be the way to proceed, and I do have the necessary background for such work - but I just can't generate any enthusiasm for this technique.  I have no problem about using this for scientific research, but as an ongoing solution for beekeeping ...  well, I just keep thinking that there must be a better way, and one which avoids human selection of drones and thus embraces epigenetics.

It seems like whenever I feel like I?m about to take the leap I get a big setback. This is the year though!

That's the spirit ! 
LJ

[Bush_84]

Got to be optimistic. Just like with the wolves (Minnesota basketball team) and the Vikings (Minnesota nfl). Next year is out year lol.

[Van, Arkansas, USA]

Hey, LJ: { I'm beginning to consider down-sizing a little, in order to keep things manageable.}

Yes, me too. I have to maintain 20 hives or less per Apiary area given the particular terrain, no crops, mostly wooded hilly country side called the Ozarks.

The Honey produced is a very light colored clover type, a very mild beautiful Honey.  Since there is no agricultural farming within 30 miles, I have little contamination of pesticides.
Blessings

[Van, Arkansas, USA]

Bush84. {This is the year though!}

Yes Sir it is.  Some years my bees prosper in spite of my best efforts.
Blessings