Holy Holy Cow Cow - 6th Swarm.

[ccwonka]

Okay, this is getting silly.  :-x

I have a sixth swarm in by backyard now, this one's a big one.  Can't reach it, too high, which is fine, I'm out of gear and can't afford any more this month.  I'm building a kenyan top bar hive from scrap wood right now, but it won't be ready till sometime next week as life allows me to keep working on it.  Just looking at a photo of one I think they might be the best swarm traps ever . . . .

Going to the local beekeeper's assoc. meeting this month.  I needs me a mentor.

[luvin honey]

Good grief!! Wish I lived nextdoor :D

[ccwonka]

Truly - another swarm (reachable) before the top bar is done, or before I break down and decide I want to keep more than 7 hives and I'll have to call a local beek for swarm removal!!! LOL. :-D

[Bee Happy]

That would get you a friend and a mentor, for sure.

[AllenF]

So just how many hives did you have before all the swarms?

[ccwonka]

Overwintered five.  One died of an early and fake spring burst.  Have caught 4 of the 6 swarms, two absconded and two were too high to consider, but I also have a split that I did THE DAY BEFORE THIS ALL STARTED (Have I mentioned this has all been within the last two weeks?).

So Total of seven viable hives right now, 4 good and strong, two fairly strong, and one little wimpy hive that I might just need to shuffle with a larger hive to give 'em a boost.  I plan on adding a single Kenyan Top Bar Hive to my collection, but other than that, I'm done.  Oh yeah, and an observation hive, which I have build, just not populated.  Then I'm definitely done.  I think . . . . :-\

[luvin honey]

One died of an early and fake spring burst.

Can you explain this in more detail, like exactly how this happens? Chilled brood? It just sounds like a possible explanation for my failing hive that thrived through winter, just to hugely drop in numbers after a bitter cold snap mid-March. Thanks!

[Michael Bush]

Start setting bait hives. 

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm#baithives

And start doing swarm control...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesswarmcontrol.htm

[ccwonka]

Overwintered five.  One died of an early and fake spring burst.  Have caught 4 of the 6 swarms, two absconded and two were too high to consider, but I also have a split that I did THE DAY BEFORE THIS ALL STARTED (Have I mentioned this has all been within the last two weeks?).

So Total of seven viable hives right now, 4 good and strong, two fairly strong, and one little wimpy hive that I might just need to shuffle with a larger hive to give 'em a boost.  I plan on adding a single Kenyan Top Bar Hive to my collection, but other than that, I'm done.  Oh yeah, and an observation hive, which I have built, just not populated.  Then I'm definitely done.  I think . . . . :-\

[AllenF]

I might need to set out some bait boxes in Rome the next time I cut through there.