Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: JordanM on June 16, 2009, 08:15:38 pm

Title: Nice Swarm
Post by: JordanM on June 16, 2009, 08:15:38 pm

This is my second swarm removal this year, the first was a football sized one in a red maple and now this is my second one:

(http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4091/swarm.jpg) (http://img95.imageshack.us/i/swarm.jpg/)

(http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7326/dsc01149o.jpg) (http://img524.imageshack.us/i/dsc01149o.jpg/)
Does anyone have a guess to how much this weighed?

Title: Re: Nice Swarm
Post by: JP on June 16, 2009, 08:29:07 pm

It could be the pictures, especially the second one, but it looks huge to me, seven lbs at least, but based soley on what it looks like to me, without seeing it in person, it could be even larger than that, maybe even 8 or 9 lbs. Either way, that's a heck of a lot of bees. Has to be an abscond.


...JP

Title: Re: Nice Swarm
Post by: JordanM on June 16, 2009, 08:36:27 pm

I couldnt believe my eyes either when i saw it. I hope they build up quick and stay in my hive because thats one heck of alot of bees.  :-D

Title: Re: Nice Swarm
Post by: G3farms on June 16, 2009, 11:09:03 pm

I would say 5 to seven pounds easy. You better have some extra supers to put on them, they will build comb like crazy.

Great catch and glad you got them put up.

G3

Title: Re: Nice Swarm
Post by: asprince on June 16, 2009, 11:17:42 pm

Nice! I had one that size in early spring. They drew out 20 frames of wax in about 10 days and then filled and capped a honey super in another week. They took me by surprise and swarmed on me in six weeks after hiving. I have since split them. Both hives are booming.

The moral of this story.....give the lots of room and watch them close.

And Enjoy, Steve

Title: Re: Nice Swarm
Post by: JordanM on June 17, 2009, 08:17:28 pm

Right now i have a deep and a medium. Maybe i will add another deep this week will see how they do, ill keep my eye on them.

Title: Re: Nice Swarm
Post by: 1reb on June 17, 2009, 11:36:45 pm

nice swarm JordanM

Johnny

Title: Re: Nice Swarm
Post by: JordanM on June 18, 2009, 06:51:00 pm

I added another deep to them today, because when i lifted the lid to check on them they overflowed and they have drank 2 quarts of sugar water already. Tommorow i have to take the queen includer off and fill the sugar water back up.

Title: Re: Nice Swarm
Post by: Rebel Rose Apiary on June 21, 2009, 04:21:26 pm

Great catch!

How has the weather been lately? I keep getting swarms in thunderstorms here. I got another one today!

Brenda

Title: Re: Nice Swarm
Post by: JordanM on June 21, 2009, 05:13:22 pm

Weathers been good i think its in the 90's today.