Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: saltybluegrass on September 26, 2019, 10:07:30 am

Title: Bucket o bees - any ideas?
Post by: saltybluegrass on September 26, 2019, 10:07:30 am

https://youtu.be/wANE9PrRcV4

They are making white comb on the bottom
This was the tail end of that swarm

Title: Re: Bucket o bees - any ideas?
Post by: cao on September 26, 2019, 11:06:59 am

Is there a queen?  If not I would just combine them with another hive.  Even if there is a queen, there isn't hardly enough bees for them to grow into a full hive.

Title: Re: Bucket o bees - any ideas?
Post by: saltybluegrass on September 26, 2019, 11:36:40 am

Thanks
I was wanting them as pets

Title: Re: Bucket o bees - any ideas?
Post by: Aroc on September 26, 2019, 12:08:27 pm

Combine them as stated above

Title: Re: Bucket o bees - any ideas?
Post by: Ben Framed on September 27, 2019, 12:08:56 am

Salty, if there is a queen you have a good chance especially there in West Palm Beach per your milder winters. If you can not find a queen and are suspicious that you do indeed have one, I would simply add a frame of mixed capped brood, larva, and eggs. If you do not have a queen they will develop one.  If you do have a queen they will go on with business as usual. I would feed to make sure they have every chance to build up, along with very small pollen patties, (small enough that they will consume them within two to three days, for reason of hive beetles),  adding more as needed. With an adequate supply of both pollen and feed, they will prosper, building up fast. Especially if you add a couple more frames of capped brood AFTER you know the hives status. Good Luck my friend. One more thing, I would recommend getting them out of the bucket ASAP and adding frames of your choice of foundation to avoid wild comb.
Phillip

Title: Re: Bucket o bees - any ideas?
Post by: Beeboy01 on September 27, 2019, 12:51:07 pm

I would put them in a mini nuc with a frame of brood just to see what happens. A lot depends on if there is a queen present, it is getting a little late even in Florida to grow a queen.
   I had a swarm like that three years ago and it grew into a good hive, took a while but the end result was worth the trouble. Guess it depends on how much time you want to spend on it. It's a cute little swarm and nice colored bees.

Title: Re: Bucket o bees - any ideas?
Post by: saltybluegrass on September 27, 2019, 02:13:14 pm

I?ve had 4 calls for swarm removal this week- for wha that?s worth?

Title: Re: Bucket o bees - any ideas?
Post by: saltybluegrass on September 28, 2019, 09:29:40 am

Transferred frame of brood here.
There?s not many bees
My other swarm I caught yesterday got a frame of brood and s frame of honey.
I may just be starting an apiary