I`ve gone 16 feet on a gardener`s three legged ladder, but 40 feet might get you killed. Old frames in that super, maybe carrying an odor? I once did that myself, so learned to sniff frames from storage before use. Just a guess....
You can put a dozen supers on at anytime. It won't slow down swarming if you don't give her more laying room in the brood nest.
Ah, yes... a swarm, not an abscond....
I added another medium super on one of my hives today, and they swarmed 40 feet up a tree less than an hour later. Silly bees! We had to let them go. Ten feet is about our limit.
Well, one of our other hives swarmed today, and made up for the 40 foot swarm. They landed at about 5 1/2 feet.
I would say late getting the super on.
Quote from: erbs honey on May 27, 2017, 01:07:35 amWell, one of our other hives swarmed today, and made up for the 40 foot swarm. They landed at about 5 1/2 feet. Are you looking for more hives and no honey? I am wondering why you are not splitting.
I got busy this year and got behind on my bees too. Had to spend more time catching swarms than doing splits(17 swarms caught). Sometimes stuff happens.
Quote from: erbs honey on May 27, 2017, 01:07:35 amWell, one of our other hives swarmed today, and made up for the 40 foot swarm. They landed at about 5 1/2 feet. Are you looking for more hives and no honey?