Recent Posts

21

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by gww on May 19, 2024, 08:56:52 pm »

Your only mistake was mowing the lawn instead of standing by the trap while they come in cause that is an amazing thing to be in the middle of.  Cameras capture better for others though.

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by gww on May 19, 2024, 08:44:29 pm »

Just go out right before dark (maybe 45 min or hour) and watch them come in and if there is a line of returning bees, they are there.  If some of the bees get confused and end up back at the trap site but most are at the hive, I have, if it was enough bees to even worry about, just let them go back into the trap and then take them back an either dump them on the landing board or tip the open trap against it to let the climb in.  It is possible due to the distance but probably not probable.

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by Terri Yaki on May 19, 2024, 08:39:55 pm »

My vote is tonight cause then they may think it is their idea.
Good luck

Thanks. That's kind of what I was thinking but I am still learning. And here's a freeze frame from mid move. I'm pretty sure I got 'em.

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by gww on May 19, 2024, 08:31:05 pm »

Congratulation.  I personally would wait to dark and then set the whole trap where I intend to move them permanently.  I always do it as quick as possible cause it is my belief that when they wake up and if it is within the first few days of them moving, I think they think they picked the new spot and are more likely to stay.  Some like to leave them till they get brood cause is is less likely that they will leave the babies.  It will probably work out whatever you choose. 

I like to get the trap back just in case there is an after swarm eight days from now.  I have moved swarms just eighty feet and had some portion of the bees go back to the old trap sight but it worked out eventually.  The reason for moving near dark is just incase a virgin is on a mating flight she will probably be in at that point.  Once the trap wakes up at the place I am going to put it permanently I move the bees in to a hive if I can but know I can put it off a day or two as well. 

I have never had a swarm leave but some people have.  I used to put one or two drops of lemon grass oil on the floor of the hive I am putting them in but am inconsistent on that and it has never bit me.  Some put a brood comb with brood in it from a different hive and that might be the best guarantee but I have only did that once and so far so good.

It is going to work, however you handle it or at least the odds are in you favor.  The worst in my view is to let them get established and then try to move them as that gives the biggest chance for them to just return to the trap site rather then stay in the hive.  It is the three mile rule where you can move them three feet or three miles and be ok but it is risky to move them 80 feet and expect them not to get lost.  My vote is tonight cause then they may think it is their idea.  If you move them tonight, maybe partially block the entrance with a little grass that they can move or put a little branch partially blocking the entrance so they kinda know something has changed though they will probably get it just from the shaking during the move.  I would do this with a trap being moved just 80 feet or one I let get established even if moving three miles.
Good luck

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by Terri Yaki on May 19, 2024, 07:28:59 pm »

Thanks, I'm pretty happy about it.

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by The15thMember on May 19, 2024, 07:26:39 pm »

Now, when should I move them to their permanent spot and should I feed them?

I'm not sure about when to move them, but swarms come with full bellies, and if they are drawing already, they should be good to go where food is concerned.  Congratulations! 

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by Terri Yaki on May 19, 2024, 07:22:44 pm »

Hoo boy, that looks real!

I know! It was extra busy this morning when I gassed up my mower back there and when I got done mowing, about an hour and a half later, it was even busier and I was watching, hoping to see them swarm. Then I looked at the memory card on my camera and saw four, five minute videos of all bees inbound. So, while I was mowing, they were moving. I looked in the side ports and saw bees in there working. I can only see the outer frame on the top box but bees were there working on the outer frame. And the bottom box has empty frames with popsicle sticks glued in the top and coated with wax. They were working on those too.

Now, when should I move them to their permanent spot and should I feed them?

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by The15thMember on May 19, 2024, 07:15:50 pm »

Hoo boy, that looks real!

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by Terri Yaki on May 19, 2024, 06:56:20 pm »

I believe the mystery has been solved. I got 20 non-stop minutes of this.

And some of this.

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Community Feeding

« Last post by The15thMember on May 19, 2024, 06:19:29 pm »

The theory is that any bees that would look for robbing opportunities would rather drink from a community trough than fight a bunch of guard bees to get in a hive.

All creatures behave better if they have what they need.

I agree with this theory, but only while the feeder is in place.  It's when you remove the feeder that you can have robbing problems, because the bees who were visiting the feeder will look for a source of food close by when they can't find the feeder anymore.