I was in the yard working about 1:15 today and saw the bees pouring out of the hive. They settled in a small peach tree about 25-30 feet from their home and about 5 feet up on a horizontal branch. I slid the new hive that I had ready (thanks Kurt) under the small football cluster and gave it a rap and in thay went.... at least for now.
I think I would have known that they were swarming but it didn't hurt to have seen one down in Albemarle this past weekend, thanks Wally.
ok..need to go and see if they are still in the hive.
LOOK a Swarm!!
They are still in the new hive so here is what I was thinking:
Move the hive from under the peach tree to the new location tonight and put a branch or obstruction in the entrance to get them to reorient.
Move a frame of brood from the old hive to the swarm hive.
Move a frame of honey or pollen from the old hive to the swarm hive.
Give the old hive about 10 days (need to look that up) and look for eggs or start hunting for a new queen.
Any comments on the plan would be greatly appreciated.
Move the hive from under the peach tree to the new location tonight and put a branch or obstruction in the entrance to get them to reorient.
Move a frame of brood from the old hive to the swarm hive.
Move a frame of honey or pollen from the old hive to the swarm hive.
Give the old hive about 10 days (need to look that up) and look for eggs or start hunting for a new queen.
Any comments on the plan would be greatly appreciated.
I would like the same information. David Lancaster and I were at his hives this afternoon and saw a nice large swarm about a foot and a half off the ground on a branch. We dumped them into a five gallon bucket with holes in the lid and brought them to my house. I have just put them in a new deep with undrawn comb and a feeder with dribbles of sugar water while I make some up. I have the entrance reducer on the smallest opening for now. Wow!
I have some drawn comb I just put in the freezer last night from my not quite dead hive so I am reluctant to add it before it has a couple of days in the freezer but I am open to being told otherwise.
When Lancaster asks me if I want to go with him to feed his bees, the answer will be "yes."
I have some drawn comb I just put in the freezer last night from my not quite dead hive so I am reluctant to add it before it has a couple of days in the freezer but I am open to being told otherwise.
When Lancaster asks me if I want to go with him to feed his bees, the answer will be "yes."
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John Sabat
- Forager
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Fri May 04, 2007 4:35 pm
- Location: Hyco Lake
Captured two today. One was 30 feet up in a pine out on a small limb. 6lbs. Got this by being raised up in the bucket of a back-hoe with a 18 foot PVC and bucket. The other was underneath a hive bottom and in and around the cinder blocks. 2 lbs and found the queen. Strange though, she was all by herself on a frame at the edge of the hive body. Virgin??? and abandoned??? Irregardless it was great as God gave us great day!
Got a call from TJ today about a swarm in Greensboro. It was about a basketball size cluster.
I used a screened inner cover to keep them cool on the way home but I think a regular top would be better to get them to go inside. There were about 20 bees in the car on the way home and maybe another 50 left on site. They are in a hive at my house now. Thanks TJ.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... -08001.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... -08002.jpg
I used a screened inner cover to keep them cool on the way home but I think a regular top would be better to get them to go inside. There were about 20 bees in the car on the way home and maybe another 50 left on site. They are in a hive at my house now. Thanks TJ.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... -08001.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... -08002.jpg
A little story first.
I have a russian hive that has built up and should have been split, but I wanted to make it through the honey flow first. They were starting to beard on the landing board on warm days so I was going to remove a screened inner cover and put a modified inner cover(larger hole) with a 4 inch high box with angled holes in the sides to let the heat out. When I removed the top cover today there was a queen on the screened cover. So I just flipped the screen over and dumped her in the hive. I am still trying to think through that move to see if it was the right thing to do. About 2 hours later there was a swarm in the apple tree about 8 feet high. I am assuming it was from the russian hive.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... rm5108.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 510806.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 510805.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 108_04.jpg
I have a russian hive that has built up and should have been split, but I wanted to make it through the honey flow first. They were starting to beard on the landing board on warm days so I was going to remove a screened inner cover and put a modified inner cover(larger hole) with a 4 inch high box with angled holes in the sides to let the heat out. When I removed the top cover today there was a queen on the screened cover. So I just flipped the screen over and dumped her in the hive. I am still trying to think through that move to see if it was the right thing to do. About 2 hours later there was a swarm in the apple tree about 8 feet high. I am assuming it was from the russian hive.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... rm5108.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 510806.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 510805.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 108_04.jpg
