Swarm-2/27/20

[Jacobs]

Swarm_22720a_IMG_0023.jpg (49.92 KiB) Viewed 7573 times

Swarm_22720b_IMG_0024.jpg (24.58 KiB) Viewed 7573 times

Swarm_22720c_IMG_0025.jpg (36.8 KiB) Viewed 7573 times

I just got back from a swarm call and will post pictures later. These were not happy bees and I got lit up getting a cluster out of a tree and dumping it into a hive. I had to leave the hive in place because of another cluster of bees at the base of a wall under the tree. Given the cool temperatures, the bees were not willingly breaking clusters and clearly resented my attempts to move them. Get your swarm gear ready.

[Jacobs]

I took a quick look in this hive yesterday afternoon when I was giving them more feed. I saw a queen, 1 drone, and the rest were workers. They had drawn very little, if any, comb. I'm not sure if this is because of the cool weather or because these bees don't have the swarm drill down.

[Wally]

They will only draw comb when they have something to put in it. Are you feeding them heavily?

[Jacobs]

Quart jar feeder just above inner cover with a deep super covering it. They have taken about a quart and a half since I hived them--most stored in the 2 drawn comb frames I gave them. I'll switch to a top feeder now that temperatures will be better for it.

The good sign is that they were steadily bringing in pollen this morning.

[Jacobs]

The bees have drawn about 2 frames since I put the top feeder on. Bees are on about 5 medium frames, and while I did not see the queen this afternoon, I did see a number of single, well placed eggs.