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My bees are swarming!

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 3:31 pm
by SmithN
I've had 5 or 6 swarms this week! The reason I say 5 or 6 is the swarms in these pictures. A beekeep with 25+yrs keeping bees believes it to be 2 swarms. We hived both swarms but, later the same day the swarm collected at the "beebath" vanished. I kept 2 swarms, gave 2 away and lost 1 or 2! The pictures were taken 4-16-09 before noon.

Tired of chasing insects, Norma :wink:

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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:12 am
by Kurt Bower
Nice pics.
It might be time take off the entrance reducers.

Kurt

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:35 am
by ski
Norma,
Did the swarms come from your hives?
Ok, :oops: Just read the title of your post.

I had a lot of swarms last year, my second year. The first couple were a lot of fun. But I quickly wanted to be catching some one elses swarms instead of mine. I also think that is why my supers of honey never got capped. Multiple swarms reduced the worker population.

Norman sure presented a lot of swarm prevention options at the last two meetings. I am checker boarding the best that I can and so far no swarms yet.

Look at the bright side it was fun catching the swarms and you have increased your hive count. :D

May your honey always be tasteful and your smoker always stay lit.
Ski

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:39 pm
by SmithN
Glad you like the pics Kurt. I have the entrance reducers on for mite treatments, just finishing the 3rd week and plan to remove them soon.


Thanks Ski, I quickly wanted to be chasing someone elses bees too! :wink:

Norma

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:58 pm
by ski
Yes sir, I am checkerboarding this year.
I am checkerboarding the best I can.
Well it wasn't good enough, got a nice 2-3 lb swarm had to be from one of my hives, it was in a small peach tree 20 feet in front of my hives about 6 feet off the ground.
Yes sir I am checkerboarding this year GRRRR.

hmmm maybe that will be the ony one. lol.