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Author Topic: Swarm  (Read 2013 times)

Offline javah

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Swarm
« on: April 17, 2013, 02:15:51 pm »
I caught a swarm this morning and put them in a large plastic container for the ride home.
When I got home I put them in a hive with some old comb. About five minutes after putting them in the hive they started marching straight to the hive next to them which is full of bees.  i would say 3/4s of them moved into the hive next to them.  Will they stay with the bees that I already had or will they get the boot. What should I do. 

Offline kingbee

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2013, 05:06:56 pm »
[img]I don't think there is a thing that you can do other than accept what the bee have done.  You may try swapping places with the old hive and the new one and hope that population drift evens things out.  I do like to spritz newly hived bees with a little 50-50 syrup so that they aren't so eager to schmooze off of or party hearty with the neighbors.

At least that is what I did with my new swarm today.  Next time try one frame of brood with the clinging nurse bees to go along with the old comb.  NO NOT TRANSFER THE QUEEN FROM THE BROOD DONER HIVE BY MISTAKE, that WILL BRING ON A FIGHT.

Offline greg755

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2013, 05:20:31 pm »
They may have went over to the other hive because you didnt get the queen or she died in transport.

Offline javah

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2013, 05:27:22 pm »
They may have went over to the other hive because you didnt get the queen or she died in transport.

That is what I was thinking  will they stay with this hive or move on ..  will my established hive accept them and all be good.

Offline 10framer

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2013, 06:10:48 pm »
if the bees in the other hive weren't dragging them out as fast as they were trying to go in i would think they'll all just get along.  i stole a frame of brood from a hive that sits really close to another hive i split off of it a couple of weeks ago and when i bumped the bees off of it they marched right into both hives with no fighting.  at this point you're pretty much stuck with them doing what they want to anyway.  i can't believe you guys are getting swarms in north alabama and i haven't had a call yet this year. 

Offline javah

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2013, 10:04:58 pm »
 i can't believe you guys are getting swarms in north alabama and i haven't had a call yet this year.

This was my second swarm this week . The
First one is doing great. I guess the queen
Got away from me on this one. I might just
Do a split with them.

Offline Intheswamp

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2013, 10:35:34 am »
i can't believe you guys are getting swarms in north alabama and i haven't had a call yet this year.

This was my second swarm this week . The
First one is doing great. I guess the queen
Got away from me on this one. I might just
Do a split with them.
Could you have a virgin queen that doesn't have a strong pheromone presence yet?
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Offline 2Sox

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2013, 10:49:56 am »
I always carry a wax coated nuc box in my van with 1 frame of honey and 1 frame of empty comb inside plus 3 foundationless frames.  Carry lemon grass oil too. Cotton ball with lemon grass oil on it wiped on the sides of the box before I place the swarm inside.  Wipe some of this oil in the new hive box too. Never had a problem with a swarm jumping ship.
« Last Edit: April 18, 2013, 11:01:35 am by 2Sox »
"Good will is the desire to have something else stronger and more beautiful for this desire makes oneself stronger and more beautiful." - Eli Siegel, American educator, poet, founder of Aesthetic Realism

Offline javah

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2013, 02:21:36 pm »
I always carry a wax coated nuc box in my van with 1 frame of honey and 1 frame of empty comb inside plus 3 foundationless frames.  Carry lemon grass oil too. Cotton ball with lemon grass oil on it wiped on the sides of the box before I place the swarm inside.  Wipe some of this oil in the new hive box too. Never had a problem with a swarm jumping ship.

I will have to try this.   Thanks to all

Offline Intheswamp

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2013, 02:58:02 pm »
I always carry a wax coated nuc box in my van with 1 frame of honey and 1 frame of empty comb inside plus 3 foundationless frames.  Carry lemon grass oil too. Cotton ball with lemon grass oil on it wiped on the sides of the box before I place the swarm inside.  Wipe some of this oil in the new hive box too. Never had a problem with a swarm jumping ship.

I will have to try this.   Thanks to all
It's probably ok in the cool of spring, but come summertime if you've still got that nuc box in the vehicle I'm afraid it will be a dripping mess...at least here in south Alabama it will be.

Ed
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline 2Sox

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Re: Swarm
« Reply #10 on: April 18, 2013, 03:17:15 pm »
It's probably ok in the cool of spring, but come summertime if you've still got that nuc box in the vehicle I'm afraid it will be a dripping mess...at least here in south Alabama it will be.

Ed



Got that right! I usually remember to take it out when I pull into the driveway. It's right inside my front door.

"Good will is the desire to have something else stronger and more beautiful for this desire makes oneself stronger and more beautiful." - Eli Siegel, American educator, poet, founder of Aesthetic Realism

 

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