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Author Topic: 2014 swarms  (Read 34343 times)

Offline 10framer

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2014 swarms
« on: March 05, 2014, 01:10:41 pm »
i was thinking that since we're following the bloom maybe we should follow the swarms too.  i'm thinking that some of the gulf coast and atlantic coast beekeepers will start getting swarm calls next week and that they will be popping up close to me by the last week of march as long as we don't have another freeze.  have any south florida beekeepers hived any yet?   

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2014, 01:19:47 pm »
Sounds like a great idea 10.
Like I said in another post, My mentor had a swarm in her swarm trap 2 weeks ago here in Jacksonville. I think it was a gift from above, someone poisoned all of her bees last fall.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
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Offline 10framer

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2014, 02:50:08 pm »
it seems like a lot later start than last year for everybody.  i drove to houston about this time last year and there was a sudden cold snap but i remember stopping in a town in either ms. or la. and seeing some crimson clover in bloom. 
aside from the lack of drones my bees seem to be ahead of this time last year and the build up flows started a little earlier.  all my clover had a big growth spurt and has greened up so i'm expecting it to come in just about on time in the country.

Offline iddee

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2014, 06:18:57 pm »
Sooner than that, 10. There was one caught in southern Georgia the 2nd or 3rd of this month.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Offline jayj200

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2014, 10:24:48 pm »
what a week

jay

OK I caught a swarm last week
« Last Edit: March 07, 2014, 06:59:31 pm by jayj200 »

Offline T Beek

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2014, 08:37:42 am »
 8-)
"Trust those who seek the truth, doubt those who say they've found it."

Offline bud1

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2014, 10:02:36 am »
talked to hardwood yesterday and he was hiving a swarm and said it was no 6
to bee or not to bee

Offline tefer2

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2014, 10:13:12 am »
Bud, next time you talk to Scott! Tell him to get his butt back on here.
We miss all those video's.

Offline bud1

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2014, 10:53:43 am »
tefer scotts home burned and he is building a house now and doesent have internet
to bee or not to bee

Offline 10framer

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2014, 11:43:34 am »
so they're out there but nobody's talking about them this year.  seems like bailey had hives 20 or 30 by this time last year.

Offline tefer2

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2014, 12:29:55 pm »
yes Bud I remember, guess most folks just have internet on their phone?
I did get him to respond through his e-mail once.
You'll probably see him at your house for the gathering! Tell him I said Hey!
Sorry for the hijack.

Offline RHBee

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #11 on: March 09, 2014, 08:35:44 am »
Rob, I had my first swarm yesterday. I was unable to hive them. They were in tall weeds at the base of a bush. I don't have a beevac yet. That's what it would have taken to get them..
Later,
Ray

Offline buzzbee

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #12 on: March 09, 2014, 08:39:11 am »
RH,
I have gathered these type of swarms before by laying a blanket on the ground and scraping the bees onto the blanket. Then fold and dump the blanket into the box.


« Last Edit: March 09, 2014, 08:50:26 am by buzzbee »

Offline 10framer

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #13 on: March 09, 2014, 08:49:56 am »
ray, i found my first drone in a hive that is trying to supercede and a few empty queen cups in a couple of other hives.  it looks like clover will probably be blooming in town in about a week and this year things seem to be running about a week behind in the country. 

Offline RHBee

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #14 on: March 09, 2014, 08:55:15 am »
RH,
I have gathered these type of swarms before by laying a blnket on the ground and scraping the bees onto the blanket. Then fold and dump the blanket into the box.

Thanks Ken. I imagine they are still there. I scooped up as many as I could into a medium populated with a frame of honey and some drawn comb. I was hoping the others would follow but it looked like they regrouped down at their original position. I'll give your method a try. The grass was wet and there were a lot of dead bees. I don't hold out a lot of hope.
Later,
Ray

Offline Jim134

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #15 on: March 09, 2014, 09:03:13 am »
i was thinking that since we're following the bloom maybe we should follow the swarms too.  i'm thinking that some of the gulf coast and atlantic coast beekeepers will start getting swarm calls next week and that they will be popping up close to me by the last week of march as long as we don't have another freeze.  have any south florida beekeepers hived any yet?    

IMHO
  The two should be tried together by what is blossoming when you see your first swarms I know for me in this part of New England it is apple blossom most likely.




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Moots

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #16 on: March 09, 2014, 10:52:02 am »
Got swarm #1 Yesterday from right behind my bee yard.  Assuming they came from one of my hives, but really don't know for sure.  Maybe I'll have a better idea if I get a chance to do some inspections today.

Offline 10framer

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #17 on: March 09, 2014, 12:17:40 pm »
sounds like it's about to turn on for the coastal beekeepers.  cajun country, the carolinas, florida and south georgia.  i'm so far behind it's not funny.

Offline RHBee

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #18 on: March 10, 2014, 11:02:24 am »
Second one today. Just put them in a box over a queen excluder. I'll remove the excluder in a couple of days.
Later,
Ray

Offline 10framer

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Re: 2014 swarms
« Reply #19 on: March 10, 2014, 11:05:15 am »
ray, are they your bees or are these calls?  just curious.
i saw a few crimson clover blooms in town yesterday.  it's about to ramp up and i'm not ready.