Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: Pete on September 12, 2010, 08:06:42 pm

Title: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: Pete on September 12, 2010, 08:06:42 pm
Collected my first wild hive this weekend and knocked back another and I hope to get plenty of calls for swarms. I have an acre and can legally fit 10 hives, i now have 2.

Not sure if i actually want 10 hives at home, so i was wondering what everyone does with swarms and colonies they catch? Should we be stock piling them for the northerners after the locust plague? Do you sell em, or find land to keep them?  I might be able to store a few at some rellies with 20 acres nearby but how many can you realistic manage as a hobby?
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: harvey on September 12, 2010, 09:40:21 pm
I started with one,  then as everyone tells you that you need at least two this spring I bought two packages then caught four swarms,  I now have seven hives and the swarms are by far the best.  I built five swarm traps (bait hives), they worked real well this year.  Next year I plan to build enough boxes to got 15 hives.  I am going to put all of them next year in to mediums verses deeps.  I have no problem manages these seven and figure another eight will be not much more time.  Why?  Not realy sure.  I do love honey and love giving it as gifts.  Others sure love getting it too!   After 15 hives then where do I go?  20, 25?  Start selling nucs?  Don't know right now but will tell ya in a couple of years.  Have fun.
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: OzBuzz on September 12, 2010, 09:54:09 pm


Not sure if i actually want 10 hives at home, so i was wondering what everyone does with swarms and colonies they catch? Should we be stock piling them for the northerners after the locust plague? Do you sell em, or find land to keep them?  I might be able to store a few at some rellies with 20 acres nearby but how many can you realistic manage as a hobby?


I reckon after the spraying that will be undertaken for the locusts a lot of feral hives will be wiped out - i can see a heavy reliance on commercial pollnation services next year
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: Meadlover on September 13, 2010, 10:22:02 pm
Congrats on getting your first swarm! Great feeling isn't it  :-D

I started by being given 2 hives - 1 got smashed by SHB and they absconded.
Now have 6 hives thanks to trapouts and Slicko, 7 if my current trapout is successful.

5 swarm calls so far in the last 2 weeks so should be a good swarm season - still haven't set my swarm traps yet  :oops:

I have pretty much run out of boxes so anymore I get I am giving to a mate who lives in Stanthorpe and is after some bees. After that I'm not sure what I will do with them - probably start with using them to boost my hives I guess.

ML

Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: OzBuzz on September 13, 2010, 11:27:25 pm

I have pretty much run out of boxes so anymore I get I am giving to a mate who lives in Stanthorpe and is after some bees. After that I'm not sure what I will do with them - probably start with using them to boost my hives I guess.

ML



Why not make up some cheap and easy plywood nucleus boxes? they work a treat!
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: philinacoma on September 13, 2010, 11:31:51 pm
I may end up having to make som eup too...

As to where mine go, mostly beginners.
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: Meadlover on September 14, 2010, 12:10:33 am

I have pretty much run out of boxes so anymore I get I am giving to a mate who lives in Stanthorpe and is after some bees. After that I'm not sure what I will do with them - probably start with using them to boost my hives I guess.

ML



Why not make up some cheap and easy plywood nucleus boxes? they work a treat!

If I can find some cheap/free plywood that is exactly what I will be doing!

ML
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: OzBuzz on September 14, 2010, 12:16:15 am
So far i have made up five boxes with free plywood and i got enough plywood from a family friend (who lays timber floors) to make about ten more... it's worth a shot to call people and ask - even carpenters - what's the worst thing they can say?
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: Meadlover on September 14, 2010, 12:52:14 am
Your a champion Ozbuzz - a mate's brother makes wooden floors for a living!  :lol:
Should be catching up with him this weekend - will suss it out  :-D

ML
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: Pete on September 15, 2010, 07:29:55 pm
Something to consider for those of us getting established feral hives. I went to my bee mentor last night who told me they had seen Foul Brood in established hives in Mordialloc. She reminded me to be very careful bringing feral hives back to my own bee yard.

It makes sense to deliberately look for Foul Brood and really try to quarantine where possible before exposing the ferals to your own bees. there is a testing service avilable via the DPI if you suspect it and every single instance must be reported.

http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/notes/agg/animal-health/ag1145-afb-smart--helping-to-detect-american-foulbrood (http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/notes/agg/animal-health/ag1145-afb-smart--helping-to-detect-american-foulbrood)



Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: westmar on September 15, 2010, 08:46:50 pm
hi
   it a good idea the gear you used on cut outs.not to be used in every day apiary work with out been cleaned properly.nuc box's or hive body's used for the job cleaned,gloves,hive tool good way to spread disease.good idea have gear separate.
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: philinacoma on September 15, 2010, 10:07:15 pm
hi
   it a good idea the gear you used on cut outs.not to be used in every day apiary work with out been cleaned properly.nuc box's or hive body's used for the job cleaned,gloves,hive tool good way to spread disease.good idea have gear separate.

That makes a lot of sense. I think I'll go that way too and have a special cut out/swarm set of gear. Thanks Westmar.
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: OzBuzz on September 16, 2010, 02:36:01 am
I'm with you guys on that one! i'm going to make sure that i clean everything really well with either heat (naked flame) or alcohol/sodium hypochlorite - even swarms can carry AFB spores...
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: westmar on September 16, 2010, 08:02:43 pm
hi
   with the cut outs are u seeing any hive beetle,hive i went to up in miles last summar was loaded with them.the beetle was still active this winter her.year before they disappeared.metho is good one to have  in your tool kit use on hive tool pour little on light it .keep The bugs off.just be carefull.
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: AllenF on September 16, 2010, 08:06:28 pm
Metho for hive beetle?
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: OzBuzz on September 16, 2010, 08:24:49 pm
Metho for hive beetle?

I think he meant metho for sterilising your equipment - pour it on your hive tool and then light it up! just don't get it on your hands and then light it up :)
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: AllenF on September 16, 2010, 08:29:49 pm
Up here, they use Clorox wipes to clean the tools between hives to stop disease.
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: philinacoma on September 16, 2010, 08:42:24 pm
Up here, they use Clorox wipes to clean the tools between hives to stop disease.

Has anyone seen anything like these clorox wipes in Oz?
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: AllenF on September 16, 2010, 09:01:46 pm
More info  http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=187984&pid=Froogle&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=201282 (http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=187984&pid=Froogle&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=201282)
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: OzBuzz on September 16, 2010, 10:01:34 pm
Up here, they use Clorox wipes to clean the tools between hives to stop disease.

Has anyone seen anything like these clorox wipes in Oz?

There's heaps of alternatives to Clorox wipes...

Wipes are fine if you leave it for a minimum of 15mins between wiping and re-using... the metho/flaming method would be instantaneous - even putting your hive tool in your smoker would work
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: AllenF on September 16, 2010, 11:07:46 pm
Why would you have to wait 15 mins?
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: OzBuzz on September 17, 2010, 01:18:39 am
That's the minimum contact time that alcohol wipes have shown to be effective against spore formers such as P. larvae var larvae (AFB). If you don't leave that contact time then the spores can simlply be damaged but given nutritious conditions they can repair the damage
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: philinacoma on September 17, 2010, 02:09:40 am
So, if you're moving between a group of hives you have at a site, is there a quicker sterilisation technique?
eg Dipping in a bleach solution?

Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: OzBuzz on September 17, 2010, 02:28:22 am
Dip in metho and flame or dip in your smoker - instantaneous sterilisation
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: philinacoma on September 17, 2010, 03:38:09 am
What about gloves, brush etc? I wouldn't want to flame up the painted handle of the hive tool...
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: AllenF on September 17, 2010, 09:57:44 pm
Clorox is bleach.
Title: Re: Swarms and Colony Collections
Post by: westmar on September 18, 2010, 12:29:09 am
hi
   wonder how the rubber chemical gloves would go.maybe heat up to much on hands and sweat.had pair on the farm for spraying.