Collected the first swarm of 2017 from a Blackthorn hedge this afternoon. The major part of the swarm was clustered on a branch but a part of the cluster had fallen off and was on the ground below.
I placed a brood box and floor adjacent to the group on the ground, cut off the branch and shook the bees into the box. Gently inserted frames of foundation and fitted a crownboard. The bees on the ground marched in to the entrance and joined their friends. I left the box in place until evening when i found all the bees had gone inside and i could relocate the hive.
Left them three days to draw comb and use the stores they carried in.
I placed a brood box and floor adjacent to the group on the ground, cut off the branch and shook the bees into the box. Gently inserted frames of foundation and fitted a crownboard. The bees on the ground marched in to the entrance and joined their friends. I left the box in place until evening when i found all the bees had gone inside and i could relocate the hive.
Left them three days to draw comb and use the stores they carried in.
