This morning I was collecting cackleberries when I heard the buzz. Looking out I saw no 6 hive swarming. Fortunately the swarm settled in the favoured spot just outside the apiary by the old bonfire. I had judged the presence of one well drawn queen cell to indicate possible supercedure but obviously the bees had other plans 
As I am prepared for such eventuality with newly built empty hives it was a simple matter to suit up, get the barrow and take the empty hive to the swarm which had coalesced nicely but was the biggest cluster I have had to deal with to date
I put the empty hive on the ground next to the bees, removed the centre frames, clipped away the unoccupied twigs and branches then clipped off and shook the cluster into the box. Some of the cluster fell into the grass in front of the hive but after I had gently replaced the frames and crownboard bees were fanning at the entrance and the bees in the grass began marching in.
I leaned a sheet of plywood to shade the hive and will move it back into the apiary tonight.
Time to order more frames and foundation methinks.
As I am prepared for such eventuality with newly built empty hives it was a simple matter to suit up, get the barrow and take the empty hive to the swarm which had coalesced nicely but was the biggest cluster I have had to deal with to date
I put the empty hive on the ground next to the bees, removed the centre frames, clipped away the unoccupied twigs and branches then clipped off and shook the cluster into the box. Some of the cluster fell into the grass in front of the hive but after I had gently replaced the frames and crownboard bees were fanning at the entrance and the bees in the grass began marching in.
I leaned a sheet of plywood to shade the hive and will move it back into the apiary tonight.
Time to order more frames and foundation methinks.
