Any scouts at your swarm trap?

[Erichalfbee]

I’d have left your bait hive in place. You might have another

 

[rossbyjove]

Yeah I know !!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Go on. You know you want to

 

[rossbyjove]

I realise that I will end up with more than one hive, maybe several.
Right now I will concentrate on attempting to be a reasonably competent Bee keeper, so one hive will do for now.
I have to say that suiting up, lighting the smoker and opening up the Nuc box to transfer the frames with thousands of Bees on was a very , very satisfying experience. My partner who was very concerned at the idea keeps sneaking off to the veg garden to have a look.

 

[Sutty]

You have a lot more options with a second hive eg if you accidentally render them queenless, 1 turns out to be bad tempered, etc, etc.

 

[Erichalfbee]

My partner who was very concerned at the idea keeps sneaking off to the veg garden to have a look.

Tell me!
When I first had bees I had a scope on them from the kitchen window.
I still love sitting watching them.

 

[Martimart]

I realise that I will end up with more than one hive, maybe several.
Right now I will concentrate on attempting to be a reasonably competent Bee keeper, so one hive will do for now.
I have to say that suiting up, lighting the smoker and opening up the Nuc box to transfer the frames with thousands of Bees on was a very , very satisfying experience. My partner who was very concerned at the idea keeps sneaking off to the veg garden to have a look.

If you have 1 hive then you need a second. 2 is no different to 1 in terms of work etc. BUT if you have 2 hives and something goes totally wrong with one, you have the other as a insurance policy, to swap frames of brood over if you make one accidentally hopelessly queen less. With 2 you can also compare apples with apples. I always wanted just one hive at the bottom of the garden, after much research I got 2 hives..... I now have 4. But the gaffer has put her foot down and I'm seriously not allowed anymore.... So I've put a bait hive on the garage roof (she never looks up there) It's like a drug, you'll never be able to stop at 1.

 

[rossbyjove]

You have a lot more options with a second hive eg if you accidentally render them queenless, 1 turns out to be bad tempered, etc, etc.

Once I get started on something I enjoy I usually go all in. No doubt I will have another hive sooner rather than later.
No idea how many I will have next year!!!!!

 

[Do224]

A few more scouts turning up now…


View attachment IMG_8068.MOV

 

[Wilco]

Had scouts for the last week then swarm finally today. As per above discussion it went very quiet a few min before then got very loud!

If you have wifi and power, I recommend sticking a camera in the bait box, fun to watch!

 

[Do224]

If you have wifi and power, I recommend sticking a camera in the bait box, fun to watch!

i don’t…so you’ll have to post a clip of yours please

 

[Wilco]

i don’t…so you’ll have to post a clip of yours please

Maybe I should have put it on this thread instead of: What did you do in the Apiary today?

Can add plenty of scout clips plus the quiet bit if wanted.

 

[gwt_uk]

Lots of scouts yesterday at one swarm trap but that was later in the day. Horrendous rain here in the Lothians today so doubt there will be much swarming.....maybe tomorrow!

 

[Ian123]

Yeah I know !!

Don’t overly worry lemon grass always pulls in a few passing bees, not necessarily scouts!!

 

[user 20297]

In a way, I'm relieved to see zero activity at the bait hives today. It may just be the calm before the storm, but today is a typical swarm day after a rainy day yesterday. My shaky swarm "abatement" measures on Sunday may have done the trick?

 

[Buzzo]

quite busy -yesterday 5 at trap 1 , 3 at trap 2 . hot on the South Coast today so fingers crossed.

 

[Do224]

Really ramping up today…this was 10:30am


View attachment IMG_8078.MOV

 

[user 20297]

Really ramping up today…this was 10:30am


View attachment 31945

Where do you think all your swarm bees come from?

 

[Do224]

Where do you think all your swarm bees come from?

I really don’t know… there is a woodland nearby .

Anyway, they arrived an hour later

View attachment IMG_8081.MOV

 

[user 20297]

I really don’t know… there is a woodland nearby .

Anyway, they arrived an hour later

View attachment 31947

Great to see you've not lost the knack.