Bait Hive wins vote

[AndyJ01]

Hi,

My bait hive seems to have secured a vote of confidence this morning and is suddenly full of bees! It is a national box with three or four old frames of comb. Access is not brilliant (not sure I though this through) as it is in the roof space of the log store. Ideally I would like to move it assuming they settle to my other hives about 200 yards away. Can I shut them in and move tonight or do I need to worry about the 3 mile rule?

Any other tips?

Thanks

 

[Roola]

Hi,

My bait hive seems to have secured a vote of confidence this morning and is suddenly full of bees! It is a national box with three or four old frames of comb. Access is not brilliant (not sure I though this through) as it is in the roof space of the log store. Ideally I would like to move it assuming they settle to my other hives about 200 yards away. Can I shut them in and move tonight or do I need to worry about the 3 mile rule?

Any other tips?

Thanks

Are you sure a swarm has arrived and its not just excessive scouting? Just also checking the frames were clean of any honey?

If you have caught a swarm:
I find that soon after moving in a swarm will begin orientation flights so if you move now in a small proximity you will end up with a problem.

Lastly, DONT move them to your other hives, you have no idea where these bees have come from or if they have disease! Keep them at a separate location, leave them for a few days to use up their cropped honey stores then a light feed. Also add in extra foundation to fill the box, you'd be amazed how quickly a swarm will draw out comb!

 

[AndyJ01]

Thanks.

I went out last night for a proper look. Up the ladder in the rain, climbing into a fairly claustrophobic space and opening up the box made me slightly apprehensive. Lifted off the roof and found a few bees scattered about, but not as many as I expected. Then I realised they were mostly clustered underneath the hive. I retreated to collect more hive parts and then built another hive and transferred bees and frames. I swept up the stragglers and dumped them in the new box and then added foundation. They'd already been drawing comb under the floor.

I will leave them there for now while I look for somewhere to move them out to for a few weeks. Anything else?