Building bait box(es)

[Eyeman]

Hi
Most of us have read this:
https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstr...d=4C327DB05E16DC7AB8A0D15C342C3326?sequence=2

If entrance is round and large and off the ground it may act as a bird box!

 

[Millet]

I build my bait hives from scratch. Once the wood is all cut up ( this can take a couple of hours) then each hive including contents takes 1hr to contruct. Made from 6mm ply means they are light and I made them narrow so they fit under the arm when on a ladder.
Contents are 1 old drawn frame , 4 frames with starter strips, plastic bag with lemon grass oil on a tissue and scrapings of hive debris from other hives sprinkled in the bottom.
All are approx 40L.
Many requests (after my suggestion that it would be better the swarm goes in bait hive than down their chimney) from friends and colleagues for a bait hive in their garden. So now have most of Manchester covered.
Sorry picture has been imported upside down
View attachment 12948

There you go.

 

[Motobiman]

Here's my high tech bait hive.
It has a scion hanging inside with some wax melted onto a wrap of hessian.
0830 and 9 degrees but someone seems likes it.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[B+.]

onto a wrap of hessian.

Have you caught any swarms using this method?
It has been my eperience that bees don't like hessian...just wondering if you have had any success.

 

[Motobiman]

Have you caught any swarms using this method?
It has been my eperience that bees don't like hessian...just wondering if you have had any success.

Not yet but lots of activity at the entrance.
Trouble is the weather is very changeable and seems to affect the scouting more than anything else.