Caught my fist swarm

[ratty4moley]

Found a swarm today, in our field on a hedge, managed to collect most of them. They are now in a hive and so far not decided to wander off. How long before I can assume that they are here to stay?

 

[ratty4moley]

That should of course be FIRST swarm .

 

[snelgrove]

Place a queen excluder under brood box, after a day or so remove it. when they are drawing comb it is safe. Also feed them

 

[Jazzygem]

Hi Snelgrove.

With interest, why do you feed them if they are a swarm? I understood that they flew with bellies full and that you only fed if the swarm was late in season?

Jazzygem

 

[snelgrove]

Hi Snelgrove.

With interest, why do you feed them if they are a swarm? I understood that they flew with bellies full and that you only fed if the swarm was late in season?

Jazzygem

There bellys might be full when they swarmed. Other factors come into account, how long was it when they swarmed did they hang around in the tree with bad weather having used up there full stomach. Feeding a swarm helps the bees pull comb well beyond the reserves they have, weather may be bad after hiving up.. feeding helps that's the answer

 

[Jazzygem]

ok thanks for that.

 

[ratty4moley]

I put some light syrup in last night and they were on it straight away. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Motobiman]

I hived my first swarm last night at about 2100 and left the box with a very few bees still clinging on level with the hive entrance.
This morning I hived them again.
Lesson?

 

[dpearce4]

Place a queen excluder under brood box, after a day or so remove it. when they are drawing comb it is safe. Also feed them

it didn't work for me when I did that on Thursday looked in sunday to remove the QX and all the bees had gone. I think I may have hived them to close to where I caught the swarm.

 

[ratty4moley]

it didn't work for me when I did that on Thursday looked in sunday to remove the QX and all the bees had gone. I think I may have hived them to close to where I caught the swarm.

Mine stayed, their new hive about 120 yards from where I caught them. As advised I gave them light syrup that night and yesterday, 24 hrs. after hiving them, I opened them up to install more frames and was amazed with the amount of work that they've done, of the 4 frames that were in hive lots of drawn comb appearing and lots of brace comb hanging like elephant ears. So sorted that out and fitted rest of frames. It looks like they're here to stay.

 

[beeno]

Hi ratty,
That seems promising but don't disturb them too much.

 

[ratty4moley]

Hi ratty,
That seems promising but don't disturb them too much.

I stood back this afternoon and what a lovely sight at the new hive, lots of activity with returning bees loaded with pollen... I can't believe that a couple of days ago I had only one hive in the garden and now have a second in the orchard. I now feel the need to check the field hedgerows just in case another swarm lands.

 

[BeeJayBee]

I now feel the need to check the field hedgerows just in case another swarm lands.

Good plan, and maybe organise another bait hive too?

 

[Motobiman]

Weather has turned overcast with a cold north wind since I hived a small swarm.

I put an eke and feeder on top with syrup and some insulation under the roof and there are bees underneath the top board but they seem reluctant to come up and feed.

I need to remove the QX sometime but really don't want to disturb them in this weather.

Anyone got a comment on the dangers, if any, of leaving the QX in place until the weather picks up and they start foraging?

 

[Motobiman]

Ok the girls are up in the feeder now and off foraging, although the weather is still 10degrees with a cold north wind blowing so quickly removed QX.