caught swarm

[stenibee]

caught a swarm this morning in a poly nuc. all was ok but now they are all clustered over front of nuc. any ideas. thanks

 

[protheroe]

Try them in a full size brood box.

 

[itma]

Chuck them inside the nuc.
Check VERY carefully that Q is not still outside the box (particularly under it). Move the nuc a foot or so away, so it isn't covering the same patch of ground, and see whether bees return to the nuc or to the old patch of ground.
Watch for Nasonov fanning to confirm that Q is actually inside.

Once she is inside, set the entrance disc to the Queen Excluder position, and lock it with a nail (or map pin) to prevent any possibility of accidental rotation.
Fully open it after about 24/36 hours. During the time it is set to QX, ensure that it doesn't get blocked by drones.





You didn't mention if the swarm was collected miles from where they are now (or when you might have moved them).
If they were moved, one possibility is that Q was left behind, and there is no Q in the box or under it.

Good protocol is to leave the box at the collection site with the swarm inside (and entrance open or QX) until dark - when scouts etc should have all returned to rejoin the cluster inside the hive. If Q is not in the box, the bees won't stay inside and will very quickly (in minutes) rejoin Q in the tree or wherever. And you have to try again to get her ...


There was a very recent thread on a very similar subject ... with useful tips re old comb etc.
I'll add a link.
/// Found it! http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=33386

 

[BeeJayBee]

Good protocol is to leave the box at the collection site with the swarm inside (and entrance open or QX) until dark - when scouts etc should have all returned to rejoin the cluster inside the hive. If Q is not in the box, the bees won't stay inside and will very quickly (in minutes) rejoin Q in the tree or wherever. And you have to try again to get her ...

... and it isn't fair to leave half a swarm behind because they make a nuisance of themselves and there's a fair chance that most of them will die.

It is, however, making an assumption that this is what's happened in this instance. We don't know if the swarm was 'collected', or if it 'caught' means it arrived on its' own.

 

[itma]

...
It is, however, making an assumption that this is what's happened in this instance. We don't know if the swarm was 'collected', or if it 'caught' means it arrived on its' own.

Hey, c'mon, I made no such "assumption"!

...
You didn't mention if the swarm was collected miles from where they are now (or when you might have moved them).
If they were moved, one possibility is that Q was left behind, and there is no Q in the box or under it.

Good protocol is to leave the box at the collection site ...