Decided to call it a day then they swarmed - what next

[BCBEE]

Hi and thanks for reading my post.
I got my first bees last year (2011). I only have one national hive.
Since then I have had several things happen in my life and I have found it difficult to dedicate the time to look after my girls. After a lot of though I decided that the best thing to do was to give the bees up and give them away to perhaps a newbeek. I even lay awake last night thinking about them after having done an inspection yesterday. All was well but as i was doing it I realised I wasnt getting the joy i expected. I found a few queen cells which i removed.

This morning I got up and found they had swarmed and were hanging off a nearby fence. I was just going out to work so couldnt do anything.

The question I have is do i collect these and ask the local swarm collector to take them and give them away and perhaps take the rest of the bees from my remaining hive. Or chance putting them back in the hive and giveing the whole lot away. i realise the chances of reswarming would be high though.

I intend calling the local clubs swarm collector this morning but just wondered what others thought

Thanks again

Phill

 

[drstitson]

" found a few queen cells which i removed."

presumably some sealed?

if you don't want the bees call the local swarm collector. also mention your unwanted colony.

 

[wightbees]

Have you got anything to collect them in.a bucket will do.
then turn it up side down with a small gap under it.the weather is looking bad,so give them some help

 

[drstitson]

wighbees - exactly what i would have suggested EXCEPT for the use of part tense in the statement "I was just going out to work so couldnt do anything."

 

[Andre cardona]

How To Hive A Swarm

her is all you need to know
How To Hive A Swarm

http://thecardonagoodlife.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/how-to-hive-swarm.html

good luck with them

 

[Skyhook]

Yes, I would call a local swarm collector ASAP. It surprises me that they would have swarmed by 7.00 am, I wonder if they could have swarmed yesterday? Anyway, in this weather, the sooner the better. If you're in the local association someone should help as regards the (now queenless) hive, otherwise yes, mention it to the swarm collector.

And I think you're absolutely right to be honest about it if beekeeping has turned out to be not for you.

 

[victor meldrew]

This is one of the reasons I hammer home the message ; " Work with a beekeeper for at least one full season before obtaining bees "whether it be an individual or an association ! .
It is far too easy to get swept along with the enthusiasm without realising the size of the commitment .
I'm afraid too many branches of the BBKA . push the obtaining of bees too early, very often selling the wide eyed a taster course, followed by supplying bees the very first year , when the newbie has hardly had time to draw their breath
Some, feeling inadequate, hang in there ,not wishing to let the side down, far too long !
This isn't fair to the person caught up in this or the bees or to the neighbourhood .
At least you've held your hand up ! realised that beekeeping isn't for you , bit the bullet and called it a day . This will save you a lot of heart ache.
May I suggest you hang onto your hive (empty) and your beesuit and attend the association meetings . Test yourself handling someone elses bees , witness swarm collecting, get involved with all aspects of beekeeping at your own pace rather than at the pace dictated by the colony you're responsible for .
Who knows, once the trepidation has subsided ,you may wish to pick up where you left off or if not you will at least have a market to off load your gear on and know the prices by then
Regards VM

 

[For want of a better word]

How many have had to give beekeepering up, due to the changing of circumstances, but have kept the smoker, veil and a skep, on the shelf.......

.... used my battered old used and abused 1/2 pint smoker for a 2 hive inspection yesterday... some memories came flooding back !

Good Luck

 

[AnotherNewBee]

This is one of the reasons I hammer home the message ; " Work with a beekeeper for at least one full season before obtaining bees "whether it be an individual or an association ! .

Sensible advice. Beekeeping is a bit of a fad at the moment. People are being persuaded that it's easy, cheap, profitable and doesn't take up much time. Too many people are too easily mislead by the hype.

I think of bees like any other livestock or animal needing to be cared for. They come first, regardless of any other routine commitment. If your dog needs feeding you do it now, not after work. If your cat needs taking to the vet you do it now, no matter what else you should be doing. If your cows need milking and it's too cold or wet to go out - you do it regardless. Similarly, if your bees need some urgent attention they get it.

Fortunately the association I'm training with has a sensible approach to acquiring bees. They don't encourage it until they are satisfied that the trainee is ready. Obviously they can't stop someone going out and buying a colony (or finding a lucky swarm). The trainees who follow their mentors can make substantial savings by being patient and waiting for a swarm or a split from an established colony.

 

[BCBEE]

Sensible advice. Beekeeping is a bit of a fad at the moment. People are being persuaded that it's easy, cheap, profitable and doesn't take up much time. Too many people are too easily mislead by the hype.

I think of bees like any other livestock or animal needing to be cared for. They come first, regardless of any other routine commitment. If your dog needs feeding you do it now, not after work. If your cat needs taking to the vet you do it now, no matter what else you should be doing. If your cows need milking and it's too cold or wet to go out - you do it regardless. Similarly, if your bees need some urgent attention they get it.

Fortunately the association I'm training with has a sensible approach to acquiring bees. They don't encourage it until they are satisfied that the trainee is ready. Obviously they can't stop someone going out and buying a colony (or finding a lucky swarm). The trainees who follow their mentors can make substantial savings by being patient and waiting for a swarm or a split from an established colony.

Thanks for this and all the advice.
I had always wanted to keep bees. I remember my grandad showing me a beard of bees when i was a nipper and visitied him in norfolk. He had been a keeper for 40+ yrs

Will consider the options