- Joined
- Oct 19, 2009
- Messages
- 1,479
- Reaction score
- 302
- Location
- Newport, South Wales
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- >6
On Saturday I went to check out a new apiary site. After we had looked over the site and decided on the best location for the hives, the farmer asked me if I would move a feral colony that moved into an upturned digger bucket last year.
He doesn't want to move them far - they aren't causing a nuisance, and certainly seem to be very placid - but he wants the digger bucket back! So the plan is to re-house them then move the hive a yard at a time over a few weeks so eventually they will be ~10 yards from where they are now.
The bucket is of course cast iron (or similar thick metal) and heavy; however the farmer has a digger so can lift it so accessing the combs shouldn't be an issue.
As I haven't looked inside yet I don't know how extensive the nest is, but the bucket has quite a large volume (compared to a nat brood box).
What would folks recommend - cut out the comb and cobble it together in frames, or do a shook swarm onto new foundation? Or what? Shook swarm sounds attractive to me - easier/quicker to do and fresh start on clean comb.
He doesn't want to move them far - they aren't causing a nuisance, and certainly seem to be very placid - but he wants the digger bucket back! So the plan is to re-house them then move the hive a yard at a time over a few weeks so eventually they will be ~10 yards from where they are now.
The bucket is of course cast iron (or similar thick metal) and heavy; however the farmer has a digger so can lift it so accessing the combs shouldn't be an issue.
As I haven't looked inside yet I don't know how extensive the nest is, but the bucket has quite a large volume (compared to a nat brood box).
What would folks recommend - cut out the comb and cobble it together in frames, or do a shook swarm onto new foundation? Or what? Shook swarm sounds attractive to me - easier/quicker to do and fresh start on clean comb.