First Swarm of the Year

[sherwood]

Had my first swarm of the year reported yesterday in Aston Clinton , Bucks.
Unfortunately they arrived and got in under a flat roof and had to be destroyed.

So beekeepers beware its not to early.

 

[MartinL]

Had my first swarm of the year . . . got in under a flat roof and had to be destroyed.

Destroyed?
By Who?

Can other swarms/scouts still access the same place????

 

[viridens]

....and had to be destroyed.

No.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Had my first swarm of the year reported yesterday in Aston Clinton , Bucks.
Unfortunately they arrived and got in under a flat roof and had to be destroyed.

So beekeepers beware its not to early.

Swarm or an existing colony that was just noticed?

 

[dpearce4]

Swarm or an existing colony that was just noticed?

Sounds most likely. but never say never, it has been a warm winter and if my hives are anything to go by they are big colonies already.

 

[sherwood]

Swarm or an existing colony that was just noticed?

I did say arrived so not an existing colony and went under the roof. from where it was impossible to extract them. They were then treated and the means by which they gained entry was sealed, done by a true professional who does not destroy bees if he can possibly avoid it.

 

[sherwood]

Sounds most likely. but never say never, it has been a warm winter and if my hives are anything to go by they are big colonies already.

Yes I went into my colonies this afternoon and bar two they are well advanced some had drones wandering across the frames and two had Qcells with lavi and royal jelly. Some hives had as many as 9 frames of brood and when you consider that these are Commercials thats a considerable number of bees One had even managed to start laying in a super I had put below over the winter. Q's in the brood box now a queen excluder in place and the super with brood on top with another super above. Yes and the Rapes in flower a sarcastic whoppee

 

[Tom Bick]

Even if it's commercial I would be giving that hive more brood space rather than supers. Sounds like a good colony, I have a few on 8-9 frames of brood.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Even if it's commercial I would be giving that hive more brood space rather than supers. Sounds like a good colony, I have a few on 8-9 frames of brood.

Sigh.......I do miss living in Middlesex

 

[Erichalfbee]

I did say arrived

Missed that....sorry

 

[Tom Bick]

Sigh.......I do miss living in Middlesex

The nice mild weather of the south east

There are some very strong hives and with this warm weather at the moment expanding very very fast. Brood space is important right now but if it stays warm I will be fitting supers very soon.

Still early and it was similar last year then rained right through May and slowed things down.

 

[dpearce4]

doing my first full inspections tomorrow on my hives and also adding supers to them as they were very large when I looked under the crowns last week.

 

[Millet]

I did say arrived so not an existing colony and went under the roof. from where it was impossible to extract them. They were then treated and the means by which they gained entry was sealed, done by a true professional who does not destroy bees if he can possibly avoid it.

What had to be done was done, now the Grumps kick in and try to belittle you for something you did not do, hey ohh we love the internet.. lol

 

[Tom Bick]

Had my first swarm of the year reported yesterday in Aston Clinton , Bucks.
Unfortunately they arrived and got in under a flat roof and had to be destroyed.

So beekeepers beware its not to early.

Well it is possible but wonder if there is a beekeeper near by wondering what happens to their bees following the shook swarm

 

[bjosephd]

This is why I am rather pleased to have two of my colonies on double brood, hoping that the extra space already there means they are not getting cramped before I can make a first full inspection.

The third hive had a well insulated shallow put on a few weeks ago to increase brood space, they have now very much moved up.

Hope to do some inspections today... but have a few local lawns to mow!

 

[pargyle]

Well it is possible but wonder if there is a beekeeper near by wondering what happens to their bees following the shook swarm

Yes ... bees are not that stupid ... it's very early for a true swarm even in the heat of Middlesex ... Not impossible - just unlikely. Two of my colonies are really starting to get masses of brood but very few drone cells. Another three weeks ... then it's very likely if this mild weather stays. So much stuff in blossom this week - blackthorn like I'ver never seen, the early plums and cherries - even some apple and pear blossom. Dandelions and early rape everywhere ... great start to the season if it stays dry and reasonably warm. Got my spare boxes ready !

 

[Erichalfbee]

Well. I discovered a colony on 8 solid frames of 14x12 brood today and drone brood too.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Well it is possible but wonder if there is a beekeeper near by wondering what happens to their bees following the shook swarm

Well. I discovered a colony on 8 solid frames of 14x12 brood today and drone brood too.

Few of mine are already supered up, decided to double brood another at the training apiary as an experiment as they have a tendency to swarm if they haven't masses of space.

 

[BrianO]

Yes I went into my colonies this afternoon and bar two they are well advanced some had drones wandering across the frames and two had Qcells with lavi and royal jelly. Some hives had as many as 9 frames of brood and when you consider that these are Commercials thats a considerable number of bees One had even managed to start laying in a super I had put below over the winter. Q's in the brood box now a queen excluder in place and the super with brood on top with another super above. Yes and the Rapes in flower a sarcastic whoppee

And we are Off !!!!! Hold on to your Britchers !!!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

And we are Off !!!!! Hold on to your Britchers !!!!

I'm sure sherwood has artificially swarmed them