hiving a swarm in the rain
- Thread starter shrekfeet
- Start date
Help Support Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum:
enrico
Queen Bee
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2011
- Messages
- 12,040
- Reaction score
- 3,329
- Location
- Somerset levels
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 5
Quickly!
If the box is waterproof put it on top of the hive until the rain eases up.
E
If the box is waterproof put it on top of the hive until the rain eases up.
E
drstitson
Queen Bee
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2010
- Messages
- 7,656
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- surrey, lincolnshire etc.
- Hive Type
- Dadant
- Number of Hives
- 14
under an umbrella.
tip/shake bees into empty hive, carefully slip in frames and close. job done.
tip/shake bees into empty hive, carefully slip in frames and close. job done.
beeno
Queen Bee
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2011
- Messages
- 5,181
- Reaction score
- 234
- Location
- South East
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 5
Shake them in after six then they will not want to go anywhere.
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2010
- Messages
- 11,257
- Reaction score
- 2,932
- Location
- Stoke on Trent
- Hive Type
- Langstroth
- Number of Hives
- 6 to 8 Langstroth jumbos, a few Langstroth and National nucs.
+1
Margaret Elisabeth
Field Bee
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2012
- Messages
- 545
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Sheffield
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 2
My bees were still flying at eight yesterday, doesn't bed time depend on sun and temperature rather than time?
YorkshireBees
Drone Bee
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2010
- Messages
- 1,590
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- South Yorkshire
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 10-20 (mix of poly / wood)
"I think the weather is due to be really wet"
Yes I have seen bees flying into dusk when it's warm but the OP has pointed out the weather outlook is not good.
btw I agree tip / shake (if possible with someone holding a brolly over hive).
If it's not raining too hard it will not hurt them, I have had to do inspections in light rain the last couple of weeks.
Margaret Elisabeth
Field Bee
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2012
- Messages
- 545
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Sheffield
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 2
Yes I agree if a helper can be found the brolly tech. would be good. I aim to use a sun umbrella that I can push into the ground today.
The main problem is the poster. 'I think' is defeatist. It rarely rains so hard, for so long, at this time of the year that all beekeeping is suspended for a whole day. Exactly how long does it take to pour the bees into a hive? Where would these bees be if they were not collected and had not yet re-homed themselves?
I would recommend the method of:
Wait for a lull in the downpour.
Remove roof and crownboard of recipient hive.
Remove a couple or three central frames.
Transfer bees to box ensuring all are out of the swarm box.
Replace crownboard and wait about 5 mins.
Replace frames (removed previously) taking care not to crush bees.
Replace crownboard and roof.
Job done.
If the bees are already on frames, it is just as easy, if not easier!
No real problem at all, as far as I can see. Anyone who thinks the worst, before even looking out the window, needs to think carefully about how bees have got by for millions of years.
I would recommend the method of:
Wait for a lull in the downpour.
Remove roof and crownboard of recipient hive.
Remove a couple or three central frames.
Transfer bees to box ensuring all are out of the swarm box.
Replace crownboard and wait about 5 mins.
Replace frames (removed previously) taking care not to crush bees.
Replace crownboard and roof.
Job done.
If the bees are already on frames, it is just as easy, if not easier!
No real problem at all, as far as I can see. Anyone who thinks the worst, before even looking out the window, needs to think carefully about how bees have got by for millions of years.
