Hiving a wild colony

[Dogged]

Hi there - I recently discovered that a swarm has set up home in an empty box at the end of the garden. They are thriving and the box is crammed with comb. I'd like to hive them. Any idea how I can do this? or if it is possible at all.

 

[pargyle]

Hi there - I recently discovered that a swarm has set up home in an empty box at the end of the garden. They are thriving and the box is crammed with comb. I'd like to hive them. Any idea how I can do this? or if it is possible at all.

Yes ... just cut the comb out and fasten it into some frames in a conventional hive using rubber bands. Find the queen, put her in a cage if you can and then put the new hive with the frames with comb where the 'box' was - put the queen in there in the cage - tip any bees still in the old box into the the new box, remove the old box and all the bees should take up residence in the new hive.

If you do the cut out in the afternoon when it's fine there will be fewer bees around - leave them until dusk by which time they should all be in the new hive ... Bobs yr uncle - job done - you can move it to somewhere else - you might put a few branches over the entrance and you might find that a few bees are returning to the original box site but if the new hive is not too far away they should find there way there - if they don't and you get a bit of a cluster at the old spot just sweep them into a box and dump them into the new hive - they will get the idea.

If you search 'cut out' on here there are lots that are more difficult.

You will have a lot of flying bees about once you start tearing their home apart and it can be a bit daunting so make sure you're fully booted and suited - I use a pair of marigolds with a pair of nitriles on top so they can't sting my hands. It's a great experience to have ...

 

[Jimy Dee]

Dogged - another way is next spring (on the basis your "box" is a suitable size), get a brood box filled with frames and foundation, then turn your existing box upside down (with no floor) and sit the new brood box (with frames and foundation) on top of it and the bees will travel up into the new box and establish their living quarters up there. I have not done this but I am going to do it myself next spring because I have a similar situation to you. Of course you will have to ensure they have an opening to get in and out. When they have moved up and you are satisfied the queen is laying there take away the bottom old box. Keep the old box as a swarm lure.

 

[Thymallus]

I'd ignore Roger's advice about NOT using rubber bands, they work fine. He gets crotchety when he gets contradicted. But knowing what sort of box you are talking about would be a great help. Is it an old brood box?

 

[pargyle]

I'd ignore Roger's advice about NOT using rubber bands, they work fine. He gets crotchety when he gets contradicted. But knowing what sort of box you are talking about would be a great help. Is it an olde brood box?

Yep ... those heavy duty red ones that the postman insists on leaving on my drive are the best ... but as a fall back I also have a reel of that plastic covered wire you use for tying plants up - the stuff that looks like the ties for freezer bags.

These:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FLEXIBLE-...NE-DISPENSE-/231485826197?hash=item35e5a16495

They are only three for a quid in my local pound shop .. nice thing is you can just pull a long length off and use the inbuilt cutter to chop it off - almost a one handed job at a pinch. I put some lengths of this horizontally around the frames once the comb was in place with rubber bands - belt, braces and a piece of string.

Only other thing I would say is try and keep the comb in the frames reasonably straight when you are tying them in or they will get a bit creative with where they build on to it (Trust me ... I've got two frames that are joined like siamese twins from my compost bin cut out ! - Not that I'm bothered about them at present as they are brood frames and the queen is laying everywhere).

 

[Dogged]

I'd ignore Roger's advice about NOT using rubber bands, they work fine. He gets crotchety when he gets contradicted. But knowing what sort of box you are talking about would be a great help. Is it an old brood box?

Whoa! I don't want to get involved in a domestic here!! It is an old brood box that I had put to one side for cleaning and it kind of got forgotten for a couple of months. Ironically I've had a bait hive up on a flat roof for three years and no-one ever moved into that one. Bees, huh?

 

[Dogged]

Dogged - another way is next spring (on the basis your "box" is a suitable size), get a brood box filled with frames and foundation, then turn your existing box upside down (with no floor) and sit the new brood box (with frames and foundation) on top of it and the bees will travel up into the new box and establish their living quarters up there. I have not done this but I am going to do it myself next spring because I have a similar situation to you. Of course you will have to ensure they have an opening to get in and out. When they have moved up and you are satisfied the queen is laying there take away the bottom old box. Keep the old box as a swarm lure.

I am very much liking this idea as it will be so much less traumatic for the bees. And for me probably as I don't suppose they'll take kindly to the whole cutting up of their hive scenario.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you're going to do that then pop one of Derekm's PIR cosies on for this winter.

 

[Thymallus]

Whoa! I don't want to get involved in a domestic here!! It is an old brood box that I had put to one side for cleaning and it kind of got forgotten for a couple of months. Ironically I've had a bait hive up on a flat roof for three years and no-one ever moved into that one. Bees, huh?

Old brood box. Go with Jimmy.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Watch on YouTube putting comb into frames...works well

 

[pargyle]

Old brood box. Go with Jimmy.

Yes ...As it's a brood box I'd be inclined to do that as well ... just put a roof and some insulation on it and let them get on with it .. treat it like another hive for the time being.