Not just small casts either, my mate had a colony swarm out of their hive and straight into a nuc a mere ten feet or so away. He watched it all happen.
Not just small casts either, my mate had a colony swarm out of their hive and straight into a nuc a mere ten feet or so away. He watched it all happen.
Jazz fyi, nuc boxes do work however a single Nat brood is closer to the volume that scout bees are looking for. Thats not my opinion but from the research.
Has anyone had any success catching a swarm in a brand new nuc with 5 frames of starter strips and some lemongrass oil?
As I used to blow up a brain of some brainiacs here a good while ago, I `m happy to repeat this exercise again
Big no no to swarms catching, because :
1) Swarming is genetically determined factor. The clever big scale beekeepers select and rare the queens only from non-swarming hives, thus reducing swarming in their apiaries down to 5% or even less.
As swarms are getting issued by the colonies liable to swarming, you will breed the swarming bees, thus upsetting good beekeepers, who can`t prevent your (swarm liable) drones from getting into their apiaries, jeopardizing their selection work.
2) Who knows what disease have you caught and brought into your apiary with a new swarm.
[FONT="]There are some more factors, but this 2 are just enough for me to avoid swarm catching, unless it`s a swarm from my own apiary and I will requeen this swarm from a non-swarming colony ASAP.
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I use 7 frames swarm boxes made out of waste 9mm plywood and use 1 old frame and rest is foundation..
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2) Who knows what disease have you caught and brought into your apiary with a new swarm.
there seems a split between those who use an old frame and leave the rest empty space versus those who use frames of foundation
is there a noticeable difference either way do people think?
That's how I got my first bees three years ago, but with a full size brood box not a nuc. Bought it in the autumn, left it out in the garden all winter, and come June, a swarm moved in, plus I was lucky enough to see it arrive and descend on the box. Very thrilling for a newbie.
Jazz fyi, nuc boxes do work however a single Nat brood is closer to the volume that scout bees are looking for. Thats not my opinion but from the research. Pop bait hives into you tube and you will get some ideas
Wow, that's what I'm dreaming of for my nuc! Hopefully healthy, happy and calm too.
Before the experienced guys jump in, I'll keep dreaming
I have two maybe three Queens i will be splatting this year..they are not overly aggressive but well cared for all the same..if you can show me you have a rough idea what you are doing and give me a Nuc with all the frames.. i will fill it for you with nae on no Varroa free bees..or better still spend 40 quid on a mated Queen and i will make you a Nuc up.. personally i can not be arsed in catching unknown swarms as you do not have a clue what you are getting..with bought in mated Queens you have a good idea what you are getting..Pm thee...
Only site I can find queens on is Abelo. Do you know anywhere local to get them?
The main reason I wanted to set out the nuc was so if I did end up catching any I could learn with bees that were only going to go somewhere else anyway (if that makes sense?). I wouldn't regard them as disposable though, and if it started becoming too much for me to handle too soon I'd turn to someone more experienced or the local association.
I do appreciate the offer though. Are you attending any local events? It would be good to have a chat at some point.
Too many pointless Questions to Answer for me..i offered to help you and i will/or Not.. if you PM me.
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