Is there anything a hobbyist beekeeper can do about swarms?

[Erichalfbee]

Out of interest, how many were queens in their first year?

None I hope?
First year queens are this years

 

[Newbeeneil]

None I hope?
First year queens are this years

I would hope so too and I would say mine have been 50/50 blue and white but in a teaching apiary I have started overseeing this year two yellow queens have made swarm preps!!!!!!! - I am changing the genetics there asap!

 

[enrico]

Out of interest, how many were queens in their first year?

Three were last year's queen and three were 2220

 

[The Poot]

Three were last year's queen and three were 2220

Thanks E, I was thinking of late 2021 supercedures, queens less than a year old. Anecdotal gossip around here, is suggesting a lot of queen failures from, it seems, late mating.
EDIT.....
Forget that - muddled thinking. Failing, not swarming! Got an eight week old pup last weekend and am sleep deprived!

 

[enrico]

Thanks E, I was thinking of late 2021 supercedures, queens less than a year old. Anecdotal gossip around here, is suggesting a lot of queen failures from, it seems, late mating.
EDIT.....
Forget that - muddled thinking. Failing, not swarming! Got an eight week old pup last weekend and am sleep deprived!

It's no good saying that without a photo for everyone to see!

 

[The Poot]

It's no good saying that without a photo for everyone to see!

Me or the pup?

 

[Martimart]

My 2 hives swarmed early April, even my one of my swarms have swarmed. I don’t think I’ll understand Bees if I live to be 100. I now have 4 hives and a Nuc. I only wanted 2!

 

[Murox]

Me or the pup?

puppy face of course - come on

 

[Murox]

My 2 hives swarmed early April, even my one of my swarms have swarmed. I don’t think I’ll understand Bees if I live to be 100. I now have 4 hives and a Nuc. I only wanted 2!

I have to smile - I've been waiting for a hive to make some swarm cells - have they obliged ? of course not they are.. bees..!

 

[Swarm]

Only one colony has drawn swarm cells so far, end of April, new queen laying. A few have charged a single cell, I split a couple initially but left the others and they are just getting on with it.
Heard from others that splits are building up and making another attempt, had a lot of that last year as well.

 

[Dodge]

So after 49 posts the OP Fenster hasn't actually responded to any suggestions.

 

[enrico]

So after 49 posts the OP Fenster hasn't actually responded to any suggestions.

Yep! A tad annoying!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes @fenster
What do you think?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have four colonies that up to last week had made no swarm preps. I’m dreading what I might find today. Hastily making frames up. Don’t want to nuc queens on the cusp of a flow. Have only enough kit for two Demarees. Never done one this late. Or might do what Pete little recommended. I have already done two. Seems to work.

One had swarmed. Gutted.
Nuc’d three.
One remaining colony of Ceri’s has a lot of new brood. Much more than capped but right across the brood box. I’m getting very twitchy about these. So though it’s really late I’m going to Demaree on Monday
I have nuc boxes dotted about everywhere.

 

[The Poot]

puppy face of course - come on

Here you are then...

 

[enrico]

Here you are then...
View attachment 32296

Ahhh! A Cockapoo?

 

[The Poot]

Ahhh! A Cockapoo?

He’s 25% a mix of Labrador and retriever, 75% poodle. Known as a double doodle apparently. Should end up a medium size dog. The dog part is definate, the medium bit is to be seen....

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Ahhh! A Cockapoo?

Ahhh! an expensive mongrel

 

[The Poot]

You are not wrong there Jenks!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Double Doodle? I’m glad I’m retired.
Sweetie though