It's swarm but it's not warm!

[thepliedes]

Peeps, do you think that the weather has anything to do with the amount of 'late' swarms in the season? With it being so dark and wet for weeks and then suddenly coming out into the sunshine for a few days, do you think the bees see it as summer and decide to swarm to make a new colony? Just wondered.

 

[enrico]

Yep!

 

[Winker]

It may have more to do with the bees being cooped up all day long thus making them feel as if the hive is overcrowded, so they start to go into swarm mode. If the flying bees were to get out and forage the hive would not feel so congested

 

[MuswellMetro]

Called out tonight a 6:00 to a front garden swarm in muswell hill london....thought, ah it wil be a little late cast

Turned out to be a very large prime swarm, 6ft off the ground ,then as i was preparing my 6 frame 14x12 box....the police cordoned off the road

by the time i was about to knock them down, i had a crowd looking on

one of those that you dream of....thump, all into the box...8lb i suspect, and pour them in to the 14x12 ,hardly a bee flew out

cut off the branch and shook the last few in, lid on

applause....quite taken a back, had not realized a crowd was looking on

waited 45mins, heavy rain and took them back home, to the isloation apairy tomorrow evening as there is EFB around the area

 

[thepliedes]

<.......another round of applause

Well done!

LOL

 

[Andy Duff]

I've dealt with swarms in September pretty regularly, it's just bees being bees, or bad beekeepers not inspecting their (usually) Carniolans when they think it's too late for a swarm.

(I am not anti Carniolan, they just take a lot of swarm prevention,I think our record was 16 identically sized swarm cells in one hive)

 

[flemage]

I made a split in April so new queen in national on about 6-7 frames hardly in to super and low.... There were queen cells today so had to do A/S

 

[MuswellMetro]

just been looking at my grandfather old beekeeping book by EH Taylor of Welwyn Bees for Beginners 1948 price 2/6

it says

Bees usually swarm for two or three weeks in spring when......

so that for me started on April 14th and went on until the 5th May.....can you kindly tell my bees that they have got it wrong for the last 8 weeks and should not be swarming

 

[itma]

just been looking at my grandfather old beekeeping book by EH Taylor of Welwyn Bees for Beginners 1948 price 2/6

it says

Bees usually swarm for two or three weeks in spring when......

so that for me started on April 14th and went on until the 5th May.....can you kindly tell my bees that they have got it wrong for the last 8 weeks and should not be swarming

And then get them to tell my Apple trees.
Last week they were having another go at producing blossom.

 

[Queens59]

Mmmmm - yep I got called out twice yesterday, exhausting. Taking my name off the list next year, can't cope any more. We only take the really easy swarms - but even they are causing probs now...

 

[Poly Hive]

Here is the worst year for swarms or best depending on your take.

One call out this year. Last year phone was off the hook ringing.

Odd.

PH

 

[Luminos]

<.......another round of applause

Well done!

LOL

 

[bee ginnner]

Here is the worst year for swarms or best depending on your take.

One call out this year. Last year phone was off the hook ringing.

Odd.

PH

perhaps these days people search t internet more than pick up the phone to the council, i have gone from 2 hives last year (4 swarms) to 12 this and i don't suppose it's over yet....i thought there was a surplus of equipment made up ready.

 

[Mike a]

Now BBKA has sorted out their swarm contact list. I've been called to take 12+ swarms by members of the public. Got a call last night and this morning about the same swarm to collect a little later today which is said to be a good size. So far 3 of the swarms I've collected the queen has failed to get out and mate which is a shame but not surprising considering the weather.

 

[thepliedes]

How many pieces of equipment do you have where you can put them all? This is my third year beekeeping and it's proving to be an expensive hobby! I only have two hives (one brood box and 1 super) have just purchase an extra roof and 3 supers together with frames and foundation...I think I'll need to remortgage my house to house my bees!

 

[thepliedes]

perhaps these days people search t internet more than pick up the phone to the council, i have gone from 2 hives last year (4 swarms) to 12 this and i don't suppose it's over yet....i thought there was a surplus of equipment made up ready.


Tell me, is there a charge out rate for collecting swarms and if so, what is it. Does it apply even if you keep the bees as part of your own hives?

 

[enrico]

Just been out to an old mill where they said a swarm had arrived in their house wall behind a wooden hatch. Had a look from the outside, right over the top of a waterwheel so not easy to get at. Asked what was behind the hatch and got taken inside to a window. Shone a torch through the window and there are the bees in a good size space making comb already. I showed the owner of the mill and they were so transfixed that they are letting them stay there. Brilliant view of what is going on, talk about an observation hive! Window is in a small dark room so occasional viewing should cause no problems. Thinking of building one in my house!!! Better viewing than the tv!
E

 

[Tom Bick]

Helped a friend collect a swarm high up in a pear tree on Tuesday.

I think we have plenty of time for swarms yet, keep it quiet but have you seen the forecast!!

 

[tkwinston4]

Just been out to an old mill where they said a swarm had arrived in their house wall behind a wooden hatch. Had a look from the outside, right over the top of a waterwheel so not easy to get at. Asked what was behind the hatch and got taken inside to a window. Shone a torch through the window and there are the bees in a good size space making comb already. I showed the owner of the mill and they were so transfixed that they are letting them stay there. Brilliant view of what is going on, talk about an observation hive! Window is in a small dark room so occasional viewing should cause no problems. Thinking of building one in my house!!! Better viewing than the tv!
E

Sounds lovely; did you per chance get any photos?

 

[SixFooter]

I havent had as many swarm calls as last year and the best one absconded, but many,many more for bumble bees especially in bird boxes. I dont remember any bird box bumble bee calls last year.
My bait hives havent caught much this year either - only One swarm which stayed for 2 weeks then buzzed off.