Learning, put swarm into hive, got there in the end

[Cb50]

So I am new, I was called with a swarm - am on my Club Swarm list.

It was in a wood ventilated box - I waiting until 4pm to start the process - opted to shake them in - big clumps went in but some were just clinging on in the corner.

I had the queen excluder on the bottom intending to leave it there for 24 hours - put the hive together as the masses were in there.

It went a little quiet so left it but then noticed there were a lot of bees in the air 15 mins later - closer inspection showed quite a few on the external front of my hive - then they all seemed to be out there in the air, on the hive, on the wall, on me!!

I guess the queen was out - there was a big clump hanging under the hive and the rest were mainly massed on the front.

So i took the excluder out and put it on top of the brood, and coerced the bees to the opening, mainly the big mass underneath. Then i saw what i think was the queen (exclude my novice experience!) and with a little smoke she went into the hive - the bees seemed to generally be making big moves to go in the hive.

20 mins later the sky was no longer a mass of bees and other than 50 or so on the outside with their rears in the air it seemed more normal.

This evening other than a bee or two coming in and out the box is humming and all seems fine.

I have put some food on top as the weather is not great - rain for next four days.

Any advice, tips welcomed - was I right in my assumptions.

I think i will try the walk in method with the next ones - shaking them in with quite a wide wooden box may have meant she missed or maybe she flew out?

The ups and downs of a novice!

CB

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you are going to put an excluder under the box do it after all the bees are in.
Do not feed a swarm. They have enough food in their stomachs for three days (unless, of course they have been hanging around in bad weather for any days) and any nasty bugs will disappear as they use this stored honey to draw comb.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

One wheeze I heard about shaking bees in, was to shake them in to an empty brood box(no frames) then put a BB with frames on top. Leave overnight and in the morning they will be amongst the foundation in the top box - take the other box away - sounds a beter plan to me than shaking them on top of frames with the resulting bees bouncing all over the place

 

[Cb50]

One wheeze I heard about shaking bees in, was to shake them in to an empty brood box(no frames) then put a BB with frames on top. Leave overnight and in the morning they will be amongst the foundation in the top box - take the other box away - sounds a beter plan to me than shaking them on top of frames with the resulting bees bouncing all over the place

Good point yes. I took the central 4 frames out but they still did sit on top so another good tip. All put would have been better.

 

[Heather]

Yes, if time not a problem, walk them in. They seem to stay better, and great to watch. Good queen spotting exercise too.
And if not from your colony, chance to look out for wing deformity to give a little more idea of bee health.

 

[REDWOOD]

When I shake them in I block the entrance so the queen stays in and leave a gap in the crown board, when most are in I add the remaining frames or insulation and open the entrance, virgin queens are a nightmare to find, if you see the bees fanning then that's a good indication shes there.

 

[enrico]

To be honest I don't shake them in .... I bang them in. I hit the side of the box they are in on the side of the hive quite hard, that way you don't leave many behind at all. Once again it comes with experience, any mistakes you make now will rarely be repeated. But.... You achieved what you set out to achieve so well done!
E

 

[beeno]

To be honest I don't shake them in .... I bang them in. I hit the side of the box they are in on the side of the hive quite hard, that way you don't leave many behind at all. Once again it comes with experience, any mistakes you make now will rarely be repeated. But.... You achieved what you set out to achieve so well done!
E

Well done you. Make sure to leave them to settle now.
As to walking bees in, it is not always possible if it rains and they get wet they might die!

 

[Cb50]

Well done you. Make sure to leave them to settle now.
As to walking bees in, it is not always possible if it rains and they get wet they might die!

Thanks, they seemed fine this morning, coming and going at 8am.

 

[Cb50]

To be honest I don't shake them in .... I bang them in. I hit the side of the box they are in on the side of the hive quite hard, that way you don't leave many behind at all. Once again it comes with experience, any mistakes you make now will rarely be repeated. But.... You achieved what you set out to achieve so well done!
E

Thanks is all learning....a day where you learn nothing is a wasted day.....

Not sure how hard I could be with them........

 

[Cb50]

When I shake them in I block the entrance so the queen stays in and leave a gap in the crown board, when most are in I add the remaining frames or insulation and open the entrance, virgin queens are a nightmare to find, if you see the bees fanning then that's a good indication shes there.

I plan to leave them for a bit now to settle. How long is best.

The frames were not drawn so they have some work to do. How long before I can see if the queen is laying or not, ie is she a virgin. And indeed is she there!

 

[Cb50]

Yes, if time not a problem, walk them in. They seem to stay better, and great to watch. Good queen spotting exercise too.
And if not from your colony, chance to look out for wing deformity to give a little more idea of bee health.

I will try that next time in my second hive, good learning for me

 

[Cb50]

I plan to leave them for a bit now to settle. How long is best.

The frames were not drawn so they have some work to do. How long before I can see if the queen is laying or not, ie is she a virgin. And indeed is she there!

 

[Cazza]

One wheeze I heard about shaking bees in, was to shake them in to an empty brood box(no frames) then put a BB with frames on top. Leave overnight and in the morning they will be amongst the foundation in the top box - take the other box away - sounds a beter plan to me than shaking them on top of frames with the resulting bees bouncing all over the place

Nice idea.
Cazza

 

[dn170221]

the other option is to use a brood box or super on top like a funnel. .