New to beekeeping. A swarm just moved in!

[Sonnyboy89]

Hi all,
Just looking for a bit of advice and to meet new people. I haven't had a hive before but have helped a little with a beekeeper in Portugal who kept Iberian bees! Anyway, I have been very keen to have my own hive for some time now and managed to aquire a couple of Langstroths, which I cleaned up and ran round with a blow torch. I am on a very tight budget, so couldn't afford a Nuc. I thought I would try and lure a swarm, so I set up a full hive with ten frames in a brood box. I also set up another one which I made from a solid bottom board and a spare brood chamber I had. I only put 4 or 5 frames in this one and set it on my neighbours shed roof, there is a platform next it so I can access the hive. I forgot about it and was sure I would get a swarm in the full hive as there was a lot of interest!! Nope! They opted for my handi craft, I suspect as it is about 2 metres off the ground. I improvised a lid for it too, but will change it to a proper one when I inspect it sometime next week. Anyways, I have been thinking of an action plan and have my concerns about where they will be drawing comb, if they will go for the frames or start building in an awkward spot? I will be adding the additional frames when I open it up and inspect. Any advice would be much appreciated. I have been sat watching them for about two days now!

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Pic of swarm

Here is an image of the swarm trap and the neighbours shed/shanty! It looks a bodge, but provides a sturdy platform which is at a good height for flight.

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Image

Here is another image. I would up a video, but don't know how. Sonny.

 

[Anduril]

If you could remove frames from the other bait hive and put them in the occupied one, that would stop them doing anything untoward, especially if it is a big swarm. If it is a small swarm, you can dummy it down. Then make up some more frames to replace the missing ones.

 

[MadAnt]

Welcome to the club

If there is any old comb, bees will use it as center and build up on the sides. If not, better to have a look "hi, how's going?".

By the way, when swarm moved in?

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Hey, thanks for the replys
I have some more frames ready to put in. But didn't want to risk opening yet as they only moved in on Thursday afternoon. I did make guides for the frames, so hopefully they have started on that? I was thinking maybe I could check them on Wednesday?

Sonny.

 

[Erichalfbee]

3days is enough. Get in there

 

[user 6228]

3days is enough. Get in there

for some swarms even 3 days is too much..

 

[Beagle23]

Welcome to the club.
Good luck. Plenty of challenges and rewards ahead

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Okay, thank you. I shall get on it

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Hey there,
Thank you. Exciting times
Sonny

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Reducer

Now sorry to bother you guys again. Do I want any form of reducer in the entrance? Or just leave it completely open?
Cheers.

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Thank you very much for the heads up

 

[drex]

As soon as I am sure a swarm has moved in I will fill up the box with frames, probably a couple of drawn and the rest foundation. I have learned that they will start building comb almost immediately, and very quickly, so if left for more than a few days it can then be a bit of a mess to set up for frames.
Size of entrance depends on size of swarm. If plenty of bees who can defend a full entrance then I leave it wide open. A smaller colony will get a standard entrance reducer . Will they be on open mesh floor?

 

[Sonnyboy89]

As soon as I am sure a swarm has moved in I will fill up the box with frames, probably a couple of drawn and the rest foundation. I have learned that they will start building comb almost immediately, and very quickly, so if left for more than a few days it can then be a bit of a mess to set up for frames.
Size of entrance depends on size of swarm. If plenty of bees who can defend a full entrance then I leave it wide open. A smaller colony will get a standard entrance reducer . Will they be on open mesh floor?

Ah okay, thank you for your advice I will open up asap! They have been very busy, so can only assume they are working fast. Hopefully they haven't caused to much of a problem for me! It is a solid floor! I have a mesh floor that I want to install when they have built up strength.

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Ah okay, thank you for your advice I will open up asap! They have been very busy, so can only assume they are working fast. Hopefully they haven't caused to much of a problem for me! It is a solid floor! I have a mesh floor that I want to install when they have built up strength.

I was advised to leave them at least a week by a friend who keeps bees. But have now heard differently from quite a few people. Eeek!

 

[Anduril]

Will your neighbours shed roof be a permanent fixture for the hive, or do you intend to move it?

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Will your neighbours shed roof be a permanent fixture for the hive, or do you intend to move it?

Hi there,
Yes I do intend to move it, but not until winter as I don't want to confuse them too much and they have an abundance of shrubs and blackberries close by.

 

[Sonnyboy89]

Will your neighbours shed roof be a permanent fixture for the hive, or do you intend to move it?

That is just what I have been reading. Once they have moved in, not to move them unless it is just a few feet or at least a few miles to prevent them from travelling back to the original site?

 

[mintmoth]

Is your neighbour OK with the bees remaining on his shed?

I considered putting a hive on the flat roof of my brick built shed but decided that the risks of stepping back one step too far during an inspection outweighed the advantages of keeping the bees up away from everyone's gardens.