Shaaag
New Bee
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2012
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Andover
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 2
Hi Guys,
A few days ago I tried to prevent a swarm by splitting 4 frames out my single hive (which had swarm cells and was going like a train) and placing them in a new hive of 5 frames together with some foam insulation board to restrict the space they needed to manage. I took the recommended mixture of eggs, larvae and capped brood and luckily all but a couple of swarm cells were on those frames. I removed the two remaining swarm cells from the original hive and replaced the frames that were taken with fresh foundation.
I'm guessing I did this all a little too late as the little tinkers went and swarmed today anyway.
The retrieve was a little fraught as they landed in the corner of a lean-to and I had to improvise a bee vac to get them into a nuc box.
So, from having 1 hive, I now have the original split and swarmed hive, a 5 frame split with QCs and the swarm in a nuc box.
To complicate things, before I did the split I couldn't find HM, so I double checked the frames I took to make sure she wasn't on the ones I transferred to the new hive. I also went back through both hives after the split to re-look for her, with no luck.
I currently have the new 5 frame hive under lockdown (grass in entrance) to give them time to settle and the swarmed bees are similarly under lockdown in an empty nuc box while I decide how to deal with them (I'm thinking in bed before 8 PM and loss of Internet privileges for a week ).
I would like to have just 2 hives as I don't really have the space for more than that at the moment. Could someone please provide me with a little advice on:
What if I have been a complete wally and HM got transferred to the new hive on the frames with the QC's?
What are my options for getting these 3 groups of bees back and playing nicely in 2 hives
Should I transfer the swarm into another box full of foundation (I don't have any spare drawn comb)? If the queen is not with them won't they just all fly out during the transfer?
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks in anticipation
Shaaag
A few days ago I tried to prevent a swarm by splitting 4 frames out my single hive (which had swarm cells and was going like a train) and placing them in a new hive of 5 frames together with some foam insulation board to restrict the space they needed to manage. I took the recommended mixture of eggs, larvae and capped brood and luckily all but a couple of swarm cells were on those frames. I removed the two remaining swarm cells from the original hive and replaced the frames that were taken with fresh foundation.
I'm guessing I did this all a little too late as the little tinkers went and swarmed today anyway.
The retrieve was a little fraught as they landed in the corner of a lean-to and I had to improvise a bee vac to get them into a nuc box.
So, from having 1 hive, I now have the original split and swarmed hive, a 5 frame split with QCs and the swarm in a nuc box.
To complicate things, before I did the split I couldn't find HM, so I double checked the frames I took to make sure she wasn't on the ones I transferred to the new hive. I also went back through both hives after the split to re-look for her, with no luck.
I currently have the new 5 frame hive under lockdown (grass in entrance) to give them time to settle and the swarmed bees are similarly under lockdown in an empty nuc box while I decide how to deal with them (I'm thinking in bed before 8 PM and loss of Internet privileges for a week ).
I would like to have just 2 hives as I don't really have the space for more than that at the moment. Could someone please provide me with a little advice on:
What if I have been a complete wally and HM got transferred to the new hive on the frames with the QC's?
What are my options for getting these 3 groups of bees back and playing nicely in 2 hives
Should I transfer the swarm into another box full of foundation (I don't have any spare drawn comb)? If the queen is not with them won't they just all fly out during the transfer?
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks in anticipation
Shaaag