Reluctant swarm captured, now in bait hive..........

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Brosville

Queen Bee
Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
3,131
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Location
uk
Hive Type
TBH
Number of Hives
4
Rock and roll...........
Unfortunately, not the easy way (the easy way is that they like the look of it and move in unaided).......... There's me quietly drinking tea, discussing the finer points of night before last's TV programme about the vicar living without money on another forum at about 10.30 yesterday morning, looking forward to meeting a couple of fellow top bar users at the local bee fair at lunchtime....... and in wanders 'er indoors - "there's a swarm in the trees opposite the drive":hurray:
Elation rapidly turns to "omigawd" when I realise it's 20' up in a mix of holly, briar and blackthorn (amongst others). Try to enlist help of local swarm man - no reply - obviously at bee fair, 2 miles away...... race to bee fair, find swarm fella engrossed in arranging stuff for auction - "let's hope they're still there tomorrow"..........
Return home, 'phone friend who used to have fire engine...... silly sod has sold it!.... enlist help of very obliging neighbour with long ladder, and spend a good hour at the top of a long ladder hacking away spiky bits to be able to get a cardboard box under them..... as it's blooming hot, leave veil off while snipping and get stung in corner of eyelid....
back up ladder with veil and box, position box under big swarm and attach string to branch - retire to ground level and yank heftily several times, satisfying "plop" as swarm lands in box - carry down ladder, place on ground covered in sheet, thank neighbour profusely, and retire for tea and swift hurtle to meet bee bods.......... (decide to leave the bees in the box until around 7, then move them........)
Upon return three hours later, check to see if they're ok - gorn, not there, cluttered off.......... say lots of rude words, come in and put kettle on - while it's boiling, pop back out with binoculars, scan treetops - nowhere......... Just about to give up - there they were, all clustered round a tree at waist height.
Decide it's time for the big guns, so smoke the bejaysus out of them, and brush into cardboard box, cover with sheet and walk the dogs.......... eye swelling magnificently......
Then at 7 carry the sheet-swathed box into garden and place carefully on ground close to hive - pick up box to put them in hive, box does collapsing act due to hefty weight of bees.......... I won't go into the gory details, but after a great deal of ballet dancing, loads of my patent "smoking twirls" (when you just get totally surrounded by angry bees, you "make smoke" like first world war battleship and revolve out of harm's way...), and sheets pinned to front of top bar hive under the entrances, they are now safely esconced.
Madness? - probably! - but having watched the only bees for sale at the bee fair fetching £290 for a small "nuc", well worth it! :D
 
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You had quite a day Brosville suggest that you take it easy today hope the eyes not to bad.
 
Cripes! that's an epic, I have a great image of WWII sea battle re-enactments in the back garden. Glad they are housed and that you only picked up the one sting! I canot compete with either the drama or suspense but I did hook a swarm on Friday. My story, by way on conversation was rather more tranquil I'm pleased to say.

Bait hive in friends garden, on a stand in shrub border, waste height (dont you hate stretching!). Bees in by own accord. Quick check about a footballs worth. Fill box with extra 14x12's until full. Close up, leave 30 mins (cup of tea with bemused friends). Close entrance and strap hive parts, move to apiary with friends help. Leave blocked, retire to pub, not so swift pint, kit up just in case and return and open hive, a couple of curious girls stick their heads out and go back in, really impressive roar coming from the hive. Returned next day, already drawing comb, placed a gallon of syrup in a miller. Plan to give an oxalic treatment today before any brood then come back in 3 weeks.

I did get a very small rip in my veil from a rose bush, that has to be far worse than Brosvilles experience?

:reddevil:
 
Thanks! - "tired but happy" - eye not a pretty sight, but not painful, I think today will be devoted to proper Sunday treatment - as a day of rest!:D
 
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Box on top with a bit of old comb (or even brood) and wait. Job done as soon as the queen is in there. I know, never works (never anywhere to secure a box) on the day that you wish it would!

Obviously well done - eventually. Fun, this swarming lark. Was it one of yours?

Regards, RAB
 
I honestly don't know yet if it was "one of mine" as I was a bit preoccupied yesterday, and didn't peer into the TBH, which is the main suspect.....:)
 
And where are the photos or Youtube video of the swarm catching in action:toetap05::toetap05:






Only joking:hurray:

Going to set up some bait hives now around the garden.
 
...........discussing the finer points of night before last's TV programme about the vicar living without money.....

Haha. That vicar that you refer to actually married me and used to be a beer drinking mate around Cambridge!
 
So this vicar has been married to you and your ex wife......he must be a bugger for punishment.......lol:biggrinjester:
 
So this vicar has been married to you and your ex wife......he must be a bugger for punishment.......lol:biggrinjester:

Buggery doesn't come in to it.

Being married to my ex-wife however (me, not Pete the Vic), was punishment enough!
 

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