Swarm found my hive - relocation required

[bjosephd]

If they need it (and this year it seems to be the case) yes, but leave them for a few days before feeding.

Cool thanks...

How come leave for a few days first?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Their bellies will be full of honey from their old colony when they arrive and could be full of all kind of nasties - by not feeding them, they will use that honey to make wax thus locking all those pathogens safely in the wax - if you feed them immediately it could well just go straight into the stores and rear its ugly head again

 

[bjosephd]

righto!

 

[jonnybeegood]

So here is the worry...

Box moved, but already this morning rather a lot of bees back in old location looking rather confused where the missing hive is... this is not good =O(

I wonder if there is still a little pheremone scent of the Queen on the old place? I hived a swarm lately & the next day there were bees where the swarm had been on the fence post & on the ground, eventually they went back to the hive. I think there may me more pheremones from the Queen when swarming to keep the bees interested & it lingers possibly, just my own theory on it

 

[Jay1911]

I think you could be right Jonnybeegood, I noticed exactly the same thing witha swarm I collected a few days ago, I cleared the fence post of all bees and when i went back the next day there were more bees there, like yours they all eventually went back to the hive

 

[jonnybeegood]

No, they can vary tremendously. What you need to avoid are local bees that swarm annually regardless.

Do people really have bees that dont swarm yearly? I can imagine a Q in her first year maybe not swarming but i would think its impossible to say anyone could have non swarmy bees, there are too many factors against this being possible surely? Someone may be lucky if they have bees thst dont swarm one year but even bees managed well swarm, you only have to look on here lately.

 

[YorkshireBees]

All bees will swarm eventually if not managed imho but it's how much of a trigger it takes to swarm that makes the bees swarmy or not!

In terms of a Queens pheromone left behind yes I always find bees will return to the last known position of the swarm which is why I mist it with my water+lemon grass oil mix to mask the smell. Works a treat.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Do people really have bees that dont swarm yearly?

Yes - I have a yellow queen in the apiary and thus far nary a sign of swarming, even though by this time of the year she's filling eleven frames wall to wall with brood.

 

[bjosephd]

Well I'll let you all know how swarmy this particular genetic line eventually get, next year I guess!

So today is a bad day for bees, should get a little warmer later when the sun hits them proper, but a gusty 15 to 16 mph winds all day, so they are barely sticking their noses out so far.

Looks like day time wind is going to be 11+mph for the next 10 days or so, which I imagine is a bit strong to go checking them (do you just judge it by how many bees are flying that day? If they are out and busy, it's not to windy to check?)

However, is there any real need for me to make any inspections for a good while anyway? If I check Friday (very warm 11mph wind, before later thundery showers) I will get a good clue if the queen is mated, but laying or not, neither requires any action from me. So maybe it's just selfish interfering curiosity from me...

So basically what's too windy to inspect? And do I really need to be checking them anyway?

I feel just leave them well alone to really get their new house in order... how long until you think I really need to be going in?

In the meantime I'll just sit by the hive and observe and learn from watching their comings and goings. If only you could tame bees with your constant presence as they learn you are no threat... or CAN you?! ;O)

 

[wessexmario]

Looks like day time wind is going to be 11+mph for the next 10 days or so, which I imagine is a bit strong to go checking them (do you just judge it by how many bees are flying that day? If they are out and busy, it's not to windy to check?)

That's exactly how I judge it, whatever the season, if it's not good enough for them to fly, then it's too bad to open the hive. Let the bees tell you.

 

[The Drone Ranger]

If theres something like s branch or a weed the bees are congregating on chop it off and put it at the hive entrance If its a post or wall wash it with soapy water.
Its a good idea to move them because the scouts get left where the swarm was and are possibly less likely to encourage absconding.
Good luck with the bees are easy to requeen if you need to

 

[Thymallus]

So basically what's too windy to inspect? And do I really need to be checking them anyway?

Short of a gale that is in danger of blowing the hive or you off it's/your feet then inspect regardless of the prevailing weather. I've found these conditions quite useful for those bad tempered hives as they don't seem to like to fly at you when it's very windy or wet.
Obviously not ideal text book conditions, but then I find beekeeping reality bears little similarly to text book bee keeping.