They swarmed

[Mikeb123]

So I done an AS the other day and all went according to plan.... Until today when they swarmed! so the framed I transfered to the new hive with the queen 100% had no cells in it. I guess when they get it in their head they want to go their set!
I had a look in the swarmed hive and found four cells with eggs in along the bottom/side which I take are swarm cells again which leads to believe they 100% wanted to go even after an as.. I can see the swarm high up a tree in a neighbours garden but they can't be got at which is a shame. How long will they stay roughly?

So what's the best plan now move the old bb back to the origanl site (now swarmed but still a few bees in there) and combined or leave both hives alone and wait for both queens to hatch then combine? My goal is not to have too many hives in the garden.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If the swarm is still in the tree I would rush a bait hive into your apiary.....live in hope.
Back to boxes.
Treat the parent hive as you would normally in an AS, just add the swarmed frames back, minus the swarm cells.
Wait for your new queen to emerge.

 

[Mikeb123]

Ok thanks so transfer the one frame I had the queen on in the new hive to the original hive now a meter away?

 

[Mikeb123]

Will the flying bees that didn't go with the swarm make their way into the old hive next door then?
is it ok the move the super next door onto the old hive?

 

[oliver90owner]

Three feet, three mile rule operates just as it usually does.

Not much point leaving a super with no hope of a continuing colony?(assuuming here that you are following the Erichalfbee advice).

Seems to me like you did not finish the A/S manipulations. Checking for further queen cells, a couple days later, in the hive with the queen is all part of it.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ok thanks so transfer the one frame I had the queen on in the new hive to the original hive now a meter away?

Yes and move it back to where it was in the beginning to catch your remaining flying bees.
What is your timescale, by the way?
How many days ago did you AS?

 

[Mikeb123]

Done the AS on Saturday and the cell I transfered had been capped for at least 2 days previous but I could not AS then as had no spare equipment...

 

[Cazza]

The longest I have had bees stay in a tree after swarming is 2 weeks. Worth setting out your bait hive.
Cazza

 

[dn170221]

A shame you lost them, the exact same happened to me last year!
I gave the remaining flying bees, the frame of brood with cells in a nuc to a fellow beek starting out, which is now a thriving colony.

 

[Mikeb123]

good option and nice of you. I'm going to do as Eric said and move my old hive back across and keep the remaining flyers. Oh and pray the swarm comes back to my bait hive!

 

[Finman]

.
So the brood part swarmed? It happens quite often if you do not take care. Excluder stops the queen departure.

 

[Mikeb123]

The brood part? the "old" queen in the new hive swarmed..

 

[Finman]

The brood part? the "old" queen in the new hive swarmed..

That happens. That is why I clip the wing.

Quite often when I gove drawn empty combs to the old queen swarm, they start to rear queen cells. It is, continue swarming.
With foundations it is rare.

 

[Mikeb123]

Is it best practice to place excluders under both hives after an AS? maybe I could have prevented them going if one was in place..

 

[Finman]

.
I do not know about best practice.

I am allways exited, does AS start to draw foundations. It is to me a sign that bees have accepted the hive. Sometimes they draw foundations next night and sometimes after 2 days.

Brood part, whete queen cells are is different proplem. Mostly it is so exhausted when loosing bees that it gives up.

Excluder is safe system, to normal swarms too.

 

[drstitson]

how high?

not advocating long ladder but how about brood frame on a long pole (or pillow case with a coat hanger frame to hold it open).