Sometimes it pays to be lazy! I didn't get around to setting this swarm trap out and the bees didn't wait for me, & just moved in yesterday.
(Yes PP. That's a practice bomb behing the trap)
Just took a few minutes to move the frame of comb & shake the rest of the bees off the top bars & into the new hive. 99% are inside now. Not a real big swarm, maybe a small football's worth, but they have plenty of time to grow. It was a cool day & they were previously all getting ready to build comb, so not much outside action.. I gave them a frame of honey, a 1/2 a pollen patty, & mostly drawn comb. Forage isn't that great right now, but should improve soon with the blackberry season being early..
Guard bees! :-)
One drawn frame against one side & 5 top bars. They seem to like that arraignment.
The trap reset in another bay.
That's a stroke of luck. If a swarm in May is worth a load of hay, I wonder what a swarm in April is worth?
ReplyDeleteNot too much rhymes with April. Maybe Grateful?
DeleteThat might work. lol
ReplyDeleteI swarm in April to reward the faithful!!!
ReplyDeleteHeh. Not having much luck with swarms this year around here yet. A lot of scout bees looking over my traps but no swarms seem to be moving in yet. I had that happen a few years ago too after the drought when a lot of feral hives died out so the swarms had their choice of real estate to move into. Oh well not working too hard at expansion this year anyway as I am still mired down in fencing project hell.
Well that's two for me in April and they came to me. Must be a sign. :-)
DeleteFunny, that makes three swarms with the 2 traps sitting right on the ground and one on a cement block. All away from the other hives & in or around my barn.
Nice. I've never had any luck with swarm traps. I've read that the traps should be 4-5 feet off the ground, but your experience shows that's not necessary.
ReplyDeleteHard to say. I think they take the best cavity they can get within a certain amount of time, and some old brood comb helps a lot.
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