[Derek]

I know its early. But I am getting ready. I made this this weekend. Had a brake from changing diapers. Basicly made a 5 frame nuc. Since I don't have any drawn comb I put in 4 frames w/ foundation. There is a feral hive within range. I have a hummingbird feeder with 1:1 in it . It is covered with bees. Everyday since Saturday there have been 3-4 bees checking out the trap. I put a couple of drops of lemmon oil inside and at the entrance too.

 

[Iddee]

Looks good....wish you luck. A good feral queen is hard to beat, if of the European variety.

 

[Derek]

I hope they are euros too. If and when I catch a swarm. Should I transfer them to a standard body asap. Or wait for them to build up on the frames first.

 

[Bcrazy]

Hi Derek'

Nice piece of equipment there, in the UK we wuld call that a 'Bait hive' as its for catching any ferel bees or swarms.

If and when I catch a swarm. Should I transfer them to a standard body asap. Or wait for them to build up on the frames first.

My advice is to let them build up in the Nuc so you can asess the characteristics of the small colony. You could also dust with icing sugar and see if they have bought along any Varroa. Once you have asessed the behaviour of the bees then if you want to keep then transfer them to a hive and feed to help build the comb on foundation.

Regards;

 

[Iddee]

A 2 lb. swarm, let them build. An 8 lb. swarm, move them quick.

As always, when they are down to one empty frame, give them more room.

 

[Bcrazy]

Hey BC we don't get 8lb swarms, they are all about 2-4lbs if were lucky.

Regards;

 

[Iddee]

I've not weighed them, but I have caught them that would not go in a 5 gallon container. I have caught them with as high as 5 queens.

Now that we have small hive beetles, we must keep the hive filled with bees, whether it is five frames per box, or 3 boxes of 10 frames. The SHB must not have room to get away from the bees.

 

[Bcrazy]

A 2 lb. swarm, let them build. An 8 lb. swarm, move them quick.

This remark had me wondering why here in the UK we very really see big heavy swarms.
I think because the majority of hives in the UK are Nationals, where in the USA the majority are Langstroths.
I have a few poly Langstroths and keep them on a single brood box, where as with the Nationals I must use a double brood box.
Consider the swarm from each hive, National will produce about a 3-5lb swarm and a single Langstroth will also produce about a 3-5lb swarm. If I put the Langstroth on to double brood box then I expect, (I don't know) I would get an 8-9lb swarm due the the large number of bees in a double Langstroth.

Could I have the members comments on this theory. :?

Regards;

 

[Iddee]

Since the normal consensus is that they will swarm when they run out of room to expand, and take approx. a third of the bees with them, you are likely right about that. I do think, tho, the eight lb swarm is as rare as the two lb swarm. Most swarms are three to five lb. There will be exceptions, tho, in both directions.