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chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 07 3:24 pm Post subject: Swarm!

We had a very eventful afternoon yesterday - I went up to feed the chickens in the afternoon and discovered that one of our hives had swarmed in to a tree-stump on the bank.

This was exciting for various reasons:

1. We haven't yet had the hives we inherited in February open - were planning on doing it this week as soon as the weather allows, so neither of us have had ANY hands on experience at all.
2. Arvo is (was!) mildly insect-phobic.
3. I am too pregnant to fit in to the bee-suit.

Luckily the bees are very, very gentle - we balanced a nucleus box over the tree-stump and Arvo smoked them up in to it - slightly complicated by me needing to give him a bunk up to keep him wedged up the bank

. And then I backed off to a safe distance whilst he whipped the box off, turned it over and popped the lid on.

It took us two goes, we think because we didn't get the Queen the first time; but we now have a new nucleus of bees, that we are going to transfer from the nucleus box to a hive this evening, provided the wind drops enough.

And then later in the week we are going to open the other hives and inspect them and pop another super on the top of each. And hopefully be able to work out whether any of the others are overcrowded and do something about it if they are. We are quite smug

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 07 3:54 pm Post subject:
Lucky you to catch the swarm---checked mine for queencells this weekend---but although I found none I could have missed it I have one very large colony that I just "feel" are going to swarm and I won't be there----put 2 bait hives out some distance away with drawn out comb ---- short of time---all I could do till I have time to go back in a couple of days to split the hive.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35082
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 07 10:21 pm Post subject:
That was clever of you. You must have very nice bees.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 07 10:39 pm Post subject:
Well done - both to you and the bees. From the sound of it, smugness is fully justified!

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 07 10:57 pm Post subject:
I'm confused. Where was all the running around shouting ' Arrrgh bugger' whilst being stung?

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue May 01, 07 10:15 am Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

I'm confused. Where was all the running around shouting ' Arrrgh bugger' whilst being stung?

No, there was no comedy jumping from foot to foot or arm-waving, or anything. Except for the part where I tripped up the steps carrying the nucleus box and landed on my bump

.

They are still here; so we are doubly, triply smug today

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Tue May 01, 07 10:37 am Post subject:
Well done again---hope your bump is thriving---at the minute I want any extra nucs I get/create 'cos we're expanding but I realised last year it's probably more profitable to sell nucs than honey----they're always in demand.

FiddlesticksTim

Joined: 28 Dec 2004
Posts: 104
Location: West Oxfordshire

Posted: Tue May 01, 07 11:52 am Post subject:

Quote:

but I realised last year it's probably more profitable to sell nucs than honey----they're always in demand.

Yes, that thought occurred to me the other day when I was chatting to our bee supplier who said he'd found queen cells in 18 of his 25 hives. He didn't seem too upset

Tim

fenwoman

Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 509
Location: Tydd St giles

Posted: Tue May 01, 07 7:36 pm Post subject:
a swarm in May is worth a bale of hay!

Camile

Joined: 26 Apr 2006
Posts: 376
Location: Co. Galway - Ireland

Posted: Wed May 02, 07 8:13 am Post subject:

Hello ..

Swarming seems to be really early this year ..

We are getting bees in about 5-6 weeks time ... and we are now members of the ... don't laugh .. Suck Valley Bee Keeping Association

Anyhow, we had a meeting on monday evening, and the chap was explaining us that you could get 3 swarms with one hive.

As far as I remember, when they are "making" queen cells, you would have to take away the queen and some bees into a nuc.

Then split up the frame with the queen cells in 2 (using a specially made board I think) ...

Within a couple of days/weeks, you will be able to split them up in 2 seperate hives and that's you sorted with 3 swarms, including 2 new queens.

Will try to get the full details at our next meeting. .

Camile

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Wed May 02, 07 8:51 am Post subject:
Fenwoman - yes, but this was April! . I am assuming a LARGE load of hay . We are off to the local bee meeting tonight (I think) so will hopefully get some advice there - but yes please Camile, any info gratefully received!

fenwoman

Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 509
Location: Tydd St giles

Posted: Wed May 02, 07 9:58 am Post subject:
well there isn't a rhyme for April. If they had only swarmed in June, they would have been worth a silver spoon, but if they leave it until July, it isn't worth a fly. I wonder why June swarms are suposed to be worth more. Any beekeeper able to tell me?

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Wed May 02, 07 10:14 am Post subject:
Thats a great rhyme fenwoman, can we hear it in its entirety? Lots of swarming going on in these parts too.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Wed May 02, 07 10:23 am Post subject:
Is a silver spoon worth more than a load of hay? I always thought a May swarm was best

fenwoman

Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 509
Location: Tydd St giles

Posted: Wed May 02, 07 10:42 am Post subject:

woodsprite wrote:

Thats a great rhyme fenwoman, can we hear it in its entirety?
Lots of swarming going on in these parts too.

from what I remember it goes "a swarm in May is worth a bale of hay, a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon, a swarm in July isn't worth a fly." I think that's all there is.

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