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first swarm

Posted: June 23rd, 2017, 10:04 am
by reaper2613
Ok guys got a question for ya. Set out a hive on Monday and put some lemongrass oil on there on Wednesday. Thursday night I come home from work and I have bees going in and out. So it is currently Friday and there are still bees coming in and out. My question is should I leave the swarm alone or can I open the hive without worries of them swarming again? If I should leave it how long? Never caught a swarm before.

Re: first swarm

Posted: June 24th, 2017, 4:54 am
by BadBeeKeeper
Was there already-drawn comb in there? If so, then I might be inclined to take a peek.

Re: first swarm

Posted: June 24th, 2017, 5:53 am
by Allen Dick
Bees coming and going? Are they carrying pollen? If so, they are settled and won't leave.

Re: first swarm

Posted: June 24th, 2017, 3:12 pm
by reaper2613
Well I just couldn't wait any longer. So this morning I got up early and opened the hive. What I found was about 1000 bees with a confirmed queen. It did not have any drawn comb but they are drawing it out. Seems like a smaller swarm but then again I've never caught one. What do you guys think. Is there anything I should be doing to help them get established. I've never started a new hive this late in the year

Re: first swarm

Posted: June 24th, 2017, 5:02 pm
by Allen Dick
This is an ideal time. 1000 bees seems a bit small, so it is likely an afterswarm and will need to be boosted with brood and bees from another hive IMO. You can just transplant a frame with bees and a patch of emerging brood into it some nice day with no special precautions. Then maybe repeat it again later.