2023 Bee Thread

aaronc

aaronc

12 pointer
Jul 21, 2009
5,007
At the workbench, Kentucky
Went and got some dust this morning at TSC. I seen a few come out but nothing would go in after I dusted the entrance. They were congregating on brick where the dust wasn't applied..did a couple of sprays and decided to wit until this afternoon. Got a pretty good pile of I'd say 50+ settling in. I'll post pics later @Nock
 
aaronc

aaronc

12 pointer
Jul 21, 2009
5,007
At the workbench, Kentucky
The ant powder on the right is what kept them from re-entering...

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Nock

Nock

12 pointer
Sep 9, 2012
10,763
Butler co
aaronc said:
What I figgered.
Click to expand...
If a swarm has moved in there will be a steady flow of traffic in and out all day long. If still scouts there will be alot of confusion. Bees will be crawling around checking every nook and cranny for an entrance. They don’t know exactly where the hike is yet. They were just told where to come look. For sure sign is if you watch and see them bringing in pollen. Then 100% they are feeding brood.
 
Drahts

Drahts

12 pointer
Apr 7, 2015
6,593
KY
Well another swarm today! This is the third, problem is all 3 have been mine. But I'm grateful I've been able to catch all 3. Todays was a bit challenging as it was about 16' up and the branch was bout 7' off the tree. Put up my knock off lil giant ladder as high as I could get it. Standing on the 2nd from top step, and holding a 6' long tooth rake in one hand and a Nester nut box in the other, I smacked the branch above em and dropped em into my box. Climbed down and dumped em in a 10 frame box of heavy wax foundation. Did it 2 more times in the next 30 mins and dumped them into the box as well. About a 1lb group was still balled on the branch 1 hour later. Took the pup for a walk and when I came back, that ball was gone. Walked up the hill and they were in the hive. Rest of the afternoon, they were going to and from the box working all day. Screened the entrance at dark, will move them to my other apiary yard early in the morning and give em some feed to draw comb with. Fun times...NOT! Checked my cutout hive (I had put a new queen in their hive) and she had been released and the hive has settled down and was very quiet today. They had been sounding like F-18 and every time I opened em up they'd hammer off my veil til I shut em up and then they'd chase me around the yard if I was working in it. SOB's. First pic is as it was as I was collecting it, 2nd pic is what I saw when I found em starting to swarm. I think I'm gonna put a swarm trap on that tree (much lower lol), maybe save me some effort! But no pain no gain!


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B

bigbonner

12 pointer
Aug 5, 2015
5,275
I have lost three swarm bunches this year. We have never lost them like this before.
We would catch the bees and put them in a hive and 4- or 5-days later they would just B gone.
Had a swarm show up at a empty box in the back of my barn. My son put some of the bees left outside the box in the box and we thought all was well. 5 days latter they were gone :mad:
Keeps this up and I will get a queen excluder and place it on the bottom so the little gal can't get out.
 
Wecorn

Wecorn

Fawn
Apr 9, 2023
28
Perry county
Howdy, crazy question probably but I have searched the internet for the answer with no luck, can you raise a hive of bees and just let them be? I understand the importance of bees and when I move soon I have plans of planting a lot of fruit trees for myself and wildlife, a garden and plots for the deer. I’ve always wondered if it’s possible to set up a hive or two and just let them do there thing? I’m pretty allergic to them so I’m not really interested in harvesting there honey lol.
 
Nock

Nock

12 pointer
Sep 9, 2012
10,763
Butler co
Drahts said:
Well another swarm today! This is the third, problem is all 3 have been mine. But I'm grateful I've been able to catch all 3. Todays was a bit challenging as it was about 16' up and the branch was bout 7' off the tree. Put up my knock off lil giant ladder as high as I could get it. Standing on the 2nd from top step, and holding a 6' long tooth rake in one hand and a Nester nut box in the other, I smacked the branch above em and dropped em into my box. Climbed down and dumped em in a 10 frame box of heavy wax foundation. Did it 2 more times in the next 30 mins and dumped them into the box as well. About a 1lb group was still balled on the branch 1 hour later. Took the pup for a walk and when I came back, that ball was gone. Walked up the hill and they were in the hive. Rest of the afternoon, they were going to and from the box working all day. Screened the entrance at dark, will move them to my other apiary yard early in the morning and give em some feed to draw comb with. Fun times...NOT! Checked my cutout hive (I had put a new queen in their hive) and she had been released and the hive has settled down and was very quiet today. They had been sounding like F-18 and every time I opened em up they'd hammer off my veil til I shut em up and then they'd chase me around the yard if I was working in it. SOB's. First pic is as it was as I was collecting it, 2nd pic is what I saw when I found em starting to swarm. I think I'm gonna put a swarm trap on that tree (much lower lol), maybe save me some effort! But no pain no gain!


View attachment 113235 View attachment 113236
Click to expand...
Are they still aggressive? Or did that stop?
 
Nock

Nock

12 pointer
Sep 9, 2012
10,763
Butler co
Wecorn said:
Howdy, crazy question probably but I have searched the internet for the answer with no luck, can you raise a hive of bees and just let them be? I understand the importance of bees and when I move soon I have plans of planting a lot of fruit trees for myself and wildlife, a garden and plots for the deer. I’ve always wondered if it’s possible to set up a hive or two and just let them do there thing? I’m pretty allergic to them so I’m not really interested in harvesting there honey lol.
Click to expand...
Sure can. Bees have been taking care of themselves a long time.
 
B

bigbonner

12 pointer
Aug 5, 2015
5,275
Drahts said:
Well another swarm today! This is the third, problem is all 3 have been mine. But I'm grateful I've been able to catch all 3. Todays was a bit challenging as it was about 16' up and the branch was bout 7' off the tree. Put up my knock off lil giant ladder as high as I could get it. Standing on the 2nd from top step, and holding a 6' long tooth rake in one hand and a Nester nut box in the other, I smacked the branch above em and dropped em into my box. Climbed down and dumped em in a 10 frame box of heavy wax foundation. Did it 2 more times in the next 30 mins and dumped them into the box as well. About a 1lb group was still balled on the branch 1 hour later. Took the pup for a walk and when I came back, that ball was gone. Walked up the hill and they were in the hive. Rest of the afternoon, they were going to and from the box working all day. Screened the entrance at dark, will move them to my other apiary yard early in the morning and give em some feed to draw comb with. Fun times...NOT! Checked my cutout hive (I had put a new queen in their hive) and she had been released and the hive has settled down and was very quiet today. They had been sounding like F-18 and every time I opened em up they'd hammer off my veil til I shut em up and then they'd chase me around the yard if I was working in it. SOB's. First pic is as it was as I was collecting it, 2nd pic is what I saw when I found em starting to swarm. I think I'm gonna put a swarm trap on that tree (much lower lol), maybe save me some effort! But no pain no gain!


View attachment 113235 View attachment 113236
Click to expand...
I have a bull float for concrete and several poles. I am thinking about making one of those five-gallon baskets to attach to the pole to try and catch swarms that land like your did in a tree.
 
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