View Full Version : How long can I leave them there?
Went out to water my veggie garden, and one of my swarm traps--a hive setup baited with lemongrass--has definitely captured a swarm. Just happened today because they weren't there yesterday. They're already flying in and out and about half the front of the hive is covered in bees. REally look like they feel right at home! I'd like to close them up tonight and move them, but it's really hot here today and I have my doubts that they're all going to go inside tonight. Can I just leave them where they are until a cooler night when they all go inside? Then I can just slap a front door on them, move them the 200 feet to the beeyard and in the morning put a branch in front of the entrance and open them up?
Hanginin
06-23-2006, 06:01 PM
Tia if you're only going to move them 200', why not move them tonight to their permanent location and in a day or so trnsfer them to a hive body. This way when they wake up on 6-24-06 they will be at the permanent location. You won't lose any even if somr are on the outside. Good luck with the new hive and feed-feed-feed for the winter stores.
iddee
06-23-2006, 06:39 PM
By the way you wrote it, it sounds like they are already in their permanent home. If so, I would leave them for 4 plus days to let them have larva in the hive. Once they have eggs hatched, they are not likely to abscond. Then I would simply move them when most are at home. The stragglers will find a hive to go to, maybe even their own. I would only feed them until they fill 6 to 7 frames with honey and pollen, then go by weight after that. An empty hive will weigh approx. 35 lb. You should maintain 20+ lb. above that during summer, and go into winter with a minimum of 40 lb. of stores.
Mike Gillmore
06-23-2006, 06:39 PM
I've moved them in the evening just as it was getting dark, with bees clinging to the outside, and most of them just hung on for the ride. You should move them as soon as possible to the new location.
Thanks everyone. Iddee, I didn't see your note until after I already moved them! Thanks, guys; it was easier than I thought. Yes, they are already in their permanent home. . .a deep with drawn comb. But I will be changing out the bottom board for a screened bottom board and will add a slatted rack after they've "settled in" to their new location.
Now I just want to make sure. . .I didn't put a front door on, so they are not confined. I did, however, put a tree branch in front of the hive so they know they've been moved and can reorient. Is that okay?
Do I really need to feed? My girls have been very busy in the marsh and it's quite a apparent there's a strong nectar flow on.
So I'm back to eight hives. That's my limit. For me, after eight it becomes work instead of fun!
Mike Gillmore
06-23-2006, 07:12 PM
Blocking the entrance with a branch is great. They should reorient just fine.
If you are using drawn comb, and you are sure they are bringing in nectar, then feeding is a waste of time and money.... they may even ignore it. But, if you have any doubts about the availability of nectar, it would not hurt to feed them for a week or so and then see where they are at when you change the SBB.
Thanks, Mike. I'll put a hivetop feeder on tomorrow morning.