View Full Version : I'm convinced
Fuzzy
06-04-2007, 01:57 PM
Just for grins, I put a 5 frame nuc about 7ft high, in the shade, on the side of a building. I put one frame of old brood comb, a partial frame of nectar/honey, and 3 other partly drawn frames. I put 8-10 drops of lemon grass oil evenly over all frames ( 2 drop/frame ).
No visible activity for the first 2 days. Then the 3rd day, a swarm moved right in.
Just good luck and good timing I guess.
Fuzzy
aidah
06-04-2007, 02:50 PM
What does the lemon grass oil do. What do you do after this? When you said a frame of old brood is that an old used frame with foundation? sorry, I not to good at this yet and I'm fascinated. Aidah
Fuzzy
06-05-2007, 11:48 PM
Aidah,
Apparently, according to the majority of participants on this forum, the lemon grass oil acts as a significant "attractant" for the scouts.
This is a standard size 5 frame box, referred to as a "NUC". It accepts standard frames with foundation. In this case, as suggested by the more senior members of this forum ( no offense intended ), I used a "well used" frame of brood comb. This is foundation that has been fully drawn out and has previously had brood hatched from it. I am sure that it has a distinctive smell about it.
I am not sure how to answer the question "What do you do after this ?".
Now that there is a swarm moved in, I will leave it alone for 3-4 weeks. After some time, the frames can be removed and be placed into a standard hive without having to "shake the bees off".
Hope this answers your questions -- Fuzzy
peggjam
06-06-2007, 04:43 AM
Aidah,
Apparently, according to the majority of participants on this forum, the lemon grass oil acts as a significant "attractant" for the scouts.
This is a standard size 5 frame box, referred to as a "NUC". It accepts standard frames with foundation. In this case, as suggested by the more senior members of this forum ( no offense intended ), I used a "well used" frame of brood comb. This is foundation that has been fully drawn out and has previously had brood hatched from it. I am sure that it has a distinctive smell about it.
I am not sure how to answer the question "What do you do after this ?".
Now that there is a swarm moved in, I will leave it alone for 3-4 weeks. After some time, the frames can be removed and be placed into a standard hive without having to "shake the bees off".
Hope this answers your questions -- Fuzzy
I wouldn't wait 3-4 weeks to move them, or give them more room, you may just watch THEM swarm. They will fill that realestate up pretty quickly:).
Fuzzy
06-06-2007, 02:01 PM
I guess we will see. My observation is that the swarm loses about 1/2 the population in the first 3 weeks. Then some new brood begins to hatch. It is another 3-4 weeks before the really begin to grow well.
How else do we learn... Fuzzy
cool, beekeeping can be so easy :)
odfrank
06-06-2007, 09:54 PM
Skip the honey and nectar. This often attracts so many ants that the swarms don't like the trap.
aidah
06-07-2007, 08:53 PM
Thanks for the lemon grass oil info. This is advanced bee keeping and I'm not anywhere near there yet. Im still trying to learn to close my hive without killing gobs of bees. so Ill remember the information, wait a summer or two and try it. Aidah
What does the lemon grass oil do. What do you do after this? When you said a frame of old brood is that an old used frame with foundation? sorry, I not to good at this yet and I'm fascinated. Aidah
It does wonders for the woodware. its what Lemon Pledge has in it. J/K
berkshire bee
06-07-2007, 10:39 PM
aidah, use a little smoke as you close the hive to get the bees "down" Place an edge of the inner cover down and ever so gently slide it into place giving the bees a chance to get out of the way
aidah
06-08-2007, 06:00 AM
I can never keep my (!*^*^#!) burner lit. Maybe I should try to raise chickens.
I can never keep my (!*^*^#!) burner lit. Maybe I should try to raise chickens.
Not so fast Aidah. If you read the post in here you will see they have their problems with CCD as well.
http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210168
aidah
06-08-2007, 06:29 PM
Good heavens man!! You weren't kidding about the chickens. Tomorrow I'm off to the Florida bee keepers assoc. Maybe I can get some help there. Sunday I will open my hive and have another peek. Wish me luck Aidah P.S what does CCD stand for?
Well depends
If were talkin chickens: Chicken Coop Disorder
If were talkin Bees : Colony Collapse Disorder http://beeculture.com/content/ColonyCollapseDisorderPDFs/6%20Tracking%20A%20Serial%20Killer%20-%20Jim%20Fischer.pdf
aidah
06-08-2007, 08:23 PM
All this stuff makes me laugh. I found some info on small hive beetles and DE in or on a trap. I need to do something soon or the beetles are going to ruin my hive. I built Sonnies sandwich trap from bee cult mag, I also made the sauce. I'm going to put it in my hive Sunday. I must have 150 Beetles in there.