Swarm box question

[BerkeyDavid]

Since I run all mediums, I need to make my swarm box a little different. I am using Gary Reuter's plans from the U. of Minn. Short Course on Queen Rearing by Gary and Marla Spivak. It is the one Gary brought to the Ohio Queen seminar.

Anyway, I figured out how many cubic inches were in the 5 frame deep swarm box (2700) and figured that it would take 8 medium frames. So my design for the box is for 8 medium frames.

So here is my question. Gary calls for 2 frames of pollen and nectar, cell frame, and 2 more frames of pollen and nectar.

Since I will have 8 frames, I was thinking of doing it like this, 2 frames pollen and nectar, frame of cells, 2 frames pollen and nectar, frame of cells, 2 frames of pollen and nectar.

In other words, use 2 frames of cells separated by 2 frames of pollen and nectar with the outer 2 frames both pollen and nectar.

Assuming I pack the box with nurse bees, anyone see any reason why this wouldn't work?

[clintonbemrose]

I put 1 frame of honey to the outside for insulation. 1 frame of pollen/nector. 1 frame of cells. 1 frame of pollen/nector. 1 frame of cells. 1 frame of pollen/nector. 1 syrup feeder frame. 1 frame of honey for insulation.
Works great.
Clint

[tecumseh]

what clinton said plus....
no matter whether you use deeps or illinois super depth for a swarm box be certain to add 2 to 3 inch to the depth.

[Michael Bush]

I use all mediums also. My swarm boxes are eight frame deep boxes (too allow more room on the bottom for ventilation) with screened bottoms (built in) and a cleat on each end to prop it up off the ground. I would put all the cells together in the center. If it's packed with enough bees it probably doesn't really matter.

[jean-marc]

It'll work, but I would prefer to use a 5 frame box. The ides is to get a high density of bees on the frames. In my experience as the number of frames increases the density decreases.
You might want to try a 5 frames swarm box that is modified. In other words make the box 3 inches shorter seeing as how you use medium frames. You could also make an 8 frame one like you planned and compare the 2 different sized boxes.

Ultimately it probably will not make that much difference. Swarm boxes are great, make sure there are plenty of nurse bees and no queens and they work great.

Jean-Marc

[odfrank]

Is a swarm box different than a bait hive?
Definitions please...

[jean-marc]

Odfrank:

A swarm box is used to raise queens. It's 5 frames wide and about 3 inches deeper than a standard box. The extra 3 inches is screened off for ventilation purposes. They are stocked with nurse bees to start queen cells. The box is queenless and flightless. The nursebees are kept in a cool and shaded area for about 2 hours after being stocked so the nurse bees' hypopharyngeal glands are full of royal jelly. Maybe they should have called it a flightless queen cell starter box, but they didn't.

A bait hive is used to catch a swarm.

Jean-Marc

[Michael Bush]

Jay Smith complained about the name too and decided it was really a "The Starter Hive".

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesbetterqueens.htm#The%20Starter%20Hive

But I'm afraid that Alley had already set the stage:

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesalleymethod.htm#swarming_box

And Smith helped it along for a while:

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesqueenrearingsimplified.htm#TheSwarmBox

Before Smith decided it just was an inaccurate name.