------->
John F Writes:
Joe,
Describe the bucket and how you typically use it. Give it a subject line of "Joe's Swarm Bucket" and stick it in the equipment forum.
This sounds cool and I have buckets too. Do you think a 3 gal. bucket is ok for this as well?
------->
Hi John,
I would use a 5 gallon bucket because it would be large enough to catch most swarms.
Also, I havent had any problems with overheating swarms in these buckets, but the extra space would certainly help with ventilation and encourage the entire swarm to enter the bucket more readily, and provide a wider mouth for shaking the swarm into. A light color bucket will help keep them cool also. If a swam is caught in the direct sunlight, I place a small white towel over the lid for shade.
I prefer using the buckets because it is safer on ladders and my back. And these things are cheep to make, so I have no problem with letting the buckets anywhere and coming back later for swarms. I can also pick swarms up in the wifes car without trying to fit a bulky hive body into the trunk.
The bucket consists of a 1 ½ PVC drain fitting and a queen excluder and screen fitted into the slip joint nuts. Simply cut a hole in the bucket using a 1 ¾ hole saw and screw the fitting on to the bucket from the inside. You may have to trim the hole out a bit with a razor so that it will thread on properly.
Heres some links:
To use the catching bucket:
* place under swarm and shake, slip lid on quick.
* Sit on the ground or hang near the clustering point with a bungee strap.
* Watch for the queen, if she is spotted, she can be thrown in thru the lid or remove the includer and let her in that way.
Here are some pics of swarms entering the bucket
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=20f4re2.jpg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=dedere2.jpg&.src=ph
Swarm Bucket with lid:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=1c3cre2.jpg&.src=ph
Here I want the bees to be comfortable so you may see
* A number of 1/8 inch holes in the bucket for ventilation
* Two wood strips with bead of wax for comb building
(this can be replaced with a piece of carpet so the bees feel comfortable having something to cluster on)
* All but two tabs are cut off the lid and gasket removed, this aids in ventilation and ease of lid removal
* The inside of the bucket must be scuffed so the bees can walk on the sidewalls up to the clustering point on the lid
Here is a close up of the swarm catching bucket fittings:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=ee6cre2.jpg&.src=ph
* one with screen for transporting and one with queen excluder
How to Safely Transport Bees:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=821fre2.jpg&.src=ph
I prefer to wait till after dark to dup them in the hive:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=/1b05&.dnm=153fre2.jpg&.src=ph
John F Writes:
Joe,
Describe the bucket and how you typically use it. Give it a subject line of "Joe's Swarm Bucket" and stick it in the equipment forum.
This sounds cool and I have buckets too. Do you think a 3 gal. bucket is ok for this as well?
------->
Hi John,
I would use a 5 gallon bucket because it would be large enough to catch most swarms.
Also, I havent had any problems with overheating swarms in these buckets, but the extra space would certainly help with ventilation and encourage the entire swarm to enter the bucket more readily, and provide a wider mouth for shaking the swarm into. A light color bucket will help keep them cool also. If a swam is caught in the direct sunlight, I place a small white towel over the lid for shade.
I prefer using the buckets because it is safer on ladders and my back. And these things are cheep to make, so I have no problem with letting the buckets anywhere and coming back later for swarms. I can also pick swarms up in the wifes car without trying to fit a bulky hive body into the trunk.
The bucket consists of a 1 ½ PVC drain fitting and a queen excluder and screen fitted into the slip joint nuts. Simply cut a hole in the bucket using a 1 ¾ hole saw and screw the fitting on to the bucket from the inside. You may have to trim the hole out a bit with a razor so that it will thread on properly.
Heres some links:
To use the catching bucket:
* place under swarm and shake, slip lid on quick.
* Sit on the ground or hang near the clustering point with a bungee strap.
* Watch for the queen, if she is spotted, she can be thrown in thru the lid or remove the includer and let her in that way.
Here are some pics of swarms entering the bucket
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=20f4re2.jpg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=dedere2.jpg&.src=ph
Swarm Bucket with lid:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=1c3cre2.jpg&.src=ph
Here I want the bees to be comfortable so you may see
* A number of 1/8 inch holes in the bucket for ventilation
* Two wood strips with bead of wax for comb building
(this can be replaced with a piece of carpet so the bees feel comfortable having something to cluster on)
* All but two tabs are cut off the lid and gasket removed, this aids in ventilation and ease of lid removal
* The inside of the bucket must be scuffed so the bees can walk on the sidewalls up to the clustering point on the lid
Here is a close up of the swarm catching bucket fittings:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=ee6cre2.jpg&.src=ph
* one with screen for transporting and one with queen excluder
How to Safely Transport Bees:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=1b05&.dnm=821fre2.jpg&.src=ph
I prefer to wait till after dark to dup them in the hive:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/naturebee/detail?.dir=/1b05&.dnm=153fre2.jpg&.src=ph