Swarm challenge

[Charlie B]

Ollie's secret is out. Hidden cameras in his apiary reveal his swarm catching technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTLgSqu4r3E

Nice belly button Ollie!

[odfrank]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTLgSqu4r3E

I think I am in love.

[odfrank]

I placed a eight frame Jumbo trap yesterday at 11:00 am and it caught an hour long entry this afternoon. The host is very competitive when it comes to swarm trapping and has added the Saratoga site this year. He sent this cell phone video. Click on it, play it full screen and listen carefully, he says "the queen has arrived." Driveways between houses always seem successful, the bees fly down them and pass the traps. I am up to 15 with this one, but at least one seems queenless and several are dinks.

[KQ6AR]

Caught 8 swarms by hand so far.
Zero for my bait hives.

[kentuckyjeff]

question for swarm catcher exstrordinare OddFrank. caught 1st swarm today from 4x4 sign post , brushed them into 10 frame deep took home about 15 miles, have them trapped inside for nite, entrance has screen till morning, 2 frames of drawn brood comb the rest plastic frames with fresh wax. what else can i do to ensure the dont leave when i open the entrance in the am. dont have queen excluder? thanks for all comments

[Charlie B]

Caught 8 swarms by hand so far.
Zero for my bait hives.

I'm on two separate swarm lists so I've captured a bunch all ready but nothing in my traps yet either.

[odfrank]

>but nothing in my traps yet either

Loosers, I am up to fifteen and just returned home with a truckload of three from the Palo Alto area.

[odfrank]

question for swarm catcher exstrordinare OddFrank. what else can i do to ensure the dont leave when i open the entrance in the am. dont have queen excluder? thanks for all comments

Pray...and don't use plastic foundation next time.

[D Semple]

1st week of swarm season here in KC and I'm up to 7.

2 were from my own hives though, do those count?

[odfrank]

2 were from my own hives though, do those count?

If you baited them into a box they count, if you baited in a buddy's bees that counts triple. If you catch Charlie's bees that's triple too. If you bait in mine you are DISqualified from the competition.

[Charlie B]

Pray...and don't use plastic foundation next time.

I'm surprised OD said that because plastic is cheaper.

[kentuckyjeff]

thanks guys, everything seems to be happening in fast forward. in three wks I hived nuc from local beekp, hived pkgbees from kellybees, built hogan trap-out install first part then yesterday guy called for a swarm on a post. thats a lot for newbee. i like sharp learning curve. thanks again this site has taught me tons. will try foundationless with drawn comb next time.

[odfrank]

I'm surprised OD said that because plastic is cheaper.

I might be cheaper but with wax I can do a wax exchange and therefore not have to pry any cash out of my money grubbing clenched fists. Is plastic really cheaper??? Now that I know that I might have to try it.

[KQ6AR]

I dump all my swarms on plastic frames. Adding a frame of brood really locks them in. With one frame of brood, & 4 frames of plastic foundation they have all stayed in the hive. When I use 4 plastic foundation with one drawn frame about two out of 10 leave within 2 days.

question for swarm catcher exstrordinare OddFrank. caught 1st swarm today from 4x4 sign post , brushed them into 10 frame deep took home about 15 miles, have them trapped inside for nite, entrance has screen till morning, 2 frames of drawn brood comb the rest plastic frames with fresh wax. what else can i do to ensure the dont leave when i open the entrance in the am. dont have queen excluder? thanks for all comments

[KQ6AR]

Anybody notice the title to the thread changed. Now it says swarm challenge, instead of Why is the odfrank challenge closed?

[odfrank]

Anybody notice the title to the thread changed. Now it says swarm challenge, instead of Why is the odfrank challenge closed?

I am not Barry's favorite member.

[Charlie B]

I pulled an OD and went really cheap. I used a drone brood frame instead of worker brood on the last two swarms. It seems to have the same effect. They're staying put.

[D Semple]

Caught 2 more yesterday, up to 9 in 9 days, since swarms started here.

I'm snagging mine, not putting out traps, still count?

Not to worry, can't win, I only made enough equipment for 50 new hives over the winter.


Don

[Charlie B]

Caught 2 more yesterday, up to 9 in 9 days, since swarms started here.
I'm snagging mine, not putting out traps, still count?

You Kansas flatlanders are always welcome but the rules are you have to lure your swarm into a trap that you made and set out. The swarm has to move in willingly on it's own. The size of the swarm doesn't matter otherwise Ollie would have been eliminated long ago.

[Fuzzy]

Update:

3 in bait hives (another one in less than 24hrs)
8 in retrievals ( not counting the ones that I have referred to CharlieB )

Fuzzy