[bobs346]

Quick swarm question. I just got home from catching a swarm, in the rain. The rain is supposed to continue tonight, intermittently. Should I have the swarm during a break in the rain, or hope for better weather tomorrow?

 

[Tim KS]

I'd hive them asap and feed them 1:1 sugar water.

 

[DeepCreek]

If I "catch" a swarm
1) I move them at night
2) I set the swarm box where I want the new hive to sit and open up the entrance
3) The following day they do their orientation flights
4) A day or two after I transfer them into permanent equipment

I handle swarm "calls" differently.

 

[Jack Grimshaw]

Depends on if they are in a catch box with frames or a 5 gal pail.

 

[bobs346]

Thanks for the replies. This was a swarm that was found in a tree. I drove about 45 miles to get it, and put it in a cardboard box, and waited for the rest of the swarm to settle into the box, then drove them home.

I went ahead and hived them, and set them up with a feeder and 1:1 syrup. They are coming and going now, so hopefully all good.

For future reference, would the recommendation be to hive immediately, regardless of weather?

 

[Tim KS]

Good going, bobs. I like to hive them asap because swarms like to start drawing comb as soon as they settle. I hate for them to waste their efforts on the inside of a box or bucket that they'll be removed from when hived. Keep sugar water in their feeder and they'll draw comb amazingly fast. Good luck with your swarm. :thumbsup:

 

[Richinbama]

Great job Bob!!! Feed them plenty of sugar water. I like to hive mine asap. Rain just slows ya down a little, but don't let that stop you. Asap is best for me, and I think the bees too. Also, once you hive them, they won't fly during rain much. So they should settle in pretty fast. Good luck

 

[GregB]

Great job Bob!!! Feed them plenty of sugar water.......

Bob is in WI.
Here in WI have plenty of forage as we speak for the rest of the summer (mb a couple week dearth in August IF too hot and dry).
No need to feed and worry about feeding UNLESS you have 3-4 non-stop rain days in front of you AND the swarm has no stores yet (then maybe).
OR you have nothing around you but corn fields - then you have more serious sustainability issues.

Well, they will take your sugar water but this would be the least of my worries, seriously.
Feeding swarms in WI in June/July is basically waste of your time.
Find something better to do (urgent building few temp hives/nuc boxes would be one such thing).

Re-hiving - re-hive as soon as practical if you have them in the cardboard box.
Else they will just start building combs directly in the cardboard box.
In similar instances I shake free-hanging swarms directly into nuc hives (always have spare nuc boxes exactly for this need - swarm collection).