[Foggygraveshoney]

This is my first time ever beekeeping. Read a book or two, watched some YouTube, read some forums. Also have neighbors and family to help that beekeep as well.

So I caught a swarm in a 6 deep frame swarm trap. Installed them in a horizontal hive with more frames after about a week. They seems to be happy and bringing pollen etc.Then my neighbor gifted me with a swarm collected from a tree in a box. I went to put them into the horizontal hive next to them and it seem to work. They were pouring into the hive and stayed overnight. Today the next day they vamoosed and found a new home.

However I noticed that the hive I’ve had for about a week and a half maybe seemed confused with the commotion. Didn’t really see any pollen collection around that time.

1)Do you think they switched to guard mode against the new confused bees trying to get in their hive?

Also today the remaining hive has bees that are just kinda sitting on the entrance not really going or coming. Could those be confused bees from the absconded swarm?

2) could there have been some drift to that hive? Seems like there may be more bees in that initial hive.

3) there are bees left in the 2nd hive from the absconding swarm could they be adopted to the initial hive?

Appreciate y’all’s time and wisdom

 

[Akademee]

Are there significantly more bees in your original colony than before?

 

[Foggygraveshoney]

Other than there’s some bearding around the entrance and more congregation at the entrance, I can’t tell. I just installed them a few days ago, and hesitate to inspect the inside.

Yesterday late afternoon (still sunny) there was a lazy congregation on the landing board entrance. The bearding was in the twilight of the this morning, and as the morning has progressed there is no more bearding. However there are bees just loitering in the entrance slot. The loitering could be due to some weather moving in.

I was a little worried if they were about swarm from the initial sight of the bearding. Talked with my neighbor and he stated that he sees his do that as well from time I time. Also when I installed them I put 8 extra frames in there so there is a total of 14... so that should give them plenty of room and keep them busy.

 

[Foggygraveshoney]

this is how they hang out... this is a little less than usual... and even during this picture it’s sprinkling a little

 

[Gray Goose]

Sometimes a swarm "Splits" and settles on 2 different trees. or some make it to the trap and some stop to rest in a tree.

there is a chance the new swarm joined the first catch if they perhaps split at first or issued from the same hive Or lost the queen in route somehow.

IF the first box now has way more bees then this is a possibility.

get your experienced family member over and have a look, there may be more than one queen in the swarm and perhaps you could move 1 back the the second box.
or shake the few bees all in front of one hive if the size is smaller.

This is likely a 1 off and not typical
an experienced eye would help to resolve this.

GG

P.S just seen your last post
the 8 extra frames is not helpful. a divider board, 1 frame past the current cluster is better IMO.
if the cavity is too large they may abscond, hopefully they have a few eggs and will not.
some restriction is better as first.
As well Screened bottoms can cause bees to leave, as they perceive the opening to big to guard.
Also a chance there are 2 swarms in 1 box, one at each end, if spacious enough.

again I would recommend an experienced eye to have a look.

 

[Foggygraveshoney]

Thanks! Yeah I figured from reading the forums and such adding the 8 frames would be same concept as adding another brood box for them. When I transferred them from the trap to the permanent box I’d say around 50% maybe little less was built out in around 6 days... of which the next couple days they were steady shoveling in pollen... then I brought in the new swarm... I guess it would be best to wait another week and a half and inspect them and we will know for sure?

 

[Gray Goose]

Thanks! Yeah I figured from reading the forums and such adding the 8 frames would be same concept as adding another brood box for them. When I transferred them from the trap to the permanent box I’d say around 50% maybe little less was built out in around 6 days... of which the next couple days they were steady shoveling in pollen... then I brought in the new swarm... I guess it would be best to wait another week and a half and inspect them and we will know for sure?

why wait the week and a half? just wondering?
I am not advocating a frame by frame inspection, just a light smoking and open the top.
see if you now have 2 times a big swarm or not.

if bigger sure leave them for a 2 to 3 week time frame and then consider if splitting is the better approach.

or just leave them to be bees... always a choice, my curiosity would at least drive me to peek.

GG

 

[Foggygraveshoney]

So I followed your advise, just started from the end and removed frames till I saw a clump of bees which is two away from the old comb frame I used in the trap that they last I looked were already filling with nectar etc. It was nice being able to utilize the cover boards as to limit disturbing them... didn’t have to smoke or wear a veil... in total I removed 5 so now they have 9 total... and even saw them resume bringing in pollen... looks pretty close to same size colony as before...

 

[Gray Goose]

So I followed your advise, just started from the end and removed frames till I saw a clump of bees which is two away from the old comb frame I used in the trap that they last I looked were already filling with nectar etc. It was nice being able to utilize the cover boards as to limit disturbing them... didn’t have to smoke or wear a veil... in total I removed 5 so now they have 9 total... and even saw them resume bringing in pollen... looks pretty close to same size colony as before...

good now you have a reference point to compare during the next inspection. better to know what is going on.

GG

 

[Foggygraveshoney]

Actually finally did a full inspection and found capped brood and larvae. Didn’t see and beetles etc. so I’m super pumped about it haha

 

[Foggygraveshoney]

Yesterday*