[19rabbit52]

I was lucky enough to catch the swarm. I have them in a deep with 10 frames with an empty medium on top of that (plan on using for a sugar feeder). I have all openings covered with screen. Should I set the hive up here next to where the came from. Or relocate a couple miles away?

 

[crabbydad]

its ok to set the swarm hive next to the original hive. I do it without any problems. I'd give them a little space to avoid drifting, especially when the queen from the hive that swarmed goes on her mating flights.

 

[GaryG74]

Once they swarm they no longer think of the old hive as home. You should be able to place them right next to the original hive and they will think of "their new hive" as home. I would take the screen off, close the entrance down to two or three inches wide if the swarm was large or about one inch if the swarm was about the size of a football. Don't give them too much room yet--until you set up the feeder I would take the medium off. If the swarm was huge, I'd leave the medium on with frames and foundation. A swarm can fill a deep with drawn comb in a week or two, depending on the size of the swarm and whether they are fed or have a good nectar flow. Good luck with your new hive!

 

[Michael Bush]

I'm curious to know if you fed them constantly... that is usually the cause of a first year package swarming.

 

[19rabbit52]

I put a feeder in when I first got them. They never touched it so I pulled it after a week. A friend of mine also bought a couple packages same time as me. Never fed at all, and one of his swarmed last week. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[Michael Bush]

It must be a very productive year.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Feeding can I courage swarming?

 

[Michael Bush]

I run into a lot of first time beekeepers whose package swarmed the first year they feed constantly...

 

[MichiganMike]

MB is right, I started two packages on May 3 and they both swarmed by the beginning of June, one hive swarmed twice. Both hives recovered real well, my flow,has never let up. I fed heavily until they swarmed because I believed it was necessary for them to draw out the plastic foundation.