[cteddo]

I have caught a number of swarms and find many of them even though they were large swarms, they seem to just head down hill. I check them and there is some brood and eggs, but it is scattered. Perhaps the queen is old? I am new to bees and am considering requeening all the swarms I catch. Anyone else out there do this, it seems like it is worth a try.

 

[Konrad]

How long did you wait?
I love swarms..sometimes it's not so good but sometime awesome.
One of my two swarms, [small after swarm] I checked
after about 3 to 4 weeks, only half a box of bees but 3 frames now have almost wall to wall
brood,....have never seen it like this.
Perhaps you still have the old queen...then I would re-queen.

 

[johng]

Thats a personal preference. If the queen is not doing good swarm or no swarm you need to do something about it. It has nothing to do with it being a swarm or not. Here in Florida the state advises you requeen all uknown swarms but, for a different reason. Has more to do with AHB even though we don't have any in North Florida yet.

 

[NasalSponge]

Like mentioned above, you will get some swarms that seem to be duds (these I usually pinch the queen and combine) and others a tremendous layers.