[kaveman]

I have two hives. Both are 2 deep and added a med super Memorial Day to each. Found a swarm in a tree today. Do not know if mine or not Did no have any place to pit them. Put a brown paper bag paper bag between deep and super. Put swarm in super. Prop covet open. Plan to get another body tomorrow to pit them on. Or should I leave them and let them combine?

 

[Barry Digman]

Don't combine them. Get them in a new box and off of the other hive as soon as you can, even if it's not a proper box.

 

[Riverderwent]

Right now would you rather have another hive or more bees in one of your two hives? (Georgia, peach; really.)

 

[Bees In Miami]

Get them their own set-up ASAP. There is a queen with the swarm, and a queen in the hive. I hope they don't make it through the paper bag overnight. Was the swarm in your yard? If yes, likely from one of your own hives, and they swarmed for a reason. Take the free bees and increase your numbers! Hope they stick around for you!

 

[kaveman]

I used queen excluder and made a temp bottom board. I removed the super this morning. The paper bag was still intact. Put the Frankenhive on the stand between Lily and Daisy. Now I have to get a cover and top. All I had availabe this morning was an old piece of plywood and it is the temp cover. 3 hives now......

 

[kaveman]

They gone....Any ideas on why they left?

 

[johng]

I hate to say it but, they probably left from being messed with too much. You basically moved them twice. A swarm is a lot like a package you want to get them settled as soon as you can and leave them a lone until they get established some. Once they settle in and start comb they are unlikely to leave. If you add a frame of brood from one of your other hives to future swarms it will also keep them from leaving.

 

[Riverderwent]

They gone....Any ideas on why they left?

Did the new hive have a solid bottom? (They don't seem to like screened bottoms.) Dumping them onto a sheet leading up to the new hive seems to help me. I wish it had worked out for you. Sometimes, swarms gotta swarm.