Swarmtrapping: My newfound joy in beekeeping

1330 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by treetrunk, Jul 12, 2014

Hokie Bee Daddy

Discussion Starter · Jul 12, 2014

This morning I just witnessed a swarm move into one of my swarm traps and it was really awesome to watch. Within 15 minutes it went from a swarming cloud to all moved in and setting up shop. So far I've trapped 5 swarms this year and only had 4 traps set. I've tried for the last three years with no luck at all and this year everything came up aces.

Thanks to all, and especially odfrank who convinced me it was possible. This adds a new dimension to my beekeeping. It's nice to watch your numbers grow without having to pay for them.

Just felt like sharing the enjoyment. Happy Saturday.

Jay

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odfrank

· #2 · Jul 12, 2014

You are welcome! I am so happy that I have inspired others to like me, achieve greatness.
Like I always say, "Free bees is free bees!".

This one flew in unplanned:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvR0ybmcs1A

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treetrunk

· #3 · Jul 12, 2014

You da man Odfrank! I like you video's.... Do you drive those Subarus around?

odfrank said:
You are welcome! I am so happy that I have inspired others to like me, achieve greatness.
Like I always say, "Free bees is free bees!".

This one flew in unplanned:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvR0ybmcs1A

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odfrank

· #4 · Jul 12, 2014

treetrunk said:
You da man Odfrank! I like you video's.... Do you drive those Subarus around?

The biggest tragedy in the automotive world: No new small pickups like the Subaru Baja, a small beekeepers dream truck. My buddy got two after seeing mine and another local beekeeper uses one also. You can fit 25 empty medium supers in the bed. Since we service small suburban apiaries, that is adequate. We own larger trucks for harvest.

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CessnaGirl

· #5 · Jul 12, 2014

Hi Jay, your story sounds like mine! After getting skunked last year, this year every time I had a trap out I caught a swarm and usually within 12 hours. 6 swarms in a month and they weren't my bees! My hubby says no more traps! Enough bees! I'm a backyard beekeeper and ended up farming out my existing hives, giving one away, and keeping the swarms in my yard. I was not sure what the swarm girls would end up being temperament wise as we are in South Florida so I wanted to keep an eye on them. I combined two small swarms into one successfully (had a non-laying queen). These swarm girls rock! Each swarm is different. All are two deep, have at least 1 super, and so far, I've harvested 50 lbs. of honey off one. I LOVE swarms! They rock! And so far, no crabby or hot bees. One set was a runny at first but has since settled down. And all free, except for all the equipment--ouch! I'm happy, happy, happy!

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treetrunk

· #6 · Jul 12, 2014

Here's my bee machine Odfrank... I can fit 25 empty Subaru baja's in the bed and if I skooch over real tight I can fit a Justy in the cab.....
View attachment 12394

odfrank said:
The biggest tragedy in the automotive world: No new small pickups like the Subaru Baja, a small beekeepers dream truck. My buddy got two after seeing mine and another local beekeeper uses one also. You can fit 25 empty medium supers in the bed. Since we service small suburban apiaries, that is adequate. We own larger trucks for harvest.

Save

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