Blueblood's Twelfth, Thirteenth and a Half Swarms of 2017

[blueblood]

[neillsayers]

This season has you busy!

[blueblood]

This season has you busy!

Yes, since the third week of April.  3 and 2 a day is wearing me out fast.  Wouldn't be disappointed if they ceased.  I have captured 12 in my yard alone.  12 to 15 swarms are usually available for me in the county each year but I am thinking I will pass on most if not all of them. 

[Barbarian]

Blueblood .... In an earlier post you mentioned that you were keeping the swarms to increase your stocks.

By relying on swarms you are loosing some brood producing time. The Q in the swarm may take some time to start laying again. The colony left behind will not produce eggs until a Q hatches, matures, mates and maybe takes a while to start laying.

You can also take the oppertunity to produce colonies which have the traits you want and eliminate unwanted traits.

I am on the swarm collectors list for my area. Because a swarm may have (hidden) unwanted traits, I do not add it, without re-queening to my apiary stock.

[blueblood]

Blueblood .... In an earlier post you mentioned that you were keeping the swarms to increase your stocks.

By relying on swarms you are loosing some brood producing time. The Q in the swarm may take some time to start laying again. The colony left behind will not produce eggs until a Q hatches, matures, mates and maybe takes a while to start laying.

Your absolutely right Barbarian.  I learned early on that I was content with the balance of hives producing after the completion of swarm month.  I like to maintain 20-25 hives and then sell/trade the nuc surplus.  This many hives is just about all I can handle at present, still working my full time job.

[riverbee]

dave, did the bees finally settle in the box? did you find the queen?

[blueblood]

dave, did the bees finally settle in the box? did you find the queen?

I returned the 3rd day and found that the swarm was gone.  However, a hive nearby had a ton of bees plastered to the front of the deeps.  I suspect, but not sure, that the swarm moved in.  I am not sure if a swarm will do that.  Is it more likely when the hive is in the queenless stage after a swarm?  It would be a good study.