Post by bk on Jul 24, 2016 21:53:30 GMT -5
Got a text from step-son this morning. He was working his bees and saw one of his hives swarm. Ended up in an apple tree. He shook them into an empty nuc and went back to hive inspections. About an hour later he watched them leave the new nuc and head for the top of a pine tree. Then they kept moving down the whole row of pines, tree by tree, before descending to land about two feet off the ground in a small plum tree. A short chat and we decided to let them be for a few hours before another capture attempt. Swarm didn't look very big or impressive, but hard to get a good view.
Finally about six o'clock we put full size hive body under them. A couple of good shakes, and the hive was covered in bees. Her royal highness must have went into the back corner of the hive as the others started heading for that corner and circling like water going down a drain, and started pouring into the hive. Pretty cool to watch. We estimated there were about four pounds of bees in the swarm. Added inner and outer cover and left hive sit until dark before moving them back to the bee yard. Ladies seem happy in their new home. Time will tell.
Finally about six o'clock we put full size hive body under them. A couple of good shakes, and the hive was covered in bees. Her royal highness must have went into the back corner of the hive as the others started heading for that corner and circling like water going down a drain, and started pouring into the hive. Pretty cool to watch. We estimated there were about four pounds of bees in the swarm. Added inner and outer cover and left hive sit until dark before moving them back to the bee yard. Ladies seem happy in their new home. Time will tell.
