My top bar swarm traps

[pokeyjeeper]

I got home early this afternoon and got four swarm traps almost done here's a few pictures enjoy

[nytrapper23]

Very nice work

[Brad H.]

Cool. Good luck catching those free bees!

[histopicker]

that's some awesomeness!

[pokeyjeeper]

Thanks guys now I just need to get them painted and set

[mdtreehugger]

Very nice! I have been wanting to try swarm trapping but really have no idea where to start. Any advice?

[pokeyjeeper]

This is my first time trying it I got some info here
swamptalkforum.com/thread/30809/swarm
And some from histropicker on here and YouTube I want to use top bar hives and there's and as much information on the as the traditional hives check with bk on here also sorry I'm not much help treehugger

[Brad H.]

bk is doing some swarm trap builds this year in hopes of finding some free bees. I'm know he's researched it and I know him to be a great resource for all things bees.

[pokeyjeeper]

Ok here are some pictures of my traps all finished

I put beeswax in the boxes and on the top bars


And this is the lure I will be using

Hope to get them set out this weekend it's been raining here all day and going to rain until midday on Saturday will post more pictures of the sets

[Brad H.]

Good luck! Hope to hear of full traps.

[pokeyjeeper]

Thanks brad I'd bee happy with one swarm capture

[pokeyjeeper]

I finally got a chance to set out the swarm traps I didn't get any pictures but I'll tell you what finding a tree that is straight and plumb in the wood is a task top bar boxes have to be straight and plumb or you'll get cross comb bad but all four boxes are set and ready I'll get some pictures when I check them

[pokeyjeeper]

Rebaited the swarm boxes tonight keep forgetting to take some pictures sorry guys

[swampcat]

Hey those are nice sets, I missed this post.. Good Luck with them.. I have a dozen traps out now but as far as I know haven't caught any yet.. been a few weeks since I checked them.. Man the woods grew up fast around here. but I need to get out check and rebait the boxes.. thats the nice thing about bees you don't have to run those traps every morning..

[pokeyjeeper]

Thanks swampcat I love being out in the woods year around but this year we seem to have a bad tick problem I have not had any on me yet but know neighbors that have good luck with your swarm boxes

[swampcat]

Man your right those ticks are about the only scary thing in the woods now. I can get by with snakes after the jumping back and flash of terror feeling..but finding a tick crawling on me is something I do not want to feel..
A few years ago I got pretty ill after one bit me.. Seems like there are more and different types of bugs here now than when I grew up here. I don't remember the bees having a problem with mites here but I guess we have to treat the hives for mites and hive beetles now. The woods are thick now but I'll spray down and make the rounds to check the traps today. I found paper wasp in a few last check..

[pokeyjeeper]

Well I checked my boxes this afternoon and I've got BEES!!!!! They got in there some time after Saturday afternoon nice dark ones now to get a suit gloves and smoker here's a picture and a short video

[bk]

Nice catch, pokeyjeeper.  Get your gear and a good smoker and get them in your hive.  Swarms are usually pretty easy to move even without smoke.  Keep us informed on your freebees.  Good luck and have fun in your bee journey.

[pokeyjeeper]

Thanks bk call my a wimp but I want a jacket and gloves before I install them how long can I leave them in the swarm box before I run into trouble bk

[bk]

Jun 6, 2017 20:55:25 GMT -5 pokeyjeeper said:

Thanks bk call my a wimp but I want a jacket and gloves before I install them how long can I leave them in the swarm box before I run into trouble bk

If your trap is large enough, quite awhile.  Always good to give them awhile to settle in, that being said.... 

Our traps use standard Lang frames and we just move the frames into a nuc.  With your topbar trap, will the top bars fit directly into your topbar hive?  If so, that was great planning.  If they won't I'd move them soon as you can, as they won't be using the comb they started in the trap.  You'll find that a swarm tends to build fresh comb at a rapid rate and it is great to take advantage of that.  Fresh comb in a new location and the swarm gets to raising brood and making stores - both key to a strong new hive.

Get the veil and gear ASAP.  Let the bee keeping begin. 

[pokeyjeeper]

Thanks for the information bk and yes my top bars will fit in the hive I did that so I could just transfer them over and the bees could keep building on what they have started

[bk]

Jun 7, 2017 19:44:03 GMT -5 pokeyjeeper said:

Thanks for the information bk and yes my top bars will fit in the hive I did that so I could just transfer them over and the bees could keep building on what they have started

Good job.  They will move over rather easily once you are suited and ready.  It will take them awhile to outgrow the trap space, so you have some time.