- Joined
- May 4, 2011
- Messages
- 155
- Reaction score
- 200
- Location
- Derbyshire
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 4 + 1 nucs
Despite my best efforts, my largest hive has swarmed today.
It landed about 6m from the original hive and spread all over a gate and gate post (no nice textbook cluster from my bees).
The only way I could think of to try to collect them was to balance a hive with roof (thankfully got a poly one free so nice and light) over them with some comb in it and try to encourage them to move up into it.
Sweeping bees uphill doesn't really work so I thought a bit of gentle herding with light smoke might help.
I was obviously a bit heavy handed and about half the bees took off and promptly went back to the original hive, fanned like mad and slowly went back in)
I eventually encouraged most of the bees left into the hive but with a fair clump attached to the gatepost. Eventually I just had to plonk it on the hive floor (with the entrance blocked) and hope for the best. The remaining bees on the post took off and again returned to the original hive and repeated the fanning.
My concern now is will they all try to run away from home again tomorrow or have they had their wanderlust satisfied and what do I do with the hive with the entrance blocked. It contains, presumably the old queen and about a quarter of the bees that originally swarmed. If I just open it now will it encourage any of the other bees out again.
I am not sure whether I have come out better or worse after their shennanigans.
It landed about 6m from the original hive and spread all over a gate and gate post (no nice textbook cluster from my bees).
The only way I could think of to try to collect them was to balance a hive with roof (thankfully got a poly one free so nice and light) over them with some comb in it and try to encourage them to move up into it.
Sweeping bees uphill doesn't really work so I thought a bit of gentle herding with light smoke might help.
I was obviously a bit heavy handed and about half the bees took off and promptly went back to the original hive, fanned like mad and slowly went back in)
I eventually encouraged most of the bees left into the hive but with a fair clump attached to the gatepost. Eventually I just had to plonk it on the hive floor (with the entrance blocked) and hope for the best. The remaining bees on the post took off and again returned to the original hive and repeated the fanning.
My concern now is will they all try to run away from home again tomorrow or have they had their wanderlust satisfied and what do I do with the hive with the entrance blocked. It contains, presumably the old queen and about a quarter of the bees that originally swarmed. If I just open it now will it encourage any of the other bees out again.
I am not sure whether I have come out better or worse after their shennanigans.