The comment about the queen excluder reminded me of my experience. I put excluders on two hives. One hive had a drawn super and the other had waxed foundation. The one with the drawn frame was filled with honey. The other one was never drawn out. Evidently they don't like to go through the excluder if there is no drawn comb above.
Russell, (comment above ) said the same thing, I was using a mix, I will try a full box of drawn next time I try an excluder and see if that helps, Thanks Phillip
Thank you Scott! Had my first swarm of the year last Monday. I think they went into one of my swarm boxes. Will know more in a few days. -Jeff (and Andrew)
I've never had trouble with a queen excluder as long as I have drawn comb. But anyway, Scott that was a decent sized swarm and with some feed they should be good sized by winter. Have a good weekend.
That was a beautiful dark queen. Do you know the genetics you have? Your bees are generally calm and I am bringing some Carnies into my apiary and they are dark and calmer "usually", right now it is 96F/35C and we are in dearth so they can be defensive.
"Do you know the genetics"..No, I bought Italians 14 years ago and I have been raising my own queens ever since, I just graft from the ones I like and get rid of the ones I don't.
Greetings from Erin! The tractor is a good idea. Were you standing on it, Scott? I also had swarms this week, but I either returned them or transferred their brood to growing colonies. Too many new colonies this summer.
I don't think so I caught her by hand. I put her in the center of the cather she was running back and forth and then got herself in the corner for the camera but didn't think she was stuck. If she was, she looked ok when I let her out the next morning. Scott
Kamhoneybees, I watched this part of the video a few times and it did look like she was stuck although I don't think she was, but it got me worried so I went out and reopened that hive and she is totally ok. All six legs are working fine.She is not matted yet when she is I will try to get video of marking her. Scott
So interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you
Great video Scotty! I had a swarm yesterday in my bee yard here in middle Georgia. For us, it has been a swarmy year.
"it has been a swarmy year." Everyone I talk to says the same thing. I am running out of room in the bee yard...it's a good problem....LOL
Thanks for sharing 😊
Your Welcome.
Thank you
Scott
The comment about the queen excluder reminded me of my experience. I put excluders on two hives. One hive had a drawn super and the other had waxed foundation. The one with the drawn frame was filled with honey. The other one was never drawn out. Evidently they don't like to go through the excluder if there is no drawn comb above.
Russell, (comment above ) said the same thing, I was using a mix, I will try a full box of drawn next time I try an excluder and see if that helps, Thanks Phillip
Thank you Scott! Had my first swarm of the year last Monday. I think they went into one of my swarm boxes. Will know more in a few days. -Jeff (and Andrew)
Hi, Jeff, I had a small one go into one of my bait hive last week, it is so nice when they cooperate...LOL
Scott
I've never had trouble with a queen excluder as long as I have drawn comb. But anyway, Scott that was a decent sized swarm and with some feed they should be good sized by winter. Have a good weekend.
I have been using a mix of drawn with new foundation, perhaps I will try a full box of foundation, Thank you.
You have all the fun!
Every day...LOL
That was a beautiful dark queen. Do you know the genetics you have? Your bees are generally calm and I am bringing some Carnies into my apiary and they are dark and calmer "usually", right now it is 96F/35C and we are in dearth so they can be defensive.
"Do you know the genetics"..No, I bought Italians 14 years ago and I have been raising my own queens ever since, I just graft from the ones I like and get rid of the ones I don't.
Greetings from Erin! The tractor is a good idea. Were you standing on it, Scott? I also had swarms this week, but I either returned them or transferred their brood to growing colonies. Too many new colonies this summer.
"Were you standing on it" ...Yes I made a platform to work on.
"Too many new colonies this summer."...Yes I need a bigger bee yard....LOL
10:46 - is the queens leg stuck in the catcher?
I don't think so I caught her by hand. I put her in the center of the cather she was running back and forth and then got herself in the corner for the camera but didn't think she was stuck.
If she was, she looked ok when I let her out the next morning.
Scott
Kamhoneybees, I watched this part of the video a few times and it did look like she was stuck although I don't think she was, but it got me worried so I went out and reopened that hive and she is totally ok. All six legs are working fine.She is not matted yet when she is I will try to get video of marking her.
Scott