June 9th 2023 my biggest swarm ever
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- On June 9th 2023 one of my hive gave me the most wonderful swarm.
My cameras were not fully charged so I had a little trouble getting all the action but I think you will enjoy this one just the same.
I think this was the largest swarm I have ever taken down out of a tree and then shake into a hive box.
I know my arms were very sore when I was done, it was heavy...
Scott
We're moving. I'm just a backyard beekeeper. I stacked up my unused equipment. Came home from moving some things, thought I'd move some of the bee stuff and ummm, one box was humming! First time I've been so lucky to catch my own swarm...First year beekeeping one hive swarmed and swarmed and yep, waaaaaay up in our spruce trees. Had to get my son to help. We used our tractor loader to get up there. But thankfully, tired me just found the ladies working away in some tossed equipment. I went through the box and gave them better frames...Big swarm too Two full boxes of bees. I'll have to give them a super really soon.
That is so wonderful, I am very happy for you.
Thanks for watching.
Scott
I keep wishing for a self hiving swarm. I keep extra boxes setup outside but no luck so far.
@@Steele_Wings They moved into the box of nasty frames I was intending to throw away, inside a really old box I was intending to throw away. You're likely like me, trying to give them all the best stuff but they seems to prefer the nasty old stuff. I let them settle in for a few days then changed out lots of the frames that I could...and I'll mark that hive for frames clean out next spring.
@@Steele_Wings I also keep a few hive set up in the bee yard just in case, but I have had better luck with bait hive around the yard ant some distance from the bee yard it self.
Scott
Hey Scotty. Elegant or not - a swarm catch is a swarm catch. Good to see your videos back.
I was thinking I need to make a funnel for the top of the hive so the big swarms all get in the box...LOL
Thanks.
Scott
Great to see you got that huge swam. Gonna make another great hive.
Yes, I think it will be a good one too. It has been raining here for a few days (which is much needed) I will get in it shortly and get you guys an update.
Scott
Greetings from Erin! I also see some bees go in with pollen and swarming bees go out. This is a sign that the swarm will be with the old queen. How interesting to see that the swarm may choose the spruce tree. My bees do not go to evergreens, they prefer fruit trees. If your swarm will go into the box in next 20 minutes then the queen is in that box. All the best with swarm!
I have no fruit trees so the spruce will have to do....LOL
The queen was in there, they settled in very quickly.
Nice swarm 😊
Thank you, it was so much fun to play with a swarm again
Scott
Yep that was a two handed swarm . Those sizes are always really fun standing up on a tall ladder . THANKS
New ladder is taller and made it a little easier.I think it was about 20ft up.
My wife worries about me falling, I told her I don't mind the fall but I hate the landing.
You are lucky. My bees have swarmed from March 8 until May 30th. They kept requeening early mated queens in the months of March and April. Weather was a factor and produced poorly mated queens.
I am likely a little further north than you, my swarm season is just starting.
Scott
Nice to see you having so much fun with your bees :)
All is right with the universe...LOL
Thanks.
Scott
That sure is a good feeling isn't it?
It's good to see you standing or sitting in front of the camera again.
"That sure is a good feeling isn't it?"...I was struggling to put the feeling into words.
Thank you.
Scott
I wish I had that entrance queen excluder Frederick Dunn showed on his show to catch the queen as she tries to leave. Drone will jamm up the entrance also. Just a thought.
I have not seen that video, perhaps those queen catchers have improved but I remember reading about them in the past and unless you watch them closely you will be killing many drones.
I think they can have a use, but I am not really sure what it would be, after all if you know a hive is going to swarm you could put one on but if you know it is going to swarm I think I would just go into the hive and fix it...just my thoughts.
Thanks for watching.
Scott
Wow, nice swarm Scott. Did you use the tractor and loader or a tall ladder? Wish we could have seen that, then we could have seen how nimble you still are. LOL Have a great day Scott.
New Taller ladder was too high for the loader.
I guess I am still nimble enough, no broken bones this time...LOL
Scott
You shake my bees like that without protection and you would have taken 50 stings to the face.😂
It's all in the wrist action...(humour). I bought my bees about 14 years ago and have raised all my own queens ever since so I can select for lovable bees.
I do not buy other people's ideas of good bees.
Plus that swarm was in the tree less than an hour so they had no time to get hungry and grumpy
Scott
Yeah I hate it when it's hot all-ins up top and you think you got them all out the way and you hear a crunch when the box goes down
Yes, the dreaded crunch...it is never good, I think I did ok on this one, at least I didn't hear it if I did get the odd one.
👍👍
Thank you.
Scott
Your from at the top of the country
Northern Ontario, Canada 46°20' N
@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario I remember seeing your videos
What is the reason for the holes in the foundation?
It is a communication hole, the bees often fill it but many times they don't. It makes it easier for them to move from one side of the frame to the other, this is most helpful for them in my long winters. If I get time in the late fall I can open them up with a small knife.
Thanks for watching.
Scott
See what I hate to see what you call a big one leaving I haven't never seen one that big
So long as I am home the bigger the better....LOL