I would just bump the branch into a deep body, rather than having to stir the bees up twice. I find disturbing them less buy bumping the branch and dropping the queen. Then immediately installing an inner cover and coming back in about 20 minutes. Gets 90+% of the bees in the box.
In order or importance, Saving the bees is paramount! Capturing swarms, rehoming, caring for them is paramount. Also, though, it's important to try and handle them with the grace and gentleness needed for potential future success and thriving. Add three minutes to that 27 seconds you took there, as well as a pair of ratcheting pruners and one could very very easily have carefully lowered that entire swarm into a box rather than the shake and drop method. Was it effective? Yes. Was it a good thing? Yes. Could it have been better? Yes. Same as the way you put that top on the hive. A bit slower...a bit more graceful and gentle. Doing the dance and being very aware in your movements. More wiggling and slow movement. Carefully giving the bees a chance to move out of the way; which they do readily! And air holes in the swarm box are a great idea. It's a lovely thing, you doing your incredible part to help the bees and steward them...and that is the best thing ever. Well done.
Pretty clever. And thanks for preserving those hard working little rascals. We need all the bees we can muster. Without your protection they might have gone off into a large wooded area and been attacked by predators, this way they have a human to protect them and hopefully help them multiply. Some folks will complain that you killed some but they don't realize, the ones you saved will be productive and are more likely to survive.
You have to ask, Where did these bees come from? Therefore they have to be regarded as "feral", and will need requeening,, disease inspection etc..The black bag is not necessary, just give them a short sharp shake into the cardboard box, and you will have caught them in perhaps only 5 or 6 . seconds. Interfold the lid, and those still flying will enter by the small hole left, if the box is on its side. Take them home after about 10 minutes, and tip them at the front of a used hive with some combs of foundation if possible( because it smells right). Put the lid on, and give them some peace and quiet for a week.
you probably dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me atm you can stream all of the latest series on instaflixxer. Have been watching with my gf recently =)
It seems to me if the bag had been taped to the top of the box you want them I in in the first place with frames in place, it would be even faster, then smoke them down in before removing the plastic bag and putting on the lid.
I think I would have set up the empty hive box under the low hanging swarm. A double deep with frames in the bottom and nothing in the top. Then brush or shake the swarm to directly drop into the hive box. Put the lid on it and let them sit overnight. If you captured the queen in the hive everything else should fall into place nicely..
Glad you saved the main swarm, I don't think collecting swarms should be a timed race. It's amazing how many hundreds of scouts are out while a swarm hangs in place. By boxing, bagging and hauling out of there so fast, you left a huge number of bees behind. Why wouldn't the homeowner allow you to leave the box overnight so the rest could be also recovered? I also think the liquid you added was unnecessary when you already have the queen inside, she'll keep them oriented wth her scent.
Thanks for your insight my friend--- the home owner was terrified and wanted to use raid on them--- sometimes the quick approach is the only way to save them---Don
Thanks Don, you could have won them over (in theory) by explaining that there will be hundreds of lost bees scouring around your place if we take the box now? But if nothing you said to them worked, I guess you got what you got, people can be stubborn.
You're assuming the hive just takes off while all the scouts are out without a clue. The bees are attuned to more than us, including the meaning of a whole host of different pheromones, so if the hive is going to swarm, they can quite literally smell/sense it coming. When the hive swarms and leave the hive, any left by the swarm can and will just go back to the original hive to keep working.
24/ 08/2016 Hi Donald, I have just collected my first 2 swarms in Albany Western Australia. I am new but found this method fast safe and as I also have 40 swarm traps out fast is good. I take the hive body out with 10 frames in and place it as close to the swarm as I can, then spray the swarm with sugar water. Then with my hands pick up as many Bees as possible and place them on the top bars. After they settle I replace the lid, brush any remaining bees to the ground they march in. I then close the entrance take them home place them where I want and have a beer. Works for me, good luck Jonathan.
Justin usually 1:1, I have heard that it is supposed to be #'s, 8# of sugar to a gal of water, not heated, or chilled, room temp... , but others say 1 cup to 1 cup, so I'm in the learning mode too
My only suggestion to improve the snare, which is great, is to use something other than a trashbag knot to hold em tight. Im guessing a lot of them didnt reach the bottom before you twisted and pulled the bag to tie it down. Maybe a rope or something elastic?
a good suggestion. the bees don't cling to the plastic, a little shaking and they are all in the box. this chute was improvised moments after the call to collect the swarm--- not much time to think things thru. thanks for your insight my friend---Don
I was thinking they would suffocate in that plastic bag. I guess between it being a big bag and the volume of the cardboard box it held enough air for the 30 minute ride home. I sure wouldn't leave them in there for any longer though. Even less time if it had been hot outside. Clearly this was a cool fall day. Glad it worked out!
I love the idea of a black plastic taped to a card board box. It might work to cut the bottom half of one side of the box, hinge it in the middle with tape, then tape the other sides. Once the bees are trapped, and ready for release, cut the tape on the three sides, leaving it in the middle, and swing the door up, then shake them out the door into their new home... just a thought. I'm not there yet in my own adventures.
Pretty slick...years ago we used to use just a brush and a box...if the queen goes in the box then the rest follow...when they swarm they're pissed out of their tiny minds and pretty docile anyway... It saddens me we had to give up beekeeping due to my wife's anaphylaxis - she nearly died before consenting to our giving up...it was a hobby we both loved so much...
You should see a cutout, removing bees that have established a hive with comb and brood. You're cutting the comb apart and cutting it into pieces where you have to to fit it into a hive box. You kill bees AND brood, in great number, and it's inevitable.
Anyone who has ever done this kind of work will know that as you lay your head on the pillow at night, all you see are bees buzzing around your face until morning.
@@skylerdrabing4323 He found out where the queen on the branch,then covered them all in a cloth bag,then he used the disabled (only half arm left)arm to hit the branch quickly,all the bees dropped from the branch into the bag. It happened only in 1 minute.
Just curious...why not set up the hive adjacent to the swarm, use the bag/box trick like you did and capture the entire colony? Come back the next day, smoke them and relocate. Anyway, thanks for saving as many as you did! Regards.
We only have Killer Bees here in Arizona! They are meaner than hell! Killer Bee Guy here! Did you know that Killer Bee honey is the same as any other honey? It is the nectar source that matters.
I do believe your 25 seconds swarm catching job and I have probably been lucky with an easy, close to the ground swarm that was not hanging nicely distributed along a page wire fence the odd time as well. However, there have been enough swarms hanging in tough places, like 20ft. up on the end of a spruce tree branch, or inside a chimney way up on a steep roof . Catching a swarm is usually not a picnic.
Swarms are really cool to be around... fascinating to watch! My honey-of-a-hubby was working with the honeybees and my teen-aged nephew was invited to come along. A swarm was on a path flying fairly low above a gorgeous meadow of Illinois wildflowers, and met up with my tall nephew. They simply split up when they neared his face (who was not suited up yet); half the swarm flew to the right, and half flew to the left and met up just a few feet behind him and back into a football-shape like nothing ever happened. WHERE is a camera when you need one?!! My sweet nephew? Super calm, collected and delighted! He went home with an awesome story to share.
These people saying things like: You killed some, oh thats so sad etc. etc. What would you prefer? People who afterwards provide a new home and take care of them? Or kill them with toxin? Get off your high horse and get back to reality you hippies! (P.S. to the guy who posted this video, keep up the great work!)
For 1 thing, it could be several queens in a swarm. 2nd at a later date he could find out about the queen or queens. 3rd You do it your way and he'll do it his way. 4th just cause you disagree doesn't make it wrong
You could leave them alone and go do something else? Imagine some super-being shaking the fuck out of our planet because it wanted some trivial resource that it just "wanted because it tastes good for a second"?
This is actually cute :D A mass of buzzy-fluffy peaceful honeymakers...Damn sometimes I really want to keep bees or bumblebees. But as long as I live in a city, I guess I will stick to ant farms.
I know what you are saying here--- however, the homeowner wants immediate removal --- their option is to spray them and kill all the bees--- I have never injured a queen doing this, in fact there has never been a dead bee in the capture box. Not much different than shaking a package hive into a super. Thanks for your input my friend---Don
Just curious.. If you capture a swarm of bee's in a box, bag, etc... How do you know that they queen is safe? Or should i ask, what if they queen is damaged / killed in the process. Do you order a new queen for the swarm or will they produce another queen?
I have never lost a Queen --- she is in the center of the swarm. if she is lost you can buy another Queen, however they will know very soon she is missing--- they can produce another Queen if brood is available to them. Many will re-Queen the swarm anyway just to control the type of bee the hive will become.
honey bees are not hornes or bumble bees.. they do not sting unless agressed.. we had a farm and our neighbor put hives all over our fields and we worked on our tractors there and we were never once stung. they flew all around us.. Bees are as sweet as the honey they make.
Why not put the hive box under the swarm, one good shake and they are in the bee box, put on the lid and come back at sunset close the entrance and you have all the bees. All your good foragers are out looking for a new home, if they don't have a chance if you take the swarm away.
Anise oil--- makes bees think Queen is there and accept as new home. the bees were only in the bag about 15 minutes, if you are concerned, placed window screen in side of box to give fresh air.
I like the idea, but not sure I'm a fan on folding the back in a knot when you have no idea whether or not you just killed the queen, or dozens of bees. Bee KIND>
Why did you not have foundation frames set up? I know the swarm wants to start drawing comb as soon as they can and should they take to the hive box they will draw cross comb.
foundations were in the lower frame--- that upper frame was removed the next day--- that upper frame was only on there to allow me to shake the bees into the box and then place the cover over it
I've been thinking of beekeeping, but want to collect a swarm instead of mail order. I live in Raleigh, NC. Can you recommend any sources that would help me?
not many were flying, I lost a small group by being sloppy and missed them when placing the bag over the mass--- you can see in the video that the bag didn't go over a corner of the swarm. I think if you sprayed them with sugar, that act may have made more of them take flight. I'll have to try that and see what happens.
Donald, he visto que pusiste aceite de anis en la colmena ¿Esto también sirve como atrayente? I don´t know if you can understand me, but y can´t witter in inglish. Is very difficult for me Gracias
The bag is only the chute to get the bees into the cardboard box. there is vents in the box. the super if you look closely, was two stacked--- the lower one was full of frames, the upper was empty to facilitate the dumping of the captured bees into the hive, the empty super was removed in the morning. The bees were happy in their new home.
There is a plastic mfg plant near me--- they make plastic bags. before the bags are cut to size, the plastic is on a long roll--- I traded a roll for blueberries from my farm. you can tape bags together to get a length needed.
Donald Porta I was going to be a smartass and say Walmart. I was way off lol. Awesome source and method of payment. Props buddy. Good job saving this swarm!
Don...CONGRATULATIONS!! Self made man. I like it!! How are they doing today? Are they productive? What kind are them? Italian? Great job!! Regards. Fred.
They probably would follow but I drove 8 miles away--- the remaining bees probably went back to their hive which will be close since they swarmed away from the hive and it is still there with all of their sisters raising a new Queen
But there will still be thousands of bees which were out looking for a permanent home at the swarm site. You are meant to capture the swarm with queen and then leave the box there until dark or early morning to ensure you get all the bees, or virtually all of them.
Bees can actually easily adopt foreign stragglers of swarms if they find them worthy. As far as they're concerned, unique genes in the stock, extra workers queen doesn't have to lay, etc. Since they swarmed there that means there are nearby hives that will adopt.
The lower super was fully framed, the upper was empty and was used as a temporary chamber to contain the mass until they settled in--- it was removed the next day.
I have seen million of wasps bald face hornets, yellowjacket nests but I have never seen a wild bees nest. I saw a cave that had an entrance about 7 feet high and four feet across completely covered with millions of wasps. I this biggest wasp nest in history I am sure of it lol. Wonder where this is?
Depending on where you live, this late in the year the hive may not have enough time to build a strong enough numbers to survive the winter. As a temporary hive box, any box with a wooden lid would work fine, even if you fabricate a wood lid yourself. The bees attach their comb to wood in nature, and attach to the top. Let me know how you make out---Don
Sorry I forgot to mention I live in tropical Australia but they have left now which I sort of am happy and sad about as I would liked to have a go at setting them up.
i need help urgently please i need a chemical that can be use to get rid of bees from a place (chemical that will not kill them but just to chase them out)
no bees were killed in tying the knot--- this was the only alternative to save the bees, the home owners were there with gasoline to douse the swarm--- I got them out and into a hive.
Both are similar; Lemongrass oil mimics the pheromone honeybees produce with their nasonov glad, a pheromone which encourages a swarm colony to move into a cavity or hive. anise oil is an all-time winner for attracting bees. bees will follow it anywhere. you need to try them both and share your results--- thank you my friend!
They may stay there for the night if it is too late. After that they will settle if the closest hive. Even if the queen is there they will leave as soon as they can.
