Honey Bees

I've got 6 swarm traps out in different locations. 4 of them never see any activity and the other 2 always seem to catch a swarm. There might not be an abundance of hives in that area you are trying. Try putting it in a different location. My 2 hives that always catch are in neighborhoods.

That's interesting that the hives in the neighborhoods catch the bees. I've noticed that my swarm trap in my yard gets no attention yet I have scout bees buzzing around me while sitting on the front porch not 100 yards away. They seem to be finicky little creatures.
 
Not the best pic, but another catch. Chuck made these with 6 frames.
This was empty last week, looks to be a nice sized swarm.
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Not the best pic, but another catch. Chuck made these with 6 frames.
This was empty last week, looks to be a nice sized swarm.
c8b65a9500d2058bb1b11ea8220e733c.jpg
149b01ac319e5d39125dea3b34e94754.jpg


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Nice catch!
My traps still have seen no action. I may have the too low. They are only about 7 feet high.
 
Nice catch!
My traps still have seen no action. I may have the too low. They are only about 7 feet high.
We have caught a few that low, but my best catching boxes have all been that high.
Only 2 years of experience catching them to draw on, however.

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We have caught a few that low, but my best catching boxes have all been that high.
Only 2 years of experience catching them to draw on, however.

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Never thought about just putting them into my tree stands ....
 
Chuck and I were up early at the farm this morning.
This was the swarm we caught a few weeks back.
He also brought the swarm he picked up from a yard in town and the splits made earlier adding 5 hives in all.
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I caught a new swarm or a swarm from one of my own existing hives. Problem is now I have 2 "new" hives with no queens even after a week of waiting. Cant seem to find any queens locally and supposes I am going to have to pull a couple frames of eggs out of another of my hives and see if they will create some queen cells that will get mated and get the hives on track.
 
I saw several honey bee's this year in my fields. They used to be ubiquitous in my area, but these are the first I've seen in several years.
 
Been watching some of the videos from Dr Leo Sharashkin, he's here in the ozarks. He has a web site horizontalhive.com, which has some free plans. I'm becoming interested in a long hive like the long langstroth, not interested in honey production much. Does anyone have experience or thoughts on that type of hive?
 
They seem to be finding me this year. I saw these swarming out of an old white oak.
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Should make all those Hawggardville apple trees very happy!

bill
 
This evening the wife and I were introducing some chicks to the rest of the flock when we heard the unmistakable sound of bees. We looked at each other at the same time and she said I told you that you needed to split last years surviving hive. I started towards the bee yard and told her I don’t think they are mine. We got to the yard just in time to watch a big swarm drop in and fill a stack of empty boxes I had piled up. Gotta love when they come to you.

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This evening the wife and I were introducing some chicks to the rest of the flock when we heard the unmistakable sound of bees. We looked at each other at the same time and she said I told you that you needed to split last years surviving hive. I started towards the bee yard and told her I don’t think they are mine. We got to the yard just in time to watch a big swarm drop in and fill a stack of empty boxes I had piled up. Gotta love when they come to you.

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That is luckier than heck! You both should have gone right out and bought lottery tickets…it was your day!
 
Watched these swarm in this morning. They had been checking the box out so much yesterday I thought a small swarm had already moved in.


Added a video of them swarming in.
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Thats a big Texas swarm right there!!!!!


Attaboy,Merle!!!

bill
 
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