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Swarm traps are now occupied #6862946
05/04/20 10:44 AM
05/04/20 10:44 AM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,859
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline OP
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline OP
trapper
P

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,859
Indiana
2 of The 3 swarm traps I have out on the farm are now being worked and I saw a few checking out the 3rd trap but not moved in yet..

I got my first used hive cleaned up and 2 coats of fresh Robin Egg blue exterior latex applied. The wifes favorite color. One more hive to get ready and within a short time I will be a real live bee keeper. No longer a want to be.

The best part is other than the paint a smoker and pry bar and maybe some youth size bee suits it will have cost me nothing.

My bee jacket and gloves were given to my by my bee keeper neighbor last year when we went to collect swarm traps we put out on my farm. I also planted 6 acres in clover for his bees. (he also sells supplies and in the president of the local club). He bought out another bee keeper that had to downsize due to his wifes cancer diagnosis. He gave me enough of those to get started with two hives. All that was needed was a little cleaning and bees.

I had planned on having bees until I learned about winter losses and other problems hives have being healthy. After that I decided it was not worth the cost of start up . Especially since my neighbor has bees.

Now that the cost to experiment has been eliminated and I have the guidance and help of an experienced bee keeper all systems are a go.

O ya bees were going to bee my wifes thing. Some how it has become mine.

Re: Swarm traps are now occupied [Re: Providence Farm] #6862953
05/04/20 10:55 AM
05/04/20 10:55 AM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,177
Albany, NY
B
bobsheedy Offline
trapper
bobsheedy  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,177
Albany, NY

Good luck with it. It's interesting for sure.

Re: Swarm traps are now occupied [Re: Providence Farm] #6862963
05/04/20 11:04 AM
05/04/20 11:04 AM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 306
Gilmer, Texas
R
Ranger109 Offline
trapper
Ranger109  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 306
Gilmer, Texas
Count you blessings from all the stuff your neighbor has given you. I got my first hive in April 2018, and have four hives now. I have over $1500 invested in them, and only got nine pounds of honey last summer. It's a very interesting hobby, but it ain't cheep!

Last edited by Ranger109; 05/04/20 11:05 AM.
Re: Swarm traps are now occupied [Re: Providence Farm] #6862994
05/04/20 11:53 AM
05/04/20 11:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,985
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
trapper
beaverpeeler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,985
Oregon
I had about 50% hive loss last year after going into the fall with 13 hives. Ten from Nucs that I bought and three were swarms that I collected or moved in on their own. All three of the swarm hives survived. I consider myself lucky since the year before I lost 100%.


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Swarm traps are now occupied [Re: beaverpeeler] #6863212
05/04/20 04:58 PM
05/04/20 04:58 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,859
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline OP
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline OP
trapper
P

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,859
Indiana
Originally Posted by beaverpeeler
I had about 50% hive loss last year after going into the fall with 13 hives. Ten from Nucs that I bought and three were swarms that I collected or moved in on their own. All three of the swarm hives survived. I consider myself lucky since the year before I lost 100%.




My neighbor said local bees are much better for our climate and more resilient. He said most people bur come from further south I think he said Georga. If so it makes sense our winters would be much harder on them. I am pretty excited. I don't expect to harvest any honey this year. I just hope to build 2 strong hives that will make it through the winter and come out swinging next spring.

Yes, I have great luck to have a wonderful friend and neighbor.. he text me earlier and said I need to come pick up some more frames ot clean.

Would something like corn syrup be beneficial for feeding along with sugar water?

Re: Swarm traps are now occupied [Re: Ranger109] #6863273
05/04/20 06:33 PM
05/04/20 06:33 PM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,828
Southwest Michigan
M
Michigan Trappin Offline
trapper
Michigan Trappin  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,828
Southwest Michigan
Originally Posted by Ranger109
Count you blessings from all the stuff your neighbor has given you. I got my first hive in April 2018, and have four hives now. I have over $1500 invested in them, and only got nine pounds of honey last summer. It's a very interesting hobby, but it ain't cheep!


Yep like fur trapping. Still love to watch my bees. They are a great business loss income


Every day is a gift from GOD, don't waste it!!

If they have plenty of food, give them something interesting to smell
Re: Swarm traps are now occupied [Re: Providence Farm] #6863395
05/04/20 08:38 PM
05/04/20 08:38 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,152
S. Illinois
C
Chuckles84 Offline
trapper
Chuckles84  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,152
S. Illinois
If they settle in good your two hives might become 4 pretty quickly. My brother had been running swarm traps for a month. Thought he had one that was occupied, he gave it a week or so and went to pull it and it was empty. So he broke down and ordered a 3 pound package of bees.


Your entitled to oxygen. Everything else is earned.
Re: Swarm traps are now occupied [Re: Providence Farm] #6863647
05/05/20 05:32 AM
05/05/20 05:32 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,944
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
trapper
Calvin  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,944
South metro, MN
If you're using old frames/comb here's some info you might want to note

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyH05-5Hp4k&t=143s

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