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Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8509829
11/23/25 10:53 PM
11/23/25 10:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Washington State
H
humptulips Offline
trapper
humptulips  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Feb 2007
Washington State
It will be tough to get the bees to leave the wild comb. Maybe put a super on top and keep an eye on it. If you see the queen laying in it you could slap a queen excluder under it. After the queen has been out of the wild comb for three weeks you could think about taking the wild combs off. Set the part of the hive with the queen on the old stand and set the part with the wild combs to the side and they will leave for the old stand. Of course, this is next summer.
You may be in for trouble prying the lid off that hive. It's not a sure bet the bees will have attached the combs to the walls really well. If not you might have to do a cut out or and this might sound crazy, turn it upside down and provide another entrance by drilling the hive body.

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8509887
11/24/25 06:30 AM
11/24/25 06:30 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
NY
R
Rat_Pack Offline
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Rat_Pack  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Jan 2007
NY
I know nothing about beekeeping, but it's cool that you're giving it a shot

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8509926
11/24/25 08:07 AM
11/24/25 08:07 AM
Joined: Nov 2022
PA
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hickoryridge Offline
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hickoryridge  Offline
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H

Joined: Nov 2022
PA
good find!

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8510316
11/24/25 10:05 PM
11/24/25 10:05 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
LA
D
dixieland Offline
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dixieland  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2013
LA
Originally Posted by KeithC


Would I be able to get the bees to move up and abandon the lower wild comb?

Keith


You were told early on, and by more than one, to get frames in asap, and you didn’t. Why ask for advice now?

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: dixieland] #8510343
11/24/25 11:33 PM
11/24/25 11:33 PM
Joined: May 2009
Champaign County, Ohio.
K
KeithC Offline OP
trapper
KeithC  Offline OP
trapper
K

Joined: May 2009
Champaign County, Ohio.
Originally Posted by dixieland
Originally Posted by KeithC


Would I be able to get the bees to move up and abandon the lower wild comb?

Keith


You were told early on, and by more than one, to get frames in asap, and you didn’t. Why ask for advice now?


I didn't have any of the equipment. I ordered it and got it 6 days later. I was afraid at that point that I would lose the bees if I messed with the hive.

Keith

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8510448
Yesterday at 08:56 AM
Yesterday at 08:56 AM
Joined: Feb 2020
Missouri
W
WhiteTrash 88 Offline
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WhiteTrash 88  Offline
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W

Joined: Feb 2020
Missouri
There is a lot of bee keepers on this site Keith. Most of them offer up good advice. I know from experience what playing from behind feels like trying to round up equipment on short notice. This is only my second year trying to figure it all out, if a person ever can. I started making a lot of my own equipment to defray some of the cost, but it still is a little pricey. Made about 100 two way pallets and migratory lids for this next year. Just finishing up another 30 swarm traps to add to the 30 I had in use this last year. Caught 39 swarms last year with them and had a blast doing it. Just like running a trap line in late spring and early summer. Had to pull them down because I ran out of equipment to put the bees in. You might want to make you a few too catch bees with if you’re wanting more colonies. Much easier and controlled than trying to cut them out of trees or other odd places. Make them come to you. I don’t know as much about keeping bees as a lot of people on this site but I know quite a bit about swarm trapping. Be glad to share information on that part with you at any time. I plan on trying to catch around 60-70 swarms this next year.

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: WhiteTrash 88] #8510489
Yesterday at 10:21 AM
Yesterday at 10:21 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Vernal, Utah, USA
Dan Barnhurst Offline
trapper
Dan Barnhurst  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2011
Vernal, Utah, USA
Originally Posted by WhiteTrash 88
There is a lot of bee keepers on this site Keith. Most of them offer up good advice. I know from experience what playing from behind feels like trying to round up equipment on short notice. This is only my second year trying to figure it all out, if a person ever can. I started making a lot of my own equipment to defray some of the cost, but it still is a little pricey. Made about 100 two way pallets and migratory lids for this next year. Just finishing up another 30 swarm traps to add to the 30 I had in use this last year. Caught 39 swarms last year with them and had a blast doing it. Just like running a trap line in late spring and early summer. Had to pull them down because I ran out of equipment to put the bees in. You might want to make you a few too catch bees with if you’re wanting more colonies. Much easier and controlled than trying to cut them out of trees or other odd places. Make them come to you. I don’t know as much about keeping bees as a lot of people on this site but I know quite a bit about swarm trapping. Be glad to share information on that part with you at any time. I plan on trying to catch around 60-70 swarms this next year.


I would be excited to read and see how you go about trapping swarms of bees if you care to start a post on it. I don't know anything about it but I would like to learn.


United we stand.
Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: WhiteTrash 88] #8510769
Yesterday at 06:59 PM
Yesterday at 06:59 PM
Joined: May 2009
Champaign County, Ohio.
K
KeithC Offline OP
trapper
KeithC  Offline OP
trapper
K

Joined: May 2009
Champaign County, Ohio.
Originally Posted by WhiteTrash 88
There is a lot of bee keepers on this site Keith. Most of them offer up good advice. I know from experience what playing from behind feels like trying to round up equipment on short notice. This is only my second year trying to figure it all out, if a person ever can. I started making a lot of my own equipment to defray some of the cost, but it still is a little pricey. Made about 100 two way pallets and migratory lids for this next year. Just finishing up another 30 swarm traps to add to the 30 I had in use this last year. Caught 39 swarms last year with them and had a blast doing it. Just like running a trap line in late spring and early summer. Had to pull them down because I ran out of equipment to put the bees in. You might want to make you a few too catch bees with if you’re wanting more colonies. Much easier and controlled than trying to cut them out of trees or other odd places. Make them come to you. I don’t know as much about keeping bees as a lot of people on this site but I know quite a bit about swarm trapping. Be glad to share information on that part with you at any time. I plan on trying to catch around 60-70 swarms this next year.


I would like to hear how you catch swarms too, please.

I grew lemon grass this year, which I've heard can be used to attract swarms.

Keith

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8510773
Yesterday at 07:01 PM
Yesterday at 07:01 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
OH
Kristen🦊 Offline
trapper
Kristen🦊  Offline
trapper

Joined: Sep 2009
OH
This might be my favorite post!! So cool!

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8510795
Yesterday at 07:31 PM
Yesterday at 07:31 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Washington State
H
humptulips Offline
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humptulips  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Washington State
I used to catch a lot of swarms probably similar to Keith. All the wild bees have died here, and I am isolated from other beekeepers so not as much now. I do it near my apiaries away from home where I cannot keep an eye on them.
It is pretty simple. I set out an empty hive with some old combs in them. Doesn't have to be full, a frame of old comb is all that is necessary. That is the attractant. If you don't have old combs they do sell pheromone-based lure.
It is not necessary to put the bait hive in a tree. I usually set mine in some tall grass to hide it from passerbys.
As to location, keep an eye out for bees working on flowers and set your bait hives out near there at the start of swarming season. Here that is late may, but I know farther south it is earlier. If you have a swarm box, you need to check every week as they can outgrow a small box rapidly. Even if you have a full-sized hive out letting it go can cause problems if they put enough honey away to make it difficult to move. One of my prerequisites for setting out a bait hive is an easy path to the pickup. It is hard enough moving a hive without obstacles.
If you are thinking about catching some bees next year you should educate yourself on mite treatments.

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8510816
Yesterday at 08:03 PM
Yesterday at 08:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Williamsport, Pa.
J
jk Offline
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jk  Offline
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J

Joined: Dec 2006
Williamsport, Pa.
Look out for skunks, coon and bears!!!!!!


Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free. What's supposed to be ain't always is. Hopper Hunter
Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: jk] #8510921
Yesterday at 09:03 PM
Yesterday at 09:03 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Missouri
W
WhiteTrash 88 Offline
trapper
WhiteTrash 88  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Feb 2020
Missouri
Give me a day or two and I’ll make a post on what equipment I use and how I trap bees. There’s several different ways to do it, just like making sets for coyotes, beaver, or coon. The first year I tried it I only caught one swarm and I think they had to be retarded to have went in the box. Went back to the drawing board, changed my design up on the box, changed how I treated and baited the box and started having good success catching them. Some days I had two different swarms fighting over the same box to see who got to move in before the other one did. I’m setting my apiary up with all local caught survivor feral bees that are already acclimated to the climate here.

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8510971
Yesterday at 10:49 PM
Yesterday at 10:49 PM
Joined: May 2009
Champaign County, Ohio.
K
KeithC Offline OP
trapper
KeithC  Offline OP
trapper
K

Joined: May 2009
Champaign County, Ohio.
Thanks. I look forward to it.

Keith

Re: I caught and got my first ever bees. [Re: KeithC] #8510980
Yesterday at 11:05 PM
Yesterday at 11:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
M
martentrapper Offline
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martentrapper  Offline
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M

Joined: Dec 2006
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
You found the swarm. You went home to get hive parts. You knew you were going back to get the swarm. It didn't dawn on you to put on long pants and a long sleeve shirt or light jacket?

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