Catching Honeybee Swarms With A Pill Bottle?!?!?!

What is a “Pill Bottle Swarm Catcher”? Well watch and find out! 😊
EAS Master Beekeeper, Kent Williams, told me if I hang a pill bottle, poked with holes, from a tree limb and add a few cotton swabs sprayed with ‪@Swarmcommander‬ from ‪@BlythewoodBeeCompany‬ you will get the easiest swarm catch in your life. Well, Kent was right! 😁🙌🏼
In this video I show you exactly how easy it is, especially while using ‪@TheHiveButler‬ as well!
Pick up your ‪@TheHiveButler‬ here! hivebutler.com/ Use discount code Beesintheweeds5 for 5% off!
#honeybees #bees #swarms #swarmcommander #beekeeping #KentWilliams

[@kh7794]

For a 2 year old your little girl did great! I never listened and I was a tomboy who liked bugs so I would have been stung like crazy.

[@beesintheweeds]

Yes, of all three kids I think she listens the best! Haha 😊

[@jeffcotton2235]

I have read that a turkey feather is much better than the nylon bee brush. Also remember to "flick" the brush rather than using a scrubbing motion. Great video and excellent that you're teaching your daughter about bees! Some parents tend to stifle a child's curious nature, I feel it is better to nurture it instead. Also, you can use a bees wax "crayon" to rub the foundation to give them a light coating of bees wax. Get some wax from a local beekeeper if you don't have any or get a pure bees wax candle and use it.

[@beesintheweeds]

Great tips! Thank you very much!!

[@user-dn2lu1lo7s]

😊I saw a beekeeper use a large feather to sweep bees instead of bee brush.

[@gallowaylights]

Outstanding, even with your superior watching 😂

[@wilmafeuerstein434]

Thank's for sharing this fantastic idea of catching swarms.

[@beesintheweeds]

My pleasure!

[@hillkid4mountains]

I have found out that after catching so many swarms over the years, it is best to use your smoker to get that leftover little cluster of bees off that trunk and limb rather than brushing them. The smoke will calm or distract them, make them leave the limb, and cause them to fly up circling your box landing on it as others fan their pheromones telling everyone here is some beeswax comb we can jump on. 🐝

[@beesintheweeds]

That’s a very good tip. I should certainly start doing that but who has time to lite that darn smoker! 😁😉

[@user-cp2sx8gp2z]

Just a little honey in the box and they will walk right in, no need to shake.

[@hillkid4mountains]

Actually if you put in a frame of larvae and eggs in the center of those frames it will draw them in faster and keep them there like a magnet, having now something to care for. Also having to take so many attempts to throw handfuls of bees or shake the tree or branch, their could be a possibility that is was a small after swarm from somewhere instead of a basketball watermelon size primary swarm. I always had difficulty trying to dump a virgin unmated queen swarm compared to the original fly out laying queen than one that just hatched from swarm cells in another hive or person's boxes. Had to employ a lot of tricks to keep them there. Just from my experience and in my own opinion. Thanks for the reply.🐝

[@beesintheweeds]

Good tip! Thank you!

[@thomasrape4616]

Ive done well this spring too. I started beekeeping last spring and overwintered 2 colonies. With 2 swarm traps, shaking swarms, and several cut outs I now have 14 colonies, not bad for a rookie. Got most of my boxes from a guy trying to clean up, he gave me tailor load of old boxes, frames, tops, inner covers, and bottom boards. On that whole load there were 14 boxes in useable shape and about 100 frames. After doing some repairs I wound up with 48 deep 10 boxes, 235 frames, 3 inner covers, 7 bottom boards, and 6 lids. Then using scrap lumber I made more bottom boards, lids, inner covers, migratory lids, catch boxes, swarm traps, 5 frame nucs with bottom boards and lids. I built several 10 ft hive stands from pipe and I beam scrap. And last but not least I built 5 30 frame horizontal langstroth hives.

[@beesintheweeds]

Holy cow! You’ve been busy! That’s awesome you’re been able to repurpose so much. And welcome to Bee Math! Haha 2 colonies turns into 14 just like that. You’ll be at 30 before you know it! 🤣🤣🤣

[@user-cp2sx8gp2z]

You can fix damaged boxes with Gorilla Glue foam glue .😊

[@fshrgy99]

I switched to a feather 10 years ago. Something like a stiff turkey wing feather.

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Only the original Swarm Commander!! Thanks!

[@dcrosco1458]

The future beekeeper

[@lindasworldingermany]

Nice sharing wow

[@bunnyyoung3232]

We're not gonna show this too mom 😂👍🏼😉

[@beesintheweeds]

😬😬😁😁😁

[@stevewelches1955]

The skinny bee man said to use a big goose wing feather to move bees. Said it does not make them mad like a brush and worked just as good or better

[@angelawoodring962]

I can't keep my eyes off your daughter...mother hen thing 😂😂😂😅

[@beesintheweeds]

😁😁👀🙈

[@martintijdgat6269]

Have a few questions to you: Why are you pushing the bees with the tops off the bristles? That would make me mad also. Saw others stroke over them to get them off with a big feather or a soft brush. 2: Why didn’t you put a plastic bag over the pill box after you pushed them in the box? Then there is no longer a lure from that swarm commander. 3: About waxing. I waxed some extra frames simple by using a old wax candle. Takes about 15 seconds if the candle is warmed up a little.

[@beesintheweeds]

Different beeks have different opinions on how to use a bee brush. I’ve tried all the methods. The bees just don’t like it. Good tip on the plastic bag. I’ll give that a try.

[@angelawoodring962]

I was trying to tell you...😂😂😂

[@DialedN_07]

This is by far the best video you've ever made. I was just watching what she was going to do next in the background 😅 We are having our first in July. Can't wait!

[@beesintheweeds]

Thank you so much!! She certainly steals the spotlight! 🤣🤣🤣 And congrats!!! There’s nothing greater than being a mom or a dad!!!

[@filipvernica258]

I’ll put the frame next to the ball and a piece of plywood the top with the wood screw and this case you don’t have to mess up with just take the whole thing and put it in the box and that’s it no more brushing that’s my opinion

[@Dude_its_Lyz]

Get a turkey feather instead of a brush. They won't get stuck in it.

[@greenhornbeekeeping]

Wow nice hack wonder how he figured that out ...next time maybe gloves..lol❤❤❤

[@beesintheweeds]

Haha, yes! 🤣

[@Mandbec]

Nice job! Do you use the swarm commander in your traps as well? Also, is it something about a pill bottle? Or any bottle will do?

[@beesintheweeds]

Yes I do! It’s great stuff. Be sure to check out my swarm trap videos. I use swarm commander in all of them. Nothing special about the pill bottle. Any bottle will do. Thanks for watching!

[@christies4963]

Its not the pill bottle its the swarm commander that catches them. The pill bottle just gives them something to go into.

[@sbctdizzle1]

I looked at this container system last night online. It looks like they sell them with both a vented and a solid top now.

[@nancynolton6079]

Now was this an actual swarm you were attempting to bring down to the pill bottle or a swarm that was too high up to collect or is it just a bunch of forager bees that have congregated on the pill bottle (like a package without a queen)??

[@beesintheweeds]

It was a swarm. This pill bottle actually caught 3 swarms. The last swarm left though while I was catching another swarm in the yard. I saw them do the takeoff. Normally there are only a few handful of bees checking the bottle out.

[@bluelab5019]

Use a plastic bristles bee brush. Really wish someone sold those bee butler boxes in the UK, they really are a useful looking piece of kit.

[@Ambees_Honey_Farm]

Good Catch! My resource hive to date was a failure, now waiting to either catch a swarm or purchase some queens once they are available.

[@beesintheweeds]

Keep trying! They’re incredibly useful!

[@paulluna45]

I would definitely not have that kid out there. One day you could go out there and all bees are nice then all the sudden you get a hot hive out of nowhere.

[@beesintheweeds]

I appreciate your concern but I made sure her head was protected and she maintained a safe distance the majority of the time.

[@alanlucciola5898]

love to know whereto get a tub like that?

[@beesintheweeds]

I have placed a link in the description for you! Don’t forget to use the discount code “Beesintheweeds5” for 5% off through June!

[@woodlandharvesthoneycompanyllc]

Do you drill a few holes in the cap?

[@beesintheweeds]

No need.

[@kathyhathaway8823]

It looks like it is past time to take your reducer off . You talking about not having time to rewax your frames . A fast an easy way to do that is just take a block of wax an rub it on an it will take maybe 30 seconds per frame . Also not to keep sounding all doom an gloom but to help get that super pulled out if you have at least one drawn frame with some thing on it an take your queen excluder off till they start pulling it out then you can put your excluder back on because just having foundation there they do not think it is there frames . Kamon has a great video on that . Hope this maybe helps out a little. Good luck on your swarms .

[@beesintheweeds]

Hi Kathy! I keep my entrances reduced all year around. I find it helps prevent robbing in the dearhty months, reduces the amount of pests that get into the hives, helps keep mice out, and doesn't negatively impact the bees too much. Just a bit crowded, lol. Just the way I do things and changing them throughout the year is perfectly acceptable. And thanks for the tip on the foundation! I managed to blow through all of my drawn comb but all my super frames are heavily waxed. I buy the Max Wax Rite-Cell from Mann Lake. It's just the deeps that I assemble myself and failed to wax. Thanks for watching!

[@terristratton143]

I was watching a video on Bee's and when you wear vinyl gloves they won't sting the gloves because it doesn't feel like skin, so try the vinyl gloves next time. And your little girl is such a great listener

[@beesintheweeds]

I’ve been stung through those before. 🤣🤣🤣 And thanks, she’s my little peanut. 😊😊😊

[@angelawoodring962]

Roger Patterson said, that if you cut the handle off the brush, you can lightly tickle the backs of the bee's on the frame and the bee's will run and leave the queen exposed

[@beesintheweeds]

Oh man! I’m gonna have to give this a try!!! Thanks for the tip!

[@grounded7362]

What this an actual swarm or just random bees clustered on your bait like using a caged queen to attract a cluster of bees?

[@beesintheweeds]

It was a swarm. This pill bottle actually caught 3 swarms. The last swarm left though while I was catching another swarm in the yard. I saw them do the takeoff. Normally there are only a few handful of bees checking the bottle out.

[@chrisf6934]

Clean your bee brush maybe? Might be a smell on your brush they don't like

[@beesintheweeds]

It’s as clean as you can get. It’s just them getting stuck in it. It’s a cheapy and I need to get a better one.

[@kh7794]

Feathers and twigs don't seem to make them as mad from what I've seen. Yep not showing this to mom, like Colin Furth filming a 'secret underground' passage and putting it out in the world. Dude, you are sooooo busted! Lol

[@beesintheweeds]

🤣🤣🤣 Isla told on me and said “Me and Daddy played with the bees” so of course Mom asked what she was talking about so I had to show her. Surprisingly, she was quite amused. 😂😂

[@user-fv9kd2tn7n]

There are no doubts the nice boy is your son.

[@beesintheweeds]

That’s my daughter. 😁

[@scottwatkins571]

Would this be considered a Russian Scion, improvision

[@beesintheweeds]

Exactly!

[@ongbees]

Bees are not very beautiful

[@beesintheweeds]

Why do you say that?

[@greenhornbeekeeping]

Honey bees are a beautiful little bug❤❤