Late Season Honey Bee Swarm, is it worth collecting? Here's my take on that.

[@6Deep6]

I think their chances of survival this winter is great with Fred watching over them. Good job there!

[@notapplicable531]

Exactly what I was going to say and likely what 107 thousand fellow subscribers are thinking as well!

[@unclebobsbees4899]

Agreed it takes a tough man to make a tender chick..oops wrong channel..Fred for 5lbs of ladies my bet is survival. You live a charmed life that things come together like magic!

[@buddyblack9801]

Fred, it never fails that if I find myself in a predicament that I can find a video you have produced providing great detail and advice on addressing it. I have a similar situation in my bee yard now and was debating on whether to try and hive the swarm or not but have decided to make the effort based on this excellent video. Thanks for all you do in providing excellent guidance.

[@FrederickDunn]

And, I can happily share that it made it through winter in fine shape :)

[@shaunroberts9361]

Thank you Fred. Just again absultly love your video's. I hope you give us a update on that swarm of 🐝bees. You have so many hives that sometimes it's hard to keep track sometimes.

[@FrederickDunn]

I will definitely be doing follow-ups good or bad :)

[@rhondaking6433]

These 🐝 bees 🐝 seemed grateful and happy to be rescued from the tree branch and elements. Cannot wait for the upcoming peek 🐝👀🤗

[@donbearden1953]

Great video Fred! As always excellent camera work and excellent narration. I’m sure you will get them ready for winter.

[@electladynanci]

This was awesome! A real life BEE soap opera! I'm definitely going to stay tuned for the next segment!

[@spudgn]

The ladies were really fanning. Good stuff. Thanks.

[@FrederickDunn]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@susanwhite1641]

Great video, so relieved to see them in their new cozy home after all that rain.😅

[@turbo.panther]

Well that was like a suspense movie!! Will he, won't he, will they be there tomorrow, will they survive the storm? And then, a happy ending. Fabulous!!!

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[@donstor1]

I think their chances are very good. You could always have a box or two already put together and ready to go so that if something like this pops up you would not have to take the time to put one together. They now have shelter and some numbers. Nice work!!

[@JaneFeibelman]

Great video, Mr. Dunn! My favorite part was when you and the bees were all safely out of that tree and back on solid ground!

[@SteveDratwa]

i have a swarm on the south end of house in the gable behind the brickfreeze,,i have 5 hives in my apairy,,i started June 24th with my first nuc,,im throwin every word from u,bob binney,barnyard bees,jc bees,kaman reynolds and my bees ARE GONNA make it thru winter watever it costs me,,im retired i got time THANX Fred

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

howd i miss this one!!! agree that its still good to get em. hope you do follow vids!

[@bradgoliphant]

sweet of you to do this.

[@Peter-od7op]

Great see you again

[@richmiller6284]

I was bummed out, Saturday afternoon, checked my hives, I had 4. I got to my weakest colony, fed them for 2 weeks and the queen started to look better finally. They absconded throughout the week. Saturday night a gentleman posted in our local beekeeper page on Facebook, said he had a swarm 30 feet up his pine tree. I told him I would collect them if by chance they were there in the morning. Sunday later in the morning, he says they are still there. I collect a drawn comb frame and 9 blank, Pierco frames that I prepared with reclaimed wax from burr comb and wax cappings. He was only 4 miles away from me. I spent about an hour trying to figure out a set up to raise a bucket up to them to attempt to shake them into a bucket. That failed, luckily I brought a ladder. I got to the top of the ladder and still had another 15 feet to go.. Luckily the branches got bigger after the ladder. I use a trim saw and trim and free climb my way up to the branch. The branch in covered in grape vine, which helped some. I cut the branch off, it shook a little but was held by the grape vine. I chance it and get stung once lowering them by trimming off the first piece of vine. Now the branch is pretty much covering the ladder.. I make it down, remove the stinger, get some smoke on it, and travel back up the ladder, past the bee cluster, and get above them again. I tie a rope to the branch, cut the rest of the vines, and lower the branch to the ground. On the way down the ladder catch another sting.. Get that stinger out, smoke it, back to the cluster on the branch. I set the hive telescoping cover on the ground and shake the cluster into it. Give them a few minutes to calm down and get the hive next to the lid. I place the drawn comb next to them and it gets covered in bees fairly quickly. I place the frame with the bees into the hive and put my suit and veil on. I start scooping bees out a few at a time until I have a nice empty spot in the middle of the cover. I spot the queen in one corner, I reach down to try to catch her, and catch a stinger to my finger. Luckily my skin is very thick and I don't even feel it. I put gloves on and spend another hour and a half until I see the queen again. I almost have her caged and she flys away.... I let them settle down and keep my eye on the cover and the bottom board, I have a burlap bag over the top of the hive body... After about 5 minutes the bees start marching in and kick up the fanning.. I scoop the rest of the bees up a few at a time still checking for the queen. I finally get most of the bees in and place the cover on. I now only have about 2 hours until dark. I clean up my mess, and let the bees settle.. I decide to give a quick check for the queen, pull of the frame of drawn comb and spot her roaming around within a few minutes. I close up the hive and use 2 ratchet straps to keep everything secure. I wait until about 8:20 and ratchet strap the burlap bag over the entrance and load it onto my trailer. Drive the 4 miles home, moving along about 35mph, across RT 430, with my warning stobe going.. Make it home, open the hive up and get the queen in a queen clip and take her inside. I mark the queen in my bathroom, since it's small and I can use one light bulb, in case the queen wants to fly, they usually head toward the sole light bulb. Give her 3 minutes to dry off. Carefully set the queen clip between the drawn comb and the frame next to it and set the hive up in my yard, just before dark. I added a round hive top feeder Monday, released the queen yesterday, and saw pollen coming in today. I surely think they would not have survived. They were also about 5 lbs, fill 1/2 the deep 10 frame. I am glad to get some new genetics, I now have 3 unrelated hives and one sister split. I have 2 more splits, 1 had capped queen cells over the weekend and the other should be capped soon. Now it's just a race until the weather turns. Best of luck to your new catch.

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Rich, you definitely earned those bees! I hope it all pans out for you and that they make excellent progress during the rest of this nectar flow. Thanks for sharing such a comprehensive story!

[@rogue_bunny4408]

Really appreciate this video Fred! My bees swarmed last week, and I have really been questioning whether they have enough time to build up in time for winter. You have answered my questions. Hope your little underdogs survive too!

[@FrederickDunn]

They are going to make it I'm pretty darn sure! :)

[@ericbussert8170]

They will make it, good work Fred.

[@MrKips1]

I just collected a swarm from one of my hives two days ago. Very big swarm, over 30ft up in a fir tree. I put a swarm box 20ft up in the neighbouring tree with some old comb and a drop of lemongrass oil on the entrance. Within an hour, they had filled the 10 frame box and swamped the outside of it. But now it was much easier to take down and transfer to a double deep. Settled down in no time and were bringing back pollen the next day.

[@simonwinstanley1105]

Good one Fred, glad you took them in 😁

[@HILLBILLYSFIREWOOD]

You did good saving them bee's, they had no chance to make it on there owen.. have a good one and take care. 👍👍☺

[@longarmsupplies]

I could hear them making a big sigh...and saying thank you to you. Nice dry box that they could keep warm and build into a nice home. I had a late(LOL, I called it late in the last week of August). I'd ran out of equipment. I called a friend that had been beekeeping since he was a child...he'd been having a hard time keeping his hives alive through winter here in Alberta. Sooooo, I first thought was that he'd have lots of resources to donate to the swarm. Poor guy. He drove an just about an hour to come to collect them....he brought one box. Guess I shoud have sent him a picture of the swarm...he wasn't sure they'd all fit into the box. He laughed so hard at me talking to them as we scooped them into the box...I was saying something like "don't be angry or sad...I'm so done with you ladies and your swarms this year and this lovely guy will love you up and give you a wonderful home" First he looked totally shocked then started laughing so hard he almost fell over. I had talked to my bee mentor and he told me not to worry, it was the long rainy periods that were causing the multitude of swarms...I sure wish that was the problem this year as we are in a "once in 20 years" drought.

[@notreally5255]

Okay but his voice is so calming

[@adamoswald8861]

From 21:40 to 21:46 you can see a drone land on the board in the left of the frame, then crawl into the hive. What's that all about? Do drones swarm with hives? Was it attracted to queen phereomone? Was it a drone that swarmed with the original hive or is it from a neighbor? A little late in the year for nuptial flights, isn't it?

[@FrederickDunn]

I'll respond to this on Friday during the next Q&A :)

[@Gojirella]

Beautiful! I hope they do well. Can't wait for the follow up!

[@renesnow3715]

This was incredibly interesting, sure hope they thrive for you. Still in research mode for raising bees, this has just encouraged me even more!! Thank you.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you, Rene, I hope you do find it interesting enough to make the move into beekeeping some day. :)

[@lkmary1]

Fred, this was bee-U-TU-ful. I can't wait to see how they do.

[@FrederickDunn]

I'm also looking forward to following their progress :)

[@justducky0]

Good one! You had just said, in a recent vid that we should always have a spare on hand, which I did. I might also say that my extra is already gone as I had to collapse two nucs into the spare 10fr deep. So now we both need to replenish our spares.

[@arogue469]

Good man, Fred. I knew you wouldn't leave 'em hangin'!

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks Adam :)

[@fishqueenlayla7570]

Wow…. You are going to Heaven FOR SURE! 😉😉😉A path of Karmic Gold awaits you Fred. That may be my favorite video yet! Thank you soooo much!

[@FrederickDunn]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! They are doing great by the way :)

[@Kdrive23]

Looking forward to the continuing saga!

[@FrederickDunn]

Me too :)

[@timothymitchell8310]

Awesome Fred another fantastic video! At first I was hoping that you would put them in your Layens hive. I look forward to seeing how they fare.

[@FrederickDunn]

The Layens Hive is occupied :)

[@billmeeks9860]

Nice save, Fred!!!

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks Bill :)

[@JK-dj1zj]

Watching honey bees is very kewl.

[@pirateprospecting707]

Just a fantastic video!! Thanks again for sharing!!✅😁👍👍🏴‍☠️

[@BouncermanDotCom]

That was the most interesting thing I've watched today!

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks.

[@robandcindy2]

Man Fred...that was one of your best!!

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you Rob!

[@Huntnlady7]

Fred; I have a plastic water jug that I removed the bottom of, and the neck is affixed to the end of a long pole. I can reach very high with that and scrape the swarm into the jug. That would have helped here. P.S. Great video. Good luck with that swarm.

[@leardi58]

This is what beekeeping is all about we need to come up with a name for this colony. 👍🇺🇲🐝

[@FrederickDunn]

thunder cluster... :)

[@timlewis9873]

i caught 1 of my own swarms late July. They have built up well, and have put away around 50 lbs. of honey. I live in Maine and fully expect them to winter well.

[@FrederickDunn]

Sounds like they are all set! :)

[@cbbees1468]

Appreciate you taking care of the bees and all of your info. When I listen to your FAQ series over the weekend or read an ABJ article, I'm looking for small improvements, maybe a bit of additional info will increase the chances of their survival by 1-5%. That's part of the fun in beekeeping especially when it works out.

[@eileenanders]

Lucky bees!!!! thanks Fred

[@phillee2814]

Nice rescue, Fred! Their chance of making it are a lot higher now than they were, that is for certain - and if they don't make it with your care, they wouldn't have stood a chance on their own.

[@poep567-y5u]

I had a swarm last week, collected them, and fed them, and they already have 3 new frames drawn. Worse case they go into winter as a decent Nuc and get babied a little till then. :)

[@garydungelman6530]

Fred you have a big heart

[@sonofthunder.]

wind was really blowing, thanks for capturing that footage, and not breaking your neck

[@FrederickDunn]

yes, glad not to have a broken neck :)

[@noahzegart5190]

That’s cool, what a time to swarm!

[@FrederickDunn]

They came from one of my nucleus colonies. Those always seem to get ahead of me.

[@noahzegart5190]

@@FrederickDunn that swarm was from a nuc? It looked pretty big to me!

[@DavidWilliams-wr4wb]

Well , I just had a small ball of bees land in an empty nuc of frames from a dead out and as I was leaving them outside of my honey house to be cleaned up by the bees the brood that was left behind started emerging and there was a baseball size of bees that started taking care of the babies , the next day I noticed a small cluster , and the next day I noticed a new queen, this was the first week of October! So now at November 8 the queen is laying eggs in beautiful patterns everywhere and the frames are filling up , so of course I put a feeder shim on and I’ve been feeding heavy syrup with pollen, I have some ap fortified sugar with honeybee healthy and it’s incredible how excellent this queen from nowhere is doing and how hard they are working to build this nuc for winter! In 52 years of beekeeping in Maryland I’ve never experienced this and I’m elated they are doing so well , so folks , how late is too late ?? Apparently October and November is ok with the right circumstances, now granted the nuc had beautiful fresh drawn frames with some resources left and feeding the way I did and how , plus the weather being on our side let this miracle happen !!❤❤❤

[@bkm2797]

Just started watching your channel, and I'm hoping after a night of hard rain they appreciate the newly decked out home you are providing for them...so they stay and survive winter.

[@jonathanswoboda]

As long as they are fed and given drawn comb late swarms do just fine in a single deep. I also wouldn't do any harsh mite treatment (formic etc), I would do OAV in late fall after they are broodless.

[@sovendovah]

Great video, love the content. Your knowledge base is impressive and I learn so much from your videos. I hope I'll have a chance to try keeping a hive or two in the future. Thanks!

[@ronaldcrunkilton7138]

Those late swarms are comb drawing machines particularly if they are well fed. They seem to recognize the urgency especially those late ones. One can never have enough good drawn comb. Don’t anyone kill themselves chasing those high swarms up a ladder! I have collected over twenty from my own apiary this summer by getting a line over the limb no matter how high and vigorously shaking them over a box on the ground. I think the key is putting a frame of honey and or brood in the box. And getting to them as soon as they have settled. If more than a handful of bees drop onto or near the frames and start fanning the rest including the queen will come down. It will be fun to see how your swarm will do going into fall.

[@mjgbabydragonlet]

I really enjoy the slow motion video. This video was visually interesting. I appreciate your explanations. And the reasons for why or why not to hive the swarm. Be careful Mr. Dunn, I know you were joking about how falling would make a good KZbin video, but as we age, we just don't bounce like we used to. Glad you got the swarm. I hope they do well! I hope they make it. But I fear they will not.

[@time2fly2124]

just so happens i caught a swarm on august 12th also (western NY)! checked to make sure i have a good queen today, and she's in there. only a few eggs, and tiny, so i'm figuring it was a virgin that went with the swarm.

[@SuperBuickregal]

What do you and them have to lose? Thanks again Fred for your information and video! ☕️

[@sonofthunder.]

now that hive needs one of your visors right when i commented you said youd put in a visors, they seem happy in their new dry box ,im hoping you see comb n eggs in 10

[@woodlandharvesthoneycompanyllc]

I believe the swarm will make it now. With good care, feeding, and the coming fall flow they have a very good chance. They had slim chance before you took them in. It would definitely be a big help if they had drawn comb. Maybe you can get some better comb and add it to supplement the comb they draw. It will be interesting to see if they came from your apiary or someplace else.

[@beckieeldred5816]

Nice job. I hope I can do that

[@benjamindejonge3624]

Hope you did a little queen excluder on the entrance in case they change there mind

[@FrederickDunn]

I didn't do that and they didn't change their mind... I did post a follow-up video on the storm swarm.

[@CastleHives]

This definitely has been a crazy weather week. I think for a swarm this late, my take on the situation would be directly related to if I have the resources for them, drawn comb, etc etc. . Thanks for sharing your take on this.

[@thegr8stm8]

Nice work, Fred! I like the thought process and that you have luck on your side. Who’d thought you would get frames just when you needed them. Zoom on the camera is impressive. Cheers, John

[@FrederickDunn]

When the Fedex Guy showed up, I was in my bee suit and he was laughing at me when I told him what was going on... A charmed chain of events for sure! :)

[@thegr8stm8]

@@FrederickDunn … hope you bought a lottery ticket while luck good!

[@CastleHives]

I just read The Honeybee Democracy, great read.

[@FrederickDunn]

And Thomas is a great man :)

[@bowmag803]

Yes

[@11bravo79]

Great video!

[@bluelab5019]

If I saw that swarm, I'd definitely take them in.

[@Beekeeping_Bro]

21:17 bee bottom left Varroa mite is on the bee

[@FrederickDunn]

I think that's just a dark mark, not a varroa mite.

[@_J.F_]

Very interesting to see the swarms behaviour in the less than favourable weather. I caught a late swarm recently - coming from one of my own colonies - and I always keep equipment ready to collect a swarm during the season so I promptly went to collect it from a nearby and very thorny hedge. As I did not have sufficient equipment to set up a new hive for them I decided to put them back on the hive they came from, but in a new deep box on top of the original deep box, with frames of foundation, but not drawn comb, and a queen excluder on top and below the new box. Then the medium super, that was on the original hive, went on top of that and finally a shallow feeder rim with a temporary entrance went on before the inner cover and roof completed the new setup. I had removed the most advanced queen cells from the original brood box prior to this but actually left a few very new queen cells, basically not much more than well loaded queen cups, because I wasn't sure if I had caught the queen with the swarm and I would then have the developing queen cells as a backup. About 7 days later I went to check on the progress, and see if the queen was in fact in the new box, and maybe more by luck than wisdom she was in fact there and laying eggs in the newly drawn comb. All I then needed to do was go through the old brood box and make sure that I removed all remaining queen cells. I also removed the queen excluders and the temporary top entrance, and I now had a double deep, plus a medium super, with the original queen laying away as if she was building up brood for a newly swarmed colony. It might not be an ideal way of dealing with a late swarm but it does mean that I don't need to worry about a swarm building up successfully before winter, or the remaining part of the colony (the part that did not swarm) having to produce a virgin queen, then a very questionable mating, and also build up prior to winter. I am happy that I tried this quickly made up plan out, and that it seemed to work more or less flawlessly, so I will likely use the same method if I ever find myself in a similar situation again, and maybe others can benefit from it too.

[@Peter-od7op]

Hi fred saw that white shim. Have you done vdo on that white shim/ insulator.

[@FrederickDunn]

Those are new and I'm evaluating them for a spell before finishing my presentation. Insulated inner covers by BeeSmart Design.

[@CrazyIvan865]

Man I love your videos Mr. Dunn. That was my thinking about the box and wild comb. Give them a box with solid lid, let them build wild comb off the lid and then carefully transfer that comb into foundationless frames at a later date. And as far as there being no sun... with their eyes being like they are; I speculate that is has a polarizing effect, and may act in a similar fashion to the Viking Sunstones; which allowed solar related navigation, even under the most overcast conditions, due to how the light was split and refracted. I also love your attitude about "a little precarious. Though if I fell off, it would imagine that would make a good KZbin, too" that's the spirit.😅 Someone on the reddit pre-ordered a nuc, but it still isn't ready. They live in PA and are worries about getting a colony in mid June. I don't think it would be an issue. But, I dont know. So here I am.lol

[@FrederickDunn]

We've learned that they actually register and memorize landscape horizon features and they can navigate without the sun's rays or polarization through the clouds.

[@CrazyIvan865]

@Frederick Dunn 🤯 I love it. I love learning. I can understand that. I was reading somewhere that there is a hypothesis behind the wonk comb in foundstuonless. Where if you put a whole box of frames in without foundation, they'll start straight, and then turn and go diagonally. I've seen the exact same pattern in Langstroth Hives in many different videos, the same pattern in top bar and warré hives and even in cut outs. So I got curious, went digging, and found no straight answer. But there's a couple more common schools of thought and theories. One being that they start building straight because of memory of their previous hive and the water the comb was. And then somewhere around 9-14 days their memory starts to fade and they start to revert to some other form of alignment. So... I could understand them memorizing the landscape. I feel they may operate primarily off instinct. Hut they are far more intelligent and emotional than er give them credit for. A French man nor a Cherokee man, a Japanese man and a Brazilian man are no more or less intelligent than me, simply because I don't speak their language. And it's the same for bees. Just because there a language barrier that we have yet to fully overcome... there a lot we can still learn, even with all we've already learned.

[@Jerfish1]

I had a Hive swarm just today (sept 3) in upstate New York. No idea why. Resources, healthy brood pattern, space galore… I couldn’t grab them if I wanted to where they are, but I put up a swarm box near just in case they got interested. The same hive swarmed around July 20. Strange year, i’ve been hearing a lot of people getting swarms up here late in the season with no good reason that they can figure this year

[@mcockerham2003]

Hello Mr. Dunn. I had an idea for a review. Have you discussed the benefits of various bee suits, head veils? I found myself at the local Mecca of Mann Lake in Woodland CA. looking for some additional frames and found myself shopping for an additional bee-suit so I can have a helper. I have a relatively inexpensive bee-suit, which is one of those all cotton and fairly hot affairs which makes me think of medieval plate armor. The suit I am constructing is going to be something to build on regular light colored clothing, so spats, gloves with elbow cuffs, and a veiled hat. How do those veiled hats work when they are not attached to the suit? Are there good ones and bad ones?

[@FrederickDunn]

I've done a lot of bee suit reviews... the vented designs are my most often used. The veils are pretty standard, though Guardian Bee Apparel makes the zippered veil. Depends on what I'm doing as to which suit I'd grab and use. I've reviewed the Flow, Natural Apiary, Guardian, and I'd count those three makers as my preferred suits.

[@mcockerham2003]

@@FrederickDunn Cool, thank you for the info. I had a funny idea yesterday. I have a bunch of those little plastic freezer blocks, you know the reusable ice containers, that are made from lunch boxes. They are about the size of something Chewbacca would have on his ammo belt. Anyway, I thought about putting them in the many pockets of my bee-suit to keep it cooler in the 90 degree heat. Anyway, thanks again.

[@farmerjohn8726]

Well done!! They're going to make it! You're their hero! So, for those who really doubt their climbing legs when faced with bees and wind, how would those scouts react to a nice one frame deep with bottom board and lid, and some drawn comb and supplies? If that was left on the ladder top overnight, or maybe leaning against the tree trunk, is there any chance that they go in by themselves without a tree branch rescue op? Cheers Farmer John, Ontario, Canada

[@jingles1963]

So glad you were able to catch the swarm! Hope they do well. Question; could you have put the swarm back into the hive the swarmed from? Also you mentioned the rapid round feeder….I saw a video you did a few months or a year ago where you said they had changed the design and you were not happy with it. Have they got a new design you feel comfortable with or are you using one of the older models? I’m looking for a way to feed the bees more conveniently. I don’t care for the split hive top feeders that have the screen down the middle. The bees always find a way around the screen and into the syrup. Thanks so much! Love your video and have learned so much from what you’ve shared.

[@FrederickDunn]

They are back to the proper configuration on that rapid round feeder. The company actually contacted me and asked if I'd alter that report. I said I had to mainain my integrity and wouldn't do that, but if they produced better quality control in their units (now named Apis), I'd still recommend them. That's what they did and they are all good now. If you watch my video on feeder shims, you'll see how I use rapid rounds. They also work very well with the new insulated inner covers.

[@tommartins712]

did I miss you hiving a swarm in your layens hive?

[@FrederickDunn]

That is still coming, Tom. I have a swarm installed in the Layens Hive and am waiting for them to be well settled before I give the entire presentation. Thanks for asking.

[@doro8856]

What a great video! I learned so much from this, and it was easily understandable. Just don't know what the significance is of the worker bees having their bottoms in the air at the entrance...? Thanks for posting this. I really enjoyed it. Hope they all have a great winter.

[@FrederickDunn]

It's how they emit the queen's pheromone so others that are still in flight can locate them and joing the swarm. It's the Nasanov gland.

[@doro8856]

@@FrederickDunn Thank you for that info. Appreciated. It's all so fascinating.

[@Allan79789]

Yup, If I have the equipment, I would keep them. Always. If you get them through winter you can use it to make and sell splits,

[@93matarl]

i think they will survive, as long as the queen is mated and healthy, but they will need extra care like feeding during winter.

[@danielgriff2659]

what were those? carousel frames? 13:40 Link please?

[@FrederickDunn]

www.ceracell.co.nz/beetle-resistant-frame-brf-coated-35mm-black/

[@Darren_Nicola]

Great video , fingers crossed 🤞

[@Kaalokalawaia]

Looks like you got all of our rain. I've been worried since we have had such a bad drought here in WV that it's going to affect our native polinators.

[@kathyhathaway8823]

I think they have a lot better chance now . Have you ever tried a guardian for hive beetles to see if they work or not . Thanks

[@FrederickDunn]

I can't test those as I don't have the hive beetles to observe.

[@horseshoe_nc]

With your knowledge, supplies you were able to get together and a fall flow, I think they will be fine. A drawn frame or two would have made it easier on them. However, they have the ability to build up those frames.

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

How’s this swarm doing? Have you made a video about them yet that I missed? Curious. 🐝🐝🐝

[@FrederickDunn]

They are doing great, I'll be inspecting their hive soon and will post the update. It will be titled Storm Swarm.

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

@@FrederickDunn Cute. You saved those ladies for sure

[@russellkoopman3004]

You stated that only 20% of the swarms make it through the winter. I heard that was taken before varroa mites arrived. Late summer swarms would have closer to zero chance without man helping. It is going to be rough for them to make it since there wasn't any drawn comb. This will delay the queen laying a few more days. Even with feeding I'd give them less than a 50% chance but you should get some nice new comb drawn. You could steal one frame from several strong hives with lots of resources and give them a boost. A strong hive given one frame of foundation will draw that out in less than a week if it's on a flow.

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Russell, I always welcome scientific studies... please feel free to post the link to the current stats on feral swarm survival. As for making it, I've hived swarms in mid September and had them survive winter. I give this colony pretty good odds given the environment they are in and with the nectar flow arriving just in time. But we shall see :) Drawn foundation always helps... I'm going to just observe this one.

[@russellkoopman3004]

@@FrederickDunn I believe the youtuber that said that the study by Tom Seele was done pre-varroa mite era.

[@crzrck]

If you have a late-season swarm that I'm going to have one soon. I had this happen to me last summer as well

[@danskisbees7348]

Nice save Fred! 👍 I thought for sure that this was going to be a BetterComb video. 😂 I really like the Ultimate Inner Hive Cover. I didn't realize it has a storage spot for the robbing screen, too cool. Did it come with a plug for the upper entrance?

[@FrederickDunn]

The load of bettercomb arrived a day later. I'm doing to watch this one grow without the pre-drawn comb. Lots of good forage ahead for them and it will be fun to observe their progress. The upper entrance is closed via the insulated insert. You can flip it 180 degrees and have an upper vent/entrance, or close it. It's closed on all but one of my hives. I have six of them out for evaluation at the moment.

[@irishcoffee6894]

I think these will make it thru the winter. Especially when you'll having another nectar flow which can give them the opportunity to gather stock for the winter. As long as you can keep them save for yellow jackets

[@FrederickDunn]

I agree, I've had Sepetmber captured swarms make it through in single deeps. :) I'm optimistic.

[@psclark2416]

Funny thing my bees swarmed today 15/8 I got them and put them in a nuc box and they have stayed to Pete from the UK

[@baby.ribz.]

THIS IS EPIC 🐝🐝🐝

[@atheistonavmax7873]

Do you have an update?

[@FrederickDunn]

I have not done a follow up inspection yet, but they are bringing in Pollen.

[@1FishinAddict]

Had a small hive absconded due to smell of rotting bees/maggots infested in a harvest land frame feeder. They outta ban on that fly-trap design feeder. I hope they make it out there this winter

[@WestchesterhoneyBees]

It's a big swarm. Worth taking it.

[@stanleylewandowski130]

Will you add a couple frames of better comb?

[@FrederickDunn]

Depends on what my first inspection shows... possible.

[@johnedwards5147]

TS: 9:50, What would l do? I'd rent a lift truck/box, and go get'em. To me, capturing swarms saves money, and l'm always about saving money.

[@frankspataro9714]

If you feed em they will make it heck I have swarm traps that catch end of August and I let em in em all winter Im in same area as you are golden rod is flowering and wing stem is starting up they will be good if you feed em I would hit em with ox acid and feed em they will most likely make it and if they do they will explode in spring if they don't you have ten new drawn frames ready to boost a hive come spring

[@scottfortune9016]

With Papa Fred at the helm, they'll be fine.

[@beekeepinginaustraliabyala9825]

Today is 5/04/22 and to my shock while working with my bees suddenly swarm appear in front of my home….. Small one but stubborn took me hour to convince them to get in the box We’ll see if they can survive winter coming in Australia

[@FrederickDunn]

I've found that Bee-Vacs are very handy in collecting swarms from difficult to reach locations. Glad you go them and I hope they make it through winter!

[@beekeepinginaustraliabyala9825]

@@FrederickDunn Yea apparently they left again yesterday! Newer seen swarm like this just refuse to stay inside of hive. Got feeling they must be wild bees not used to beehives. The stayed night and left in morning when rain stopped

[@beekeepinginaustraliabyala9825]

@@FrederickDunn Sorry to bother you again but got high respect for u experience hope u can advise Few days ago i found few cels with baby bees inside above queen excluder! Is it possible ive got another queen? Just checked them no queen could be laying worker as all are drones cells

[@MERRLINN]

So will the hive that the swarm came from survive?

[@FrederickDunn]

Absolutely.

[@MERRLINN]

@@FrederickDunn thanks

[@dwardodwardo643]

I wish you had at least one frame of comb. Your a sweet man no matter what you say ;)

[@FrederickDunn]

I think they will make new comb in record time. I'll be watching their progress. Drawn comb certainly helps, but I've had swarms build out new comb in a matter of days.

[@robertbennett6697]

As my resource hive grew I put them in a 10 frame deep. Do you think there is any advantage of a 5 over 5 double nuc for winter survival.

[@FrederickDunn]

Yes, narrow and vertical would be better than broad and single deep when it comes to wintering as they rarely move sideways and use those end frames of honey when cold weather strikes.