🐝 Layen's Swarm Trap Build [Free Bees]

In this video, I show how I build my version of a 7 frame Layen's swarm trap. I've combined information from some of the best resources I could find on swarm trapping to design my version of a swarm trap. Dr. Leo Sharashkin, Tom Seeley, and Jason Bruns have amassed a great deal of info on swarm trapping that I continually go back to again and again.
Thanks for watching!
Note: Commissions may be earned from the links below. Thanks for your support!
Tools used in video: www.beeboybill.com/store/tools
Other beekeeping product I use: www.beeboybill.com/store
Flashing: amzn.to/32cbk2y
Reference links:
My swarm Trap Plans: goo.gl/LxDKbX
My Favorite Bee Books: www.beeboybill.com/store/books
Tom Seeley's paper on bait hives (must read!): goo.gl/eSjRMM

[@Dasher523]

I used your instructions and built 9 of these catchers and installed them in different places. So far caught 3 swarms. 33% success rate is great, I think. I guess it depends on the place. One spot was a cherry tree next to a creek. I think the bees couldn't resist. Thanks Bill.

[@baldeagleApiaries]

Great job Bill. Thanks for sharing.

[@glenkelley6048]

TY Bee Boy for a several fine presentations. This will be a perfect project for my woodshed.

[@philipgildea8846]

Hi Bill, just found your site. Great job describing the build. Thanks for making the Layens builds.

[@russmc3]

Really nice tutorial. I will be following your method when I get around to making some.

[@mbroughton]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@greentom9189]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you!

[@hillbilly24]

Man you do a good job I’m rooting for your channel!

[@BeeBoyBill]

Thanks for your support!

[@tomhippensteel5276]

Bill, great plans. Will be building a few of your swarm traps and Layens hives soon! Thanks for the great videos!

[@BeeBoyBill]

You’re welcome Tom. Thanks for your comment and the feedback on the plans!

[@haden2846]

Splendid presentation! I'm enjoying all your videos! Great teacher.

[@BeeBoyBill]

Thanks Haden!

[@Nepenthe6]

I had never heard of a hive staple, great idea for entrance! Better than a nail. I built 42 traps already this winter getting ready for spring.

[@BeeBoyBill]

42! That’s great, I had trouble keeping up with 20 when I had all of mine out, plus finding enough people to host them was a challenge too. Good luck!

[@larrywilliamson7227]

Thanks Bill. You have by far the best how to videos out there on the topic of hives nd swarm traps. One question, where did you get your entrance disks? Keep up the great work

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Larry, I bought mine from Mann Lake (part # SKU: HD-596). Certain times throughout the year they have free shipping. I also found a very similiar, if not the same model, on amazon prime here amzn.to/2SOTq0T (affiliate link). Hope this helps! BBB

[@bradgoliphant]

And for shipping. I'm in NYC. Any cost you have I'm happy to pay. You truly would be helping me out.

[@farmer998]

best teacher on youtube thanks

[@BeeBoyBill]

Thanks for your response and support Jimmy!

[@dansawyer4727]

Glad to see you back videoing, your help has been priceless. Would you consider doing a Nuc/trap feeder build? I am thinking of keeping a nuc or two. Thanks, keep up the awesome job!

[@BeeBoyBill]

@Daniel Sawyer, I’ll keep that in mind for a future video, I may be making feeders soon for queen rearing. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@arc6232]

Thanks for the video, enjoyed it. What gage is the flashing and where would one purchase a roll? Thanks in advance.

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Alan. You're welcome! I'm not sure of the gauge but it's 0.0092" thick. I added a link for flashing in the video description for the brand I use in case anyone else is looking. I usually by mine in 50' rolls. Hope that helps!

[@finhunter]

Aha! You do have a dado blade set. You didn't use it on your hive video. I like the Kreg Rip-Cut, I just ordered it through your link. Great videos!

[@BeeBoyBill]

Thanks finhunter! I appreciate your support. I do have a dado set, the cheapest one I could find! To answer your other question, KZbin requires 1k subscribers and 4K hours of views before you can request to be a partner (monetize). Amazon also requires 500 subscribers for their associate program. So no revenue for tools. Someday maybe all be able to upgraded my dado set haha

[@finhunter]

@@BeeBoyBill , Yeah I bought my Dado set at Harbor Freight. It does a decent job.

[@TinnonFamilyFarm]

I'm thinking about getting into these hives trying to see if my equipment will work with it as I have a basic table saw circular saw, hand router and table router

[@BeeBoyBill]

You can def build a Layen’s hive with just a circular saw. The frames are a little more tricky.

[@hammbone1612]

Bee boy bill. I like the name

[@DanielHeasley]

Hey Bill, I'm wondering if you know, if the top holes are solely for ventilation, why does Dr. Leo's plans utilize an additional entrance with disc?

[@powerlinekid4296]

Bee Boy Bill, any thoughts on using Peel & Seal Aluminum for lid-roof? Thanks for tip for the Kreg Rip-Cut.

[@BeeBoyBill]

I haven't had any experience with peel and seal. I Just took a quick look at it and I don't see why you couldn't use it. The tops often have standing water or snow sitting on them, anything that will keep the water out and stand up to the elements should work great!

[@robwelniak3765]

Where did you go Bill??

[@user-hx9oi6cf2p]

How do you feed and treat Layens Hives?

[@andrewlay88]

Had a question, I built these and put the entrance and vent holes on the front and not the side, will that matter on how they build the comb? Should I patch them and put the holes on side of box?

[@benjamindejonge3624]

Only one question, how thick is that plywood?

[@bowlerguy219]

Hey Bill. Haven’t seen you here lately. Are you ok?

[@SchraderBoyzTV]

Is there a way you can add a cut list to your videos?

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Theodore, I'm not sure what you mean. Is there something confusing in the video I can clarify for you?

[@HisWayHomestead]

Hey Bee Boy Bill, do you think you could just spray the lid with flex-seal spray instead of using the metal? Just curious what you think.

[@BeeBoyBill]

That seems like a practical idea. If you are talking about a rubber-based spray, I think anything that would make the roof/lid waterproof would work well. I would stay away from black though for summer use if that's an option as heat seems to be a factor for the bees in choosing a new hive location according to what I've read. I'm not sure of the cost advantage but it would probably save time. If you end up doing it, let us know how it works! BBB

[@HisWayHomestead]

Bee Boy Bill yep... I was thinking paint it with light colored paint and spray with the clear flex seal spray

[@jaredschwiner6844]

Where did you get the metal? How thick is it?

[@tomhippensteel5276]

Hey Bill, what did you use for the hive staple, and where might I find some. Just built 4 swarm traps today, shoddy workmanship, but the bees don't care!

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Tom. Congrats on the build! I think I got them from Mann lake but can’t find my order number, and if I remember correctly I may have had to trim the legs so they weren’t as long. Here’s what you’re looking for www.mannlakeltd.com/hive-staples

[@tomhippensteel5276]

@@BeeBoyBill Thanks! I have also found Dr. Leo's web page information wonderful! He's right here in Missouri too! I'll be building some of his stuff also!

[@BeeBoyBill]

Yup. His plans are great!

[@linr2870]

Any updates on your layen hives? How are they doing now. We already use horizontal hives and just built a Layen ready to fill this spring.

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Lin, The bees had a great season in the Layens filling out to 17 or 18 frames of honey. We had a warm spell the last couple days and I'm happy to see 5 out of 6 active hives and an active nuc.

[@linr2870]

@@BeeBoyBill We also have had a lot of warm days this winter, got a chance to OAV while broodless. All our hives are doing good but our hives with feisty bees are doing so much better than those docile ones, we will be re-queening those this spring with the stronger genetics.

[@allenclayton4162]

Is that plastic or metal screen you use to cover the vents?

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Allen, I use metal screen in all the hives.

[@TinnonFamilyFarm]

What's size is your compound miter saw?

[@BeeBoyBill]

Jtinnon if I remember correctly it will make a 12.5” cut. I know I’ve cut up to 2x12 with it as I just built another hive with 2x12s. I know it was the cheapest sliding miter Home Depot had, (ryobi)

[@tomhippensteel5276]

Hey Bill, how wide is the aluminum you use on the tops?

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Tom. I buy my flashing in 20” rolls. It’s the perfect width to cover a Layen’s hive but needs cut a little more for the swarm traps. 1/2 to 3/4” over in all four sides is more than enough for the trap lids.

[@tomhippensteel5276]

@@BeeBoyBill Thanks!

[@borealwhisperer6044]

What determines these specific swarm box sizes ???please

[@BeeBoyBill]

Check out the Tom Seeley paper linked in the description. It was a big help for me

[@dasfarm8]

Hey bud what’s the reasoning for having to narrow the sides of the frames inside?

[@BeeBoyBill]

The sides of the frames have a wider part that creates the proper spacing between the combs. The lower parts of the sides are narrower so the bees can get around them easier without traveling all the way to the bottom. It also helps with them not getting stuck together with propolis.

[@nannygranny9534]

Do you sell these swarm traps? Karla in Oklahoma

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Karla, I don't sell swarm traps but last I looked on Dr Leo's site he had them for sale. You can find his site here: horizontalhive.com/

[@applegeneral6229]

Do you sell them?

[@BeeBoyBill]

Haven't thought about selling them yet. It would probably cost a fortune to ship though.

[@stonkpuppets6393]

Will scouts fight for a space?

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Stonk. I have never witnessed this behavior and I'm not sure it would happen. It has been my experience that bees only fight when they are protecting their established hive. Thomas Seeley has a great book on swarming that details the how a swarm actually locates a new home democratically and moves in. You can find the book in my book list here: www.beeboybill.com/store/books That being said, I have read beekeepers accounts of fighting by a swarm trap. I don't have enough information on this, but I would be curious to know if there was something in the swarm trap worth robbing. What has your experience been?

[@stonkpuppets6393]

@@BeeBoyBill Thank you for replying so quickly. I asked because I’ve witnessed two days in a row bees fighting on top and at the entrance of my trap. I don’t have honey in my trap just plastic frames, empty frames and LGO.

[@BeeBoyBill]

That's interesting, I'm not sure why that might occur. Are you in swarm season where you live? Let me know if you catch a swarm in a couple of days!

[@stonkpuppets6393]

@@BeeBoyBill Yes I’m in North Florida and I start catching them in late February-early March. I’ll let you know when I catch one. Thanks again

[@bradgoliphant]

Hello Bee Boy Bill. Could I hire you to do a simply "bee frame job" for me? I would be most grateful. I don't own a shop and need to hire someone. I want to make ten Layens frames to fit in a 16.6" langstroth box. So they would measure 19" wide, and 15.5" deep or tall, with a thin wood supporter in the middle. I could send you a pic if you could help me. (All pieces UNASSEMBLED) Please let me know. I would be happen to pay you for the wood and your time.

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Brad, I appreciate your interest. Unfortunately, I've been strapped for time and haven't been in the shop to even make more frames for the expansion. I do have a suggestion though, I once read about a beekeeper that zip tied regular langstroth frames together to get deeper frames. I bet if you could break the "ears" off the the bottom frame, you could zip tie it directly to the top one and have a double deep frame. Let me know if you try this and if it works!

[@bradgoliphant]

@@BeeBoyBill That was a delayed response--haha. Not worries, I appreciate you getting back with me. After over a month of searching on line, I finally found another beekeeper that sells them so I finally got what I needed. Super excited to start my new hive next year trying out the modified layens in two unified double-deeps!!!! And yes, not only do they over winter 100% better on the deeper/Layens frames, science is now learning that the queen lays better and produce a a lot more honey in the brood boxes, just because of the extra room as it resembles nature closer. Who knows, they probably will find out more benefits later on, but I know this---every beekeeper I have talked with that owns a Layens, calls it superior to the Langstroth. Not to knock it--I still use langstroth as well. But moving over. Thanks for getting back with me.