Moving a Swarm to it's Permanent Location | Swarm Traps | Beekeeping for Beginners

What to do when you catch a swarm in a trap? This is a video of how I move an occupied swarm trap to it's permanent location. This video goes from taking it down, transporting it, setting it up at it's permanent location. In a few days of them reorienting, I will transfer them over from the trap to a permanent hive. Hope this helps someone. Any questions - ask away. If I don't know the answer, I'll help you get it.
#swarmtrapping #beekeeping #swarms

[@Benjywells1]

Excellent information. Thank you for sharing. I hope the girls all do well at their new location.

[@washfamapiary659]

So far they seem "happy." Thanks and good luck to you this season!

[@kay2four]

can i move them during the day if its raining?

[@washfamapiary659]

I would assume so. You may still lose a few brave foragers and I guess it depends on how hard it is raining. But, if that is the only time of the day you can do it, then just do what you have to do. If she is a good queen, she will make up for the losses soon enough.

[@ShiftShadeLLC]

Does the 3 feet/3 mile apply when moving swarm to permanent hive?

[@washfamapiary659]

I have caught some swarms that came from a hive in the yard, place them in a new box, and sit them in the same yard with the other hives on the other end and place many sticks semi blocking the entrance and had good luck that way. I imagine there were a few that ended up back at their original hive, but overall, the majority stayed and they turned out to be good colonies. Hope that makes sense.

[@jamesgranderson2890]

I don’t know if you mentioned this or not, but how long should you (me) wait from the time you noticed bees in your trap to transfer them to a permanent hive?

[@washfamapiary659]

After I was sure the swarm had committed, I used to wait 2-3 days to move it. Sometimes life gets in the way and it may be a couple of weeks these days. The longer they are in there, the more a chance they may build some “inconvenient” comb for you. So, I guess a general rule is the sooner the better. But me, 2-3 days. Hope that helps. :)

[@jamesgranderson2890]

@@washfamapiary659 Thank you for responding. I’m new to this and recently noticed bees coming and going in one of my swarm traps but the traffic is super light. However, the few forager bees going in have pollen on em.👍🏻😎

[@washfamapiary659]

@@jamesgranderson2890 Sounds like you probably have caught a small swarm. A couple of weeks ago, I caught the smallest swarm of my swarm catching time. I finally moved it a few days ago. It hardly had enough bees to fill up a full deep frame both sides. I'm pretty sure it was a virgin swarm off of one of my own hives, but the queen had been mated and there was fresh brood and fresh eggs in almost every cell of the comb they had built on the foundationless frames. I'm going to baby it to death in hopes to keep it going. I could probably add some bees from a stronger hive, but I seriously want to see if they can make it without that much help. The pollen coming in for you should be a sure confirmation you have caught a swarm. If you want to be sure 100% (since you are new), if convenient, crack the top and take a peek before you take the trap down. But, it sounds very positive you have one. Why else would the girls bring home groceries if they weren't planning on feeding the kiddos? :) Hope this helps!

[@jamesgranderson2890]

@@washfamapiary659 Thank you! This helps tremendously in that it gives me confidence. Thanks again!!

[@washfamapiary659]

@@jamesgranderson2890 You bet! ;)

[@vanishedforgotten433]

See not allot of people wait and I always ask then if they ever wait til night time to move them. Or if they leave another box just incase and they be like u don't need to im like where I get ur info from lol

[@theshadowoftruth7561]

It's a Bee Porch!