I did one last week with the frame of brood & a little lemongrass oil dabbed on all the frames with the lid off. I held the box under the swarm & the bees just went straight in. I couldn’t hold the box much longer so I put it on the ground with half the bees, then I put the lid on. The queen must have been in the box with the first half, which surprised me. I thought she would have been higher up in the swarm. Anyway the other half marched straight into the box.
With the lemongrass oil in the box & the lid on, the smell coming out of the entrance seems to really lure the bees in.
But if the queen wasn’t in the box, it might have been a different story.
Basically, doing it like that removes the need to do any shaking of the bees:) Which I think is a cooler, laid back approach.
During the swarming season I always keep a couple of bait hives in the apiary and in the garden…
Last year we got swarms in both.
In the garden I watched scouts investigating one box for two days and on the second day there were lots more than the first then suddenly absolutely none. Five minutes later I heard the swarm fly over head, half settle in a tree then pour into the bait hive. They were all in in a matter of ten minutes and out foraging. A wonderful thing to see.
Hi Buzz, have you brought your bees back to Granada Hills? We’re getting a nuc next month most likely…we’re anxious to begin bee keeping again after about 15 years!
We’ve been busy with a build here and haven’t put our flow hive together yet, hope to during the next week or so. I ordered a nuc from the valley buzz. I think it will be ready sometime in April…
. I’ve got lemon oil inside on cottonballs. Also rubbed beeswax around the inside n using wax foundation on the five deep frames. That’s about all I know to do. How often should a person refresh the lemon oil bait ? I’m working on one or two more 5 frame Nuc’s that as I get them finished I could set out also. Wish me luck n always looking for advise. This venture has changed a lot in last 55 years. Gerald.
I would take four frames out and just leave the top bars. Scout bees measure the inside of the box by criss crossing the space as well as a perimeter survey. If they find frames in the way they consider the space too small. As for lemon grass I top up at the entrance maybe once every two weeks. Leave the inside alone.
Nice job
Dee,
Ohhhh ! I bought some used equipment n there were a couple medium frames with drawn wax !! Hmm … I’ll dig into those older boxes n see which one has the best frame of comb. I greatly appreciate the thots n notes… Been along time since I was in this game n the rules have been changed n/or modified some. Trying to play catch up …
I’ll climb up there today n swap out the frames with one waxy medium ! Have a great Humpday. . It’s kind of cool here today n showery. Here’s my Wx stations 08:00 data: . Here’s a flower pix to say Thankz !
Dee,
Here’s my personal bee yard. I’ve shorted one to single brood box already. Today I’ll pull the other two pictures here down the same with the top feeders. . My stack of used equipment I’ll dig thru for that bait frame. . Thanks again for the tips.
. I am busy busy working on another 5 frame Nuc today. Just finished the migratory lip n the bottom board too… Just added the first coat of white primer.
That frame looks like a medium, Gerald. Probably doesn’t matter for bait, but if you want them to actually keep using it, they might do a neater job if you have a deep. Please be careful on your ladder - we care about you!
Good eye ! . Don’t have any deep drawn inventory yet ! That will take awhile unless I can find someone selling off a couple used deeps that are diseased n buggy. I was able to buy used mediums mostly with empty ( no wax) frame. I store them alternately as someone mention I’d get better airflow n light inside them to keep less critters n bugs out.
I think it is very hard to store equipment outside with no bees. You are fighting mold, wax moths, mice etc, and that is not a winning battle! Shows what a great job our bees do in keeping their hives clean and hygienic! Amazing…
Still bit chill again here … Looking at Wx radar some moisture/showers ready to come ashore late morning to mid-day but for now partly sunny n 40.5 f ( 5 dgs C) with our highs tipping out mid 50’s. (About 12 to 14 dgs Brit temps). I never can get those conversions right ! . So my one Nuc is hanging in peak of our house n second just completed is . Set next to one of my two 10 frame Langstroth hive. When I was a teen we just waited for the old partying/phone to ring then after school Id hurry over with a large cardboRd box n cut them out of the bushes, trees n brierrers ! Been years since I’ve seen those here.
Anyway ! Guessing I’ve carried on here quite enough talking your ear off. Sorry about that … Actually not … I just have a gift of gab ! . I’ll keep yah all posted one way or another !
Just got text message my 3 Nuc’s will be available for pickup Friday morning @ 09:00. I just called my supplier n mentor to confirm I’d be there before 09:00 n ready !
I’ll get the finishing touches on my three hives n the back of my pickup truck ready for Nuc transport ! Tomorrow later I’ll share a few pix’s as I have time. I am so elated n excited … My Vera is too even though bees n yellow jackets scare her. She’ll watch the transfer thru our closed bedroom window !
Very excited on your behalf, Gerald. You deserve the pleasure of renewing this hobby. I love it that you are sharing your journey with us, a pleasure shared is a pleasure multiplied!
My bees are delayed a week. They will be arriving on the 23rd late afternoon. So I am happy that you are sharing your new arrivals with us, so that I can still enjoy the whole experience the week before too!
. It’s kind of cool here today n showery. Here’s my Wx stations 08:00 data: 
. Here’s a flower pix to say Thankz !
. My stack of used equipment I’ll dig thru for that bait frame. 
. Thanks again for the tips.
… That’s normal for me.
. Don’t have any deep drawn inventory yet ! That will take awhile unless I can find someone selling off a couple used deeps that are diseased n buggy. I was able to buy used mediums mostly with empty ( no wax) frame. I store them alternately as someone mention I’d get better airflow n light inside them to keep less critters n bugs out. 
. So my one Nuc is hanging in peak of our house n second just completed is 
. Set next to one of my two 10 frame Langstroth hive. When I was a teen we just waited for the old partying/phone to ring then after school Id hurry over with a large cardboRd box n cut them out of the bushes, trees n brierrers ! Been years since I’ve seen those here.
. I’ll keep yah all posted one way or another !
! 
…