Catch More Bees with a Cheap $8 Bucket Trap

You don't have to live or keep bees in the country to catch swarms. There are lots of honeybee swarms in urban or suburban areas. Catching bees in suburban areas helps keep them out of peoples' houses and trees. Plus, it's fun to catch bees for free and with minimal effort.
I caught these bees with only an $8 swarm trap made of a 5-gallon bucket, a tiny bit of wax, zip ties, and a good location where I have caught bees in the same style of trap before. That location - was behind a strip mall only a few feet off of the ground. That also makes them easy to relocate.
Want to see some examples of inexpensive swarm traps? Check out my other video with a lot of unconventional ways to make traps to catch free honeybee swarms.
#beekeeper #honeybee #beekeeping #swarming
8 Cheap or Free Swarm Trap Ideas for Free Honey Bees
• 8 Cheap or Free Swarm ...
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Urban Swarm Trapping as a Service
02:52 First Glimpse of Honey Bees
08:23 Slowly Marching In
14:15 Why Swarms Are Amazing

[@Steele_Wings]

Love catching swarms. I caught 8 of my own swarms this year and it is fulfilling to catch them.

[@macbeebuzzin]

That's a good number! Great to hear it!

[@temijinkahn511]

Hobbiest beekeeper. Just started last year. Caught my first swarm this week. Was exciting. About a football sized swarm. Stayed on the outside of the bucket. When I put them into the ten frame box, I added a frame of sealed brood from my original hive to help them decide to not abscond and to give them a population boost quickly. Added lots of liquid and dry food and am leaving them alone for two weeks so they can settle in. very exciting!
One problem I had was I didn’t close off my screened bottom of the ten frame and some bees marched under the box and were on the bottom screen. I closed it off and the marching bees went all in the front. When I set up the box in the permanent location I opened up the bottom. Lesson learned for next swarm.

[@macbeebuzzin]

Good move on the brood frame. Adding brood is the one thing that always keeps them. I’ve never had a swarm leave if I put a frame of brood in - even with leaving the box open. You’re right about the screen too. I keep it obstructed while moving the swarm in, but open it in transit. In my experience though, even if there are bees hanging on the screen while transporting in my SUV, they don’t tend to leave the box and fly around. Glad you got a new swarm! Exciting!

[@NATURALBEEKEEPERSCOLLECTIVE]

That is awesome. I do Bee Rescue jobs aswell . I have done a good few hundred over the years but probably not as many as Mr Ed 628 Dirt Roost or JP The Bee Man etc When bees are in Swarms they can still sting and defend if annoyed. There was a swarm on a telegraph pole some years back and they where mad as hell. But calmed down after a few days of being put in a hive with foundation and old brood comb. So best to wear a suit unless you can read bees like a book and know their attitude.

[@macbeebuzzin]

Those guys are awesome. JP is one of my faves to watch. I think I’ve seen every removal vid he’s put out. His approach has definitely influenced my own on cut-outs.

[@ScottPurcell]

Was that on the property of the shopping center? Did you just "know someone" to get permission to hang the trap there, or did you approach the mgmt, or was this an example of "guerrilla beekeeping"? I'm asking because there is a similarly situated area near me where I'd like to hang a trap.

[@macbeebuzzin]

@@ScottPurcell Yes, it was on the property of the shopping center. It’s good to speak with the property owner. There are a lot of reasons, like preserving your equipment, liability during mowing, etc. I normally approach people I know. Or, if they’re strangers, I mention the bees I’ve seen in the area & how setting a trap can help keep them off of their buildings.

[@benthompson5476]

Patience required

[@macbeebuzzin]

Absolutely!