I think you are right about the lure being too strong. Could be overwhelming them in the trap, so they cluster on the bottom. Might be interesting to cut them into smaller pieces and only use one of the pieces.
There are two vials in the envelope. Swarm commander sells single vials, may do that next year or just halve the Mann Lake ones. Haven’t really decided yet.
Hi Nathan, wow man don’t you just love the sound of nature I live next to a big woodland area and I’m woken up every morning with the sound of the birds I love it. Nice swarm capture mate looks like you had your lucky feather to brush the bees into your setup. I caught two swarms on Sunday first one was a good size second was a little ball of bees maybe 3000 strong which I put into a two frame nuc, I’m like yourself Nathan very worn out with my colonies I’ve split 14 hives lately my bees have gone swarm cell crazy. Thank you for sharing your videos with us mate and good luck with your new bees.
You knocked it out of the park again. That is great need to know info about the swarm lure. I wonder if a Q tip with a little lemon grass oil on it is all you need. Made my spacers and bottoms for a couple of traps today. I'm waiting for some frames and entrance disks to come in the mail. I won't have any drawn comb so hopefully the bees will like the foundation.
Hi Nathan, I found your channel by accident and had to check it out based solely on the name. I grew up on a farm along the Duck upstream from you about 5 miles. I remember as a little girl that my Grandfather had 2 or 3 hobby hives in one of our pastures. I love seeing all the sights and sounds from my childhood home!
Had 2 swarms move into traps and then leave . I think they found a better place to go and was just hanging out in the box because of the cool weather we had for a couple days. I had already caught swarms in them this year and and they were going strong in them and only placed a small amount of swarm commander on the box below the entrance less than a drop I'm sure. Nice catch on the the #13.
Love your channel.. I set a few traps in my area after watching all your videos.. my swarm I caught built under my swarm trap.. I had 3 major errors the entrance was not big enough, I do not have enough ventilation .. I really messed up cutting the comb off from under the trap and my caught swarm caused issues for the homeowner..
This situation happens almost every year, rarely but constantly. There is one reason, the bees did not plan to settle in this trap. It was used as an intermediate stage for relocation until a more suitable dwelling was found. So they can hang from a few hours to several days, then fly away. Sometimes they will build a nest under the trap, but they will never move into the trap. For 30 years, there was only one case when bees moved into a trap. There are several reasons, a region with great competition, the trap is hanging absolutely wrong, bees will settle in such a place only if absolutely necessary.
I caught my first swarm this year following your advice. Thanks. I haven’t checked the trap for a few weeks cause I was busy. Checked it yesterday. I didn’t see a queen in the hive so I’m going to let it set a few days. We have a few days of rain. They built 3 comb that are softball size. I don’t see eggs. What steps would I take. Thanks.
Move them, get them set up in the equipment you want, and get some feed on them is what I typically do. If the swarm had a virgin it can take a little while to see eggs.
I’ve had them do the same with swarm commander as well. Just caught one Tuesday that clustered on the bottom of the trap. Used a bucket to catch them an poured them in the trap due to bad weather moving in that night. Thursday transferred them into a 10 frame deep due to the size of the swarm It was 8 plus frames of bees. Enjoy your vids
Hey I think that I see your problem, the box on the ground appears only to have new frames of foundation, if it is the same in your traps you will have little to no luck. They like some old brood comb and it seems the older and dirty ones work best, they will accept old extracted honey frames as well but appera to dislike starting on foundation at first. then a drop or two of lemongrass oil and the job is done. I also throw in a chunk of slum gum to make them feel at home.
Is there any reasons you wouldn’t be using a vacuum system? Is it hard on the bees? Or I guess the way to ask is “would you recommend using a bee vacuum system”?? If not why? Thanks
I don’t use one because I don’t have one. If I was doing a lot of cutouts I’d probably put one together, but for general beekeeping it would be extremely rare that I’d need one.
Yah if we had more hands one of them could just hang on to dang hive tool. Lol Just starting out ,caught my first swarm in a Layens swarm trap a day ago. The trap was only about 50 yd from where the hive is so last night I put the trap right next to the hive hoping they reset thier gps and probably tomorrow I'll transfer the frames . I need my swarm trap free because a neighbor just asked me to do a small cut out ,wow , I've never even been into a live hive yet . Any advice anyone? LoL loving this .
If i purchase a mated queen and place her in my empty hive will she create a hive on her own? I realise she will die but will she make a brood that will create a new queen or atleast one where i can purchase a new queen to add?
Was just wondering if ever have Bees for sell. I live in north eastern hickman county and have 2 hives. Would like to purchase local Bees if at all possible. Would like to have a me for to help me ear how to catch swarms. Thanks a d happy bee keeping. Please pm
@@DuckRiverHoney we had a pretty bad freeze in Texas so a lot of hives died. I’m using some frames from a dead hive that was given to me. Saw some bees working a trap pretty good this morning so hopefully got something when I check again in a couple of days.
I had to swarm boxes with those men like swarm traps and it also in the brown envelope and the bees done the same thing only they left the Swarm traps I couldn't figure out what it was so I took them out and I started using that swarm commander and I've been having success with it but whenever had those man Lake swarm trap packages in there they left the hives good luck with it brother I'm not using them things no more have a blessed day
Okay you'd mentioned losing your tools having to have a lot of them I was watching One video and this one gentleman had put a magnet in his pocket and when he was done with his tool he just stuck it to his clothing with a magnet was I'm guessing he never lost any more
I love sitting out at night listening to nature.
All you needed was the sound of a whippoorwill and it would have been perfect.
We get whipporwills but usually more toward summer. Probably won’t hear any this year though…..cicadas will be too loud.
@@DuckRiverHoney I'm in Hardy Ark. and I can hear 3 in the woods behind my house and I love it!
That’s awesome!
I think you are right about the lure being too strong. Could be overwhelming them in the trap, so they cluster on the bottom. Might be interesting to cut them into smaller pieces and only use one of the pieces.
There are two vials in the envelope. Swarm commander sells single vials, may do that next year or just halve the Mann Lake ones. Haven’t really decided yet.
Weathers not been great for swarms but I think it will go crazy soon. Thanks for the video 🐝🐝
Thanks! I’m afraid our season is winding down. Hoping for one more major push in swarming before it’s over. I’m about halfway to my goal.
Hi Nathan, wow man don’t you just love the sound of nature I live next to a big woodland area and I’m woken up every morning with the sound of the birds I love it. Nice swarm capture mate looks like you had your lucky feather to brush the bees into your setup. I caught two swarms on Sunday first one was a good size second was a little ball of bees maybe 3000 strong which I put into a two frame nuc, I’m like yourself Nathan very worn out with my colonies I’ve split 14 hives lately my bees have gone swarm cell crazy. Thank you for sharing your videos with us mate and good luck with your new bees.
Awesome Mark, thanks! Where are you from?
@@DuckRiverHoney hi Nathan, I’m from the UK in a city called Liverpool.
Thanks! I knew from the use of “mate” that you were probably UK or AU.
scouts are going in and out of the box. reminds of Moses sending scouts into promised land
That’s a good analogy!
They must like the location!! Nice catch. I hope a swarm moves into one of my traps today. There were a lot of scouts there yesterday. Thanks!
Thanks, and good luck!
You knocked it out of the park again. That is great need to know info about the swarm lure. I wonder if a Q tip with a little lemon grass oil on it is all you need. Made my spacers and bottoms for a couple of traps today. I'm waiting for some frames and entrance disks to come in the mail. I won't have any drawn comb so hopefully the bees will like the foundation.
Good luck! Thanks
Hi Nathan, I found your channel by accident and had to check it out based solely on the name. I grew up on a farm along the Duck upstream from you about 5 miles. I remember as a little girl that my Grandfather had 2 or 3 hobby hives in one of our pastures. I love seeing all the sights and sounds from my childhood home!
Awesome!
Great video's I am just getting started this year and your information has been extremely helpful. Have 9 traps out hoping for the best. Thank you.
Good luck!
Had 2 swarms move into traps and then leave . I think they found a better place to go and was just hanging out in the box because of the cool weather we had for a couple days. I had already caught swarms in them this year and and they were going strong in them and only placed a small amount of swarm commander on the box below the entrance less than a drop I'm sure. Nice catch on the the #13.
Thanks!
Love your channel.. I set a few traps in my area after watching all your videos.. my swarm I caught built under my swarm trap.. I had 3 major errors the entrance was not big enough, I do not have enough ventilation .. I really messed up cutting the comb off from under the trap and my caught swarm caused issues for the homeowner..
We all make mistakes, and the bees get a vote in everything we do. Congrats on the catch.
This situation happens almost every year, rarely but constantly. There is one reason, the bees did not plan to settle in this trap. It was used as an intermediate stage for relocation until a more suitable dwelling was found. So they can hang from a few hours to several days, then fly away. Sometimes they will build a nest under the trap, but they will never move into the trap. For 30 years, there was only one case when bees moved into a trap. There are several reasons, a region with great competition, the trap is hanging absolutely wrong, bees will settle in such a place only if absolutely necessary.
I caught my first swarm this year following your advice. Thanks. I haven’t checked the trap for a few weeks cause I was busy. Checked it yesterday. I didn’t see a queen in the hive so I’m going to let it set a few days. We have a few days of rain. They built 3 comb that are softball size. I don’t see eggs. What steps would I take. Thanks.
Move them, get them set up in the equipment you want, and get some feed on them is what I typically do. If the swarm had a virgin it can take a little while to see eggs.
I’ve had them do the same with swarm commander as well. Just caught one Tuesday that clustered on the bottom of the trap. Used a bucket to catch them an poured them in the trap due to bad weather moving in that night. Thursday transferred them into a 10 frame deep due to the size of the swarm It was 8 plus frames of bees. Enjoy your vids
Thanks, and congrats!
Love your videos Nathan, I hear you talking about freshening the lure at the entrance, how often do you do this?
I try to check and freshen with a squirt once a week or so. Especially after rain, and if the weather looks good for swarming.
Happened to me this year also. I use swarm commander. Ended up doing the same thing you have done.
Thanks!
Nathan lost hive tools? Place glow in the dark paint about your tools. After securing your hive. Turn out your headlamp and locate missed tools
That’s a neat idea!
I’ve had 2 swarms build under my swarm traps this year here in eastern Kentucky
More common than I think maybe?
When you are brushing off the cluster, have you ever tried spraying them with water (or sugar water) - wet bees don't fly?
I have but I usually have a brush and don’t have a bottle of syrup. Right now I don’t even have a brush....think it’s in the weeds somewhere.
Hey I think that I see your problem, the box on the ground appears only to have new frames of foundation, if it is the same in your traps you will have little to no luck. They like some old brood comb and it seems the older and dirty ones work best, they will accept old extracted honey frames as well but appera to dislike starting on foundation at first. then a drop or two of lemongrass oil and the job is done. I also throw in a chunk of slum gum to make them feel at home.
I’d be using old comb if I had any to spare. They will move in without it, but they don’t like the trap as well.
@@DuckRiverHoney Have you given any thought to the slum gum, it seems to be attractive to them "Theres no smell like home lol"
Sure, bee smell in general is attractive. Comb especially so since it is so expensive for them to make.
Eith the feed do you ever put in protein patties?
Rarely. We have a lot of pollen sources most of the year in TN, and I’m not pumping numbers to sell nucs.
Is there any reasons you wouldn’t be using a vacuum system? Is it hard on the bees? Or I guess the way to ask is “would you recommend using a bee vacuum system”?? If not why? Thanks
I don’t use one because I don’t have one. If I was doing a lot of cutouts I’d probably put one together, but for general beekeeping it would be extremely rare that I’d need one.
Nicely the text you use for the Queen, which editing software do you use?
Thanks! I edit in Final Cut.
Fire fly's very cool we don't have them here where I live.
They’re fun in the summer, really put on a show.
Any thoughts on why they don't like the box?
Maybe the lure inside was too strong?
Yah if we had more hands one of them could just hang on to dang hive tool. Lol
Just starting out ,caught my first swarm in a Layens swarm trap a day ago. The trap was only about 50 yd from where the hive is so last night I put the trap right next to the hive hoping they reset thier gps and probably tomorrow I'll transfer the frames . I need my swarm trap free because a neighbor just asked me to do a small cut out ,wow , I've never even been into a live hive yet . Any advice anyone? LoL loving this .
Hands on is the best way to learn, but with bees you really need to have an idea what you’re looking at. Books and videos will help.
Does using bee repellent on the tree ruin the location for another trap? Or, does it evaporate and go away?
In my experience it dissipates pretty quick.
that only happens to me when my lure is fresh. It doesn't take much swarm commander (or what ever your using) to get them to move in.
Lure had been in there two months...
@@DuckRiverHoney yikes
If i purchase a mated queen and place her in my empty hive will she create a hive on her own? I realise she will die but will she make a brood that will create a new queen or atleast one where i can purchase a new queen to add?
Bees are a superorganism. Queens can’t survive without workers, and without a queen the hive dies. This is why they reproduce through swarming.
Was just wondering if ever have Bees for sell. I live in north eastern hickman county and have 2 hives. Would like to purchase local Bees if at all possible. Would like to have a me for to help me ear how to catch swarms. Thanks a d happy bee keeping.
Please pm
Definitely not this year, I’m building hive numbers. Maybe in future years. Thanks!
I’ve caught 5 this year with just a drop of lemongrass oil at the entrance and a frame of old comb in the trap.
Old comb is awesome! Wish I had some to use this year.
@@DuckRiverHoney we had a pretty bad freeze in Texas so a lot of hives died. I’m using some frames from a dead hive that was given to me. Saw some bees working a trap pretty good this morning so hopefully got something when I check again in a couple of days.
I had to swarm boxes with those men like swarm traps and it also in the brown envelope and the bees done the same thing only they left the Swarm traps I couldn't figure out what it was so I took them out and I started using that swarm commander and I've been having success with it but whenever had those man Lake swarm trap packages in there they left the hives good luck with it brother I'm not using them things no more have a blessed day
I’ve caught several swarms with those lures in the traps, but the two I’ve had issues with both had them.
Okay you'd mentioned losing your tools having to have a lot of them I was watching One video and this one gentleman had put a magnet in his pocket and when he was done with his tool he just stuck it to his clothing with a magnet was I'm guessing he never lost any more
I’ve seen that, but I’d probably loose the magnet!
U will have to keep us informed if u catch another swarm in a tree u sprayed repellent on
We’ll see!
@@DuckRiverHoney sure have enjoyed your videos and the way u explain things .
Thanks, I really appreciate Kate it!
Be careful
10-4
Trap is not level bees are dizzy.
Lol, they’ll figure it out.