I’ll say one thing about beekeeping, there’s always something new!
On Friday, June 2, I went out to the bee yard and found hive #2 covered with bees, but only on the sides. I had no idea what this was. I didn’t think it was bearding, because it was only 79 degrees, and they usually beard on the front of the hive when it’s very hot. Was it a swarm? Robbing?
I posted this picture on our bee group’s Facebook page and received many responses and recommendations. Thank you Jeremiah Ferrell of Ferrell Bees for your advice and support! It was very helpful to get your suggestions online as well as talking with you on the phone!
I got my nuc box out and installed a frame of honey, a frame of brood as well as frames of foundation. At first I set it beside the hive with the swarm. Nothing. Then I moved it so the entrance was facing the swarm. Nothing. I then scooped up piles of bees with my hive tool and shook them into the nuc. I also put some by the entrance. Nothing. That night I checked the hives at 11:00 pm and the bees were still on the side of the hive.
Early the next morning I went outside with a file folder. I positioned the nuc underneath the hive and literally slid the file folder under the bees and peeled them away from the hive, into the nuc. This was the easy side! The other side, which faces inward, was trickier. I had to peel them off the side where they fell onto the top of the hive stand. From there I shoveled them with the file folder into the nuc.
Once they were cleared from the side of the hive, I was then able to see what I was really dealing with. The whole underside of the screened bottom board was packed with bees! There must be a queen under there. Hmmm. Now what?
I brought down a little garden table and set it behind the hive. I pulled the back of the hive onto the table which was a few inches higher than the hive stand. I was then able to slide my hive tool underneath the bottom board and scoop out bees. I cleared almost all the bees, closed the lid, then moved the small table a few feet away and put the nuc on it.
At noon I went out to check. I opened the nuc and it was empty! The bees were back on the hive. Ugg, I obviously didn’t get the queen. Now there was no way around it, I was going to have to completely remove the hive from the bottom board.
Once removed, I was able to pick up the bottom board and turn it over. It was packed with bees. I wasn’t able to spot the queen. I then held it over the nuc and gave it a good shake. The bees fell into the nuc. I closed the lid and stood back. This is what I saw…
The queen was inside and the bees marched right on in. Within two minutes there wasn’t a bee outside.
Since it was a large swarm I installed them into a 10-frame brood box. I now have a new unexpected fifth hive!
The most amazing part of the whole experience was the bees. They were amazing! They were very calm and docile. With moving them around as much as I did, they never once acted aggressively. No bouncing off my veil, swarming around my head or crawling on me. They were very peaceful, almost purring with their buzzing.
So ends another exciting episode in beekeeping!
