Setting Swarm Traps Late | Honeybees Wait for Me
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2024
- Life has been busy with work and chores at home, and I needed to get into some hives as well. So for that reason, swarm traps had to go to the back burner. But alas!!! I have found a sliver of time to get on the road and get a few set. Come out to the barn with me and I'll show you how I make the frames, the boxes I will use, and finally we'll go out and set one out.
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Thanks for joining me in my bee yard here in Louisiana as I share how I maintain my beehives. My videos are not meant to be 'How To' videos, but simply me sharing my experiences in beekeeping as I learned it from my mentors, teachers, and studies.
#bees #beekeeping #beehive #honeybees #hiveinspection #savethebees #honey #honeycomb #beeswax #swarming #swarmtrap #backyardbeekeeping - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
Awesome video Mike. Thanks for saving the bees.
Thanks for watching and stopping thru.
I love catching swarms it's something to do and I love the story how I catch them and the challenge
Yes indeed. As much as I say I won’t put them up the following year, I still do😁😁
SW PA and I set our traps the third week in March.
Almost time for y’all then. Happy trapping!’
Caught 3 swarms last year doing how you do 😂 thanks Mike
That’s great!! Glad you liked the ‘how I do’ method😁😁
Lots of great tips in this video, Mike! Thanks for sharing them. Old trusty is still looking good! God bless you and yours, brother!
I appreciate that! And glad you enjoyed it. Hope you are well!!
Got my swarm traps ready in Va 😁🐝👍❤️ had some bees checking it out yesterday. Keeping fingers crossed 🤞
That’s always a great sign!!! Hope you catch a big one!!
Thank you for another wonderful video, sir!!! I got into my hives today and they all survived so far!!! I've got eggs, larva and capped brood in all 3 so I'm going to give them a pollen patty and syrup and hopefully will be off to the races!!! Wishing you a successful season and a safe one!! Till we meet again, take care and trust in the lord!!!
That’s great!! Glad you’re seeing them come thru with growth happening!! And yes, I definitely will trust in the Lord. He is my all in all!!
Put out some traps Saturday and had bees checking them out in the back of the truck. Going to be a good swarm year. Good luck
Always a good sign when you have scouts before the box is out of the truck!!😁😁
Thanks Mike for the tips. I use the plywood to set my traps on too. I call them the “flaps” because they fold together. After I had one blown off, I started wrapping a strap around the tree and box. No more fallen boxes. I am ready to chase some swarms.
I like the name Jim. Flaps. I had to run the straps around the tree on those flap setups too after I had that one fall a couple years ago. Hope all is well up your way. Take care!!
Same as that an adventure for me too, love setting them out, it's like fishing going checking on them, great video 👌
Couldn't agree more!
An old paper slicer like we use to see in school, works great for slicing starter strips 😊 and I had two swarms the other day was getting things ready to put them in a box next thing I know the swarm is air born and over the row of hives wouldn't yeah know they were moving in to a dead out I left in the row both swarms went back in to empty hives
That’s an easy way to catch a swarm 😁😁
I agree, Mike. Hanging boxes more than head high is not necessary. More than 40 years ago, an old beekeeper told me to orient the frames North and South, with the entrance facing south. I have always done that with great success. These days I usually only put out about 4 traps and usually end up giving away 2 or 3 swarms. Enjoyed the video, take care .
Glad you enjoyed the video James!! You sound like me where I’m going way less traps and I just bless others with the bees most times. Take care!!
Today was the 1st day I've seen my bees bringing in pollen since the end of the Witch Hazel bloom in Nov. Most likely Red Maple and Crocus pollen from the pollen color and time of year.
That’s a sign of spring in the air for sure!!
Hello first of all I use a white spoon just like yours for the same thing waxing strips in an my comb foundation. I got my first swarm this past weekend AND it was not even my own bees this time. LOL. 😂Thanks !!.
Glad I'm not the only one!! LOL!! Congrats on the swarm! Always good when we add without them splitting from our own yard.
Thanks so much Mike, I always enjoy seeing how you do bees, God Bless!
So glad for your support and your liking the videos. That is what it’s about my friend!!
Thanks for the "How you do" swarm trap tips, Mike. It's always good seeing your videos.
You’re welcome and Glad you like them! Thanks!!
It’s always fun and exciting as you are pulling up to your traps!! Good luck.
Exactly Brian!! When you see some activity from afar and have to go see if it’s scouts or a colony. Always fun.
Settin out swarm traps here on eastern shore of Maryland. 1 or 2 frames of brood comb then rest empty wired frames in a 8 or 10 frame deep. Swarm Commander on a q-tip pushed in a piece of straw plucked in entrance every 2 or 3 weeks. CMON SWARMS hopefully not my own 😅
That’ll be a great setup for sure!! They love the open space and the smell of those brood frames. Best wishes on your season!!
Good luck Mike! I hope that you catch all that you need.
Thanks Don, I hope so too!
The older I get, the more cautious I get....I don't climb and cut trees like I did when I was younger. Keep them within arm's reach!
You’re right Brice, although I do find myself on a ladder now and again when one gets away into the trees. But traps, I sure see no reason to go way up in the air. But wisdom and age have me using a bucket and a pole more these days.
Lots of good tips Mike. Thanks and good luck. Hope you catch a bunch. Take care.
Thanks Garry! Hope you have a great season!!
Thanks Mike, I always enjoy your videos and your knowledge.
Thanks so much Rick!!
It certainly is fun catching swarms in traps. Quite the rush!🐝😎
Just something special I suppose Bruce!!
I need to get all of mine up too. Thanks Mike!
I’m late and the one I’m putting up today is really late…
Mike swarm trapping looks interesting, it nothing I’ve ever tried I never seen bees around my house until I got bees . I had a couple of swarms but they were my own
I’d have to go set out a few near some tree lines and water and see if I could get some interest in them. Never know. I always enjoyed setting in new spots and catching bees, it the last few years, I’ve stayed with the same locations. This evening I’m trying a new spot.
@@MikeBarryBees well I guess I’m going to give it a try Jon Robertson ( Hoopers Creek Bee co.) just gave me a swarm trap for my birthday
Caught my first swam this afternoon! Ocala Florida
I just got a text from my friend in North Florida and he caught a couple up there. Y’all are getting busy in the sunshine state for sure!!!
Another great video. I remember reviewing last year's video repeatedly before setting out our traps. Caught two ourselves! Hope you catch more than you know what to do w/! Good Bless.
You’re welcome and glad you were able to pick up some tips!! Thanks so much for the support and have a great season!!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge Mike. I’m starting out this year with my first Nucs ready end of April. I’ve learned a lot watching you and some others. I know I have a lot more to learn but I’m enjoying the journey.
Thanks
James
You’re welcome James and best wishes with your NUC!! So glad you enjoy the videos!!
Thanks for the info on swarm traps. I’m going to set some myself!!
Good deal, glad you liked the video and thanks for watching!!
That dull knife looks like one Pampered Chef sold years ago. I have several in my knife drawer. I use the non-wire sheets of wax. Instead of a spoon I have acid brushes from HF does the same thing. Next time you drive by Salvation Army stop in and buy that metal spoon 😊. Good luck with your swarm season. Ours doesn't start until mid May.
Edit: I use a ratchet strap to secure the trap to the tree.
Good eye David!!! That’s exactly the knife. Used to be sharp at one time. You know, I have some acid brushes laying around. I need to try it when I do my comb frames. A lot neater I bet. Thanks for the tip! I ratchet strap my larger boxes for sure, especially after I had one fail and fall down when the swarm moved in and loaded it with bees and honey. Take care and thanks for watching!!
For the plum tree to bear fruit. You need at least 1 other tree in the prunus family. So peach, plum, apricot, nectarines, pluots, I think cherry also works. Almond SHOULD allow for cross pollination. Many fruits and berries require a different cultivar to cross pollinate and bear fruit. They aren't self pollinating. So if you fine out what cultivar of plum you have (even if it's ornamental) and plant another variety/cultivar of plum, they'll cross pollinate. Just like if you have an apple and pear within a few hundred feet of eachother, they'll cross pollinate. But if you have 2 red delicious apples, they won't bear fruit because they're the same cultivar.
You can also graft scions of different cultivars onto the same tree, as long as they're still in the same genus. So for instance, apples and plums are in the same Rosaceae family, but apples are in the malaceae genus while plums and peaches are in prunuceae genus. Pomegranate and a lot of other fruits are in the same Rose family, but you have to have 2 different varieties in each Genus for them to produce fruit.
Look into cross pollination, there will be more information. Blueberries is another common one where people get 2 or 3 of the same variety, but you need a minimum of 2 different varieties for them to bear fruit.
Thank you for another great video.
Thanks for the info!! Great knowledge! I used to have another plum and I did get some fruit from it until the other died. I planted a Santa Rosa Plum that supposedly can be pollinated alone but does better with cross pollination, but it doesn’t yield and now that you have informed me of this, makes perfect sense why I’m seeing no fruit. I have two varieties of blueberries, one was by itself for years and always produces, but it’s a one off that’s kind of on the wild side of varieties here in Louisiana. Bird eye is what I believe they call it. Have you heard of that one? But now I have two varieties because my third variety succumbed to the drought, so I’m wondering if I’ll get any decent fruit now with what you’re telling me. I need to look at what I actually have growing and see about some other varieties. Great info!! Thanks for taking the time to explain it!
Great timely video, I hit pause and went out and checked two different red bud trees to see how far along they were. These warm temps this year in SW Missouri have been hard to gauge. One red bud is just starting to open flowers and the other is not but, the maples are going. I think in this next week or so I might need to get some swarm traps out. Thanks for reminding me to check what's going on, even though it would seem early for my area.
I feel like early is better for sure. The very first scouts get oriented to it early on.
Thanks Mike, I like the tip about the qtip in a straw. Thanks for sharing.
You bet Tom!! That’s a Mr. Ed tip…..or q-tip😂😂😂
Queens cells here in N.W. Arkansas, usually first swarms are at the end of March.
SW Missouri is also showing tree activity way early, hope we don't get a mid to late March snow.
@@tommychew6544 Exactly, and it is so very dry here.
Just over in Alabama and north Florida, they are seeing cells. Saw them in only one of mine so far, but this week will see major growth. Hope I can catch them in time.
I got cheap soldering iron from amazon and used it to melt starter strip into grooves.
Once again, another beekeeper finding even another ingenious way to do something in the beekeeping operation. I love it!! Thanks for posting this for others to see!!
@@MikeBarryBees welcome :)
Awesome video always a joy to see your videos I love your videos this time of year. Mike I have a question might be a little off topic but this time of year is robbing bad.
Patrick, just depending on where they’re at, it can be. Here at my place, I see robbing in mid February if I break open honey pulling out the frames. But right now in March, it’s not terrible. The robbing diminishes quickly as we progress into April. The early spring robbing that does occur I’ve noticed is never as bad and relentless as it is in mid summer and fall. That summer robbing is awful and happens so fast. Early spring robbing is not as often and hard and seems to dissipate easy.
Thank you Mike!!
Last swarm I had was July 6th was probably the biggest I’ve ever seen. It was a WEIRD year and didn’t help that late freezing everyone had.
That’s how it was here last season too. Crazy big spring swarms in July, yet small summer swarms in March🤷♂️🤷♂️
Also, I forgot to add that I really liked that wax welding method you showed. I would have never thought of that I don't think!
Glad it was helpful Tommy!!
Swarm traps satisfies the same need as fishing and hunting, but has zero regulations, no bag limit and is super cheap!
Well there ya go Tad!! Never heard it put like that, but so true!!😁😁
Dream Big brother
Thanks so much!!
Who is the Joey Rawls guy that you are talking about?😆🤣 Thanks for the plug Mike.
He’s got a lot to offer folks if you get to know him….
Geez Mike, I haven't set swarm traps out yet, getting ready to prune fruit trees. Hoping to get some new scion apple stock for grafting. Swarm traps will go up in a month here...that will be plenty early here. I like you method of fixing the starter strip to the frames. It seems very secure. I had some starter strips drop in the hot weather last summer. I will try the melted wax fastening this year. Thanks for sharing. Just a note on Layens swarm traps, with the deep frames, there is no comb building below the frames because there are frames to the bottom of a 40L trap. Not really a reason to switch, but just an observation. Thanks Mike, take care, Peace and Love, love the bees!
Yea, layans is another setup altogether, no doubt. A lot of folks are building them these days. They’re becoming very popular and with good reason. Great setup for year round thermal regulation and natural combustion building.
The season is off and running SCPO!!!
You ain’t kidding!!! I’m running already!!
We still have 40 out for last year.. I need to go thru them I know there's a few mice took over.. I think starter strips way to go they want to draw comb and are ready to do so .. more room bigger the swarm.. I had monster move into stack of boxes filling 6 deeps with honey and plugged out the swarm trap above it.. had just little tiny brood patch in the center rest was honey.. didn't even have bottom board just stacked on dirt .. I'm sure that was few swarms that joined up ..
That’s a lot of boxes out for sure!! Those bees are so ready to build, I had a colony three years ago that had a box built out in 10 days. It was the 8 frame trap.
🤔.. My neighbors area a bit too close to have bees (city ordnance) but if they come in by themselves it's not my bees. 😉
Yep, I gotcha😁😁
Mike I have a question about how much pollen I have in one of my hives. I have multiple frames that one side is almost completely pollen. Is that too much for a two box hive? If so what do I do with it?
I see that in some of mine and it can be a problem if they don’t begin to clean it out. As they begin to build up faster and spring really gets to going good, and I start seeing a lot of nectar, I’ll usually pull two or three of those out and give them to another colony or a NUC that needs it. But as long as the queen has enough room, and it’s not on more than three frames, I leave it alone. That’s with me running double deeps. In a single system, I might would purge it for more laying room as the activity picks up
MikeI have 1 hive out of 5 that started filling a super with nectar
Hi what state are you in? I’m in SE Tennessee and maples are just blooming.
@@jjbee8146 tylertown ,ms
Wow Russell!! Good thing you got a super on it. They’d a backfilled that nest. Too near the river or by some water with willows? I know they’re putting out some nectar. I bet your bees capitalized on the red maples. I’m seeing g the blackberries blooming now, what folks here call the dewberries.
Hi Mike
Wondering if you have any recommendations on what type of back up batteries you get for your go pro; I just received a Hero 9 black. Looking to possibly video our beekeeping experiences this year
Jeff in Ontario
I would honestly go with GoPro brand. The knock offs aren’t bad, but the life of them overall isn’t that good. You will definitely need a couple though. None of them last very long except when they’re new. I cycle thru a couple on long videos. If I need to walk away for a bit or am moving spots, I always run the camera off to save power. It takes a while to get a feel for how long you can shoot.
I’m not on the book of faces, and I don’t see your email, unless it’s on your Facebook? I would like to invite you to my livestream on Saturday afternoon at 4pm. I have no set end time, we’re going to ride it until the wheels fall off! Thank you for your not how to’s! 😊
Sara, thanks for the invite!! I have to reluctantly decline this time unfortunately. Saturday is going to be my only day off with half a day of decent weather and I have to get all my splits done and other stuff that’s been neglected at home. I just know I won’t be even close to done by 4. I’m looking forward to the time change so I can start getting stuff done after work when we have good weather and free up my weekends for piddling and projects. I’d still love to join when you have another one if I’m available. Thanks so much for thinking of me!!
@@MikeBarryBees I had to try, Thanks Mike! Stay safe and have a productive weekend! 🐝☀️
50 Ltd no liquid crap not even lemon grass all wax on top of frames keep in ya hives any bee glue keep mix with wax melt paint brush plaster in side box and around entrance do not use starter strip's no need.
Well, it’s actually 40 to 50 liters if you want to be precise on what’s been written by the researchers. I hear ya on the baiting. I’m sure that works great. I have scene where folks paint a wax mixture similar to that. I’ve just never tried it. I have enough old wax and propolis is easy enough to come by.
@@MikeBarryBees lol try 50lt let them go why comb is gold hey.
Your videos go by too fast!!
I’ve got swarm fever bad.
Swarm fever can be very costly!! Turns into more hives and such😂😂
@@MikeBarryBees 😆😆