I made five swarm boxes out of scrap plywood for the bottoms and fronts. For the sides I used plastic political signs from when I helped my uncle Donny when he ran for re-election. I had a couple of Brandon signs which I painted black out of respect for the bees...
I made my three swarm catcher boxes out of scrap OSB T-1 11. It needs no exterior paint but I sprayed them with 3 colors of paint to hide them from kids, mostly. Hopefully I can get them out around the middle of April here in southern Montana, if the weather is kind and scouts can fly. I don't have Swarm Commander , but lemongrass oil is almost as good. Next bee meeting is 4/12.
Free bees, all you need is an existing queen, and existing colony, and existing hive, existing frames that have already been used, a few more frames, and some plywood. An absolutely free swarm lol
@@joshblick yes, lemongrass, sorry, forgot that :) Some catch swarms in carton or plastic boxes, lol. Or under the roof or their house, so luck is biggest part of it I guess :)
@@esemde7707 #24 galv wire is only good to 10 pounds. It will snap if tensioned too tight. A 50 pound fishing line would probably be cheaper as well. Regards, Bob
Some of those boards are really good quality (depends on number or some kind of code). We have those were I am and they can stay intact very well. I made few painted swarm traps from them and left in the trees for whole winter and it's cold and humid here. Taking them off for a check up before swarming season and they look like newly made.
I only use them for a short time in the spring while I'm making nucs. I get a couple seasons out of them, but they wouldnt last through the winter very well. Particle board made for subfloor with exposure rating lasts a very long time.
To everyone, what I see in video is not partical board but chip board or OSB. THE secret/ or key to how long it lasts is the kind of glue or resin that is used. Look for or ask for exterior grade. It will hold up better, but should be painted for best results. Same for plywood use exterior grade for beehives outside.
They expanded enough to over winter as a single deep colony. The following season I found them to be very aggressive and I ended up requeening with a new line.
Because bees build up faster with less space. Once they're looking a little crammed in the nuc, he can transfer to a normal hive body or split, whatever the case may be.
Partly because I was short on boxes at the time! Also, we have hive beetles around here and I like to keep my hives crowded so they can patrol their hive better. Giving them too much space can invite trouble. This swarm did end up filling out the nuc and I later got them into full size equipment.
I take a sheet of un-wired wax foundation, cut it into 1 inch wide strips, and tack it in with a slight fold under the wedge in the top bar. They almost always start building comb straight down from it. The hive has to be perfectly level, though.
@@jeffkantz6928 it is all about 💰 money, specially if you doing more than 4 hives. If you don't take the cost of whatever in to consideration you won't be doing that very long.😳🤔🙂
This is glorious, I've been looking for "garden beehive" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Tiyia Beehive Basophilic - (just google it ) ? Ive heard some great things about it and my mate got great results with it.
I made five swarm boxes out of scrap plywood for the bottoms and fronts. For the sides I used plastic political signs from when I helped my uncle Donny when he ran for re-election. I had a couple of Brandon signs which I painted black out of respect for the bees...
I made my three swarm catcher boxes out of scrap OSB T-1 11. It needs no exterior paint but I sprayed them with 3 colors of paint to hide them from kids, mostly. Hopefully I can get them out around the middle of April here in southern Montana, if the weather is kind and scouts can fly. I don't have Swarm Commander , but lemongrass oil is almost as good. Next bee meeting is 4/12.
Free bees, all you need is an existing queen, and existing colony, and existing hive, existing frames that have already been used, a few more frames, and some plywood. An absolutely free swarm lol
I cought a swarm like this one while having only some boxes made from osb and nothing more. But it does sound funny the way you say it, lol
@@SilvijaSilvi So no bait? No lemongrass? No Swarm Commander? You have luck on your side for more than I do ;)
@@joshblick yes, lemongrass, sorry, forgot that :) Some catch swarms in carton or plastic boxes, lol. Or under the roof or their house, so luck is biggest part of it I guess :)
i had one empty hive ... forgot to close the opening when i was checking it like 2 months after i moved him i found a veeery nice colony there
@@esemde7707 So still a previously existing hive which previously had bees but still had the smell if not other remnants to attract them in.
Why a nuc instead of putting them in a hive? I'm still learning.
The queen walked on the bottom of the screen around the top bar to the other side of the frame at like 7:44 in the video bud
Screwing the lid down is a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
In Trinidad I does dat. But I use empty boxes.. it work real good in d swarming season
at 5.49 you can see the queen in the right piece of the comb, running down
Will lemongrass oil in a big plastic jar with holes attract bees.
Great video, If I may suggest something. cross wire your frames with 50 lb. fishing line. I will help to secure comb as they build it down.
Thanks for the suggestion! I have been doing that for a few seasons. Works great!
we do it with antirust wire
@@esemde7707 #24 galv wire is only good to 10 pounds. It will snap if tensioned too tight. A 50 pound fishing line would probably be cheaper as well. Regards, Bob
How has that nuc box survived the environment? Being made of particle board, with no paint, I was wondering if it broke down with the weather.
Some of those boards are really good quality (depends on number or some kind of code). We have those were I am and they can stay intact very well. I made few painted swarm traps from them and left in the trees for whole winter and it's cold and humid here. Taking them off for a check up before swarming season and they look like newly made.
I only use them for a short time in the spring while I'm making nucs. I get a couple seasons out of them, but they wouldnt last through the winter very well. Particle board made for subfloor with exposure rating lasts a very long time.
To everyone, what I see in video is not partical board but chip board or OSB. THE secret/ or key to how long it lasts is the kind of glue or resin that is used. Look for or ask for exterior grade. It will hold up better, but should be painted for best results. Same for plywood use exterior grade for beehives outside.
I know it's three years later, but how did this colony do?
They expanded enough to over winter as a single deep colony. The following season I found them to be very aggressive and I ended up requeening with a new line.
Why not strait into a hive body? Why use the nuc box? Am I missing something?
Because bees build up faster with less space. Once they're looking a little crammed in the nuc, he can transfer to a normal hive body or split, whatever the case may be.
Partly because I was short on boxes at the time! Also, we have hive beetles around here and I like to keep my hives crowded so they can patrol their hive better. Giving them too much space can invite trouble. This swarm did end up filling out the nuc and I later got them into full size equipment.
From what I see there wasn't enough bees for a full hive.
Where did you get your warning sign?
how long does your osb hives last my swarm traps only last 3 years and thats being in the dry 6 months of the year?
Fantastic video thank you
What do you use for starter strips?
I take a sheet of un-wired wax foundation, cut it into 1 inch wide strips, and tack it in with a slight fold under the wedge in the top bar. They almost always start building comb straight down from it. The hive has to be perfectly level, though.
He is to Cheap to Use Foundation
@@jeffkantz6928 it is all about 💰 money, specially if you doing more than 4 hives. If you don't take the cost of whatever in to consideration you won't be doing that very long.😳🤔🙂
Which months I can catch swam trap use
You forgot to add the last frame.
His trap was 6 frames, but his nuc will only accommodate 5.
These bee's need feeding, put some food in
pretty sure I saw her at 7:45 or so on the top bar running to the other side
I do believe you are correct. Gotta love when they play hard to get! This small nuc built to 2 stories, 5 over 5 in about 2 months.
I seen her also 😉
Nice
This is glorious, I've been looking for "garden beehive" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Tiyia Beehive Basophilic - (just google it ) ? Ive heard some great things about it and my mate got great results with it.
bad beekeeping