New Beekeeper here, got my package in may bees already swarmed on 18th july but i caught it and have a 2nd colony now. This video is what i needed as i need to manage the original one have 6-7 swarm cells identified in the old one. Great Content, keep it coming. Hope you rise to 100k+ subs.
Outstanding video Lawrence! I like your method of cultivating 1 charged open queen cell and culling all the others. Looking forward to seeing how the colony progresses in the future 👍👍
Any reason for leaving the capped one in addition to the charged one? We will sometimes leave two capped ones but only ever leave one if we find a nice charged open one.
@@BlackMountainHoney I reckon that the capped one should open first and produce a queen - but having, in the past, left just one capped queen cell in the nuc box only to find it still there unopened three weeks later (leaving me with a dwindling bunch of aimless bees) I like to have an insurance policy. So the charged cell is left as an insurance policy. Then if the capped cell fails to produce a queen - the charged cell is there to take over. I do feel a little sorry for the queen in the charged cell because once the queen emerges from the capped cell she will finish her off before she has a chance to emerge at all.
Again great video 🐝🐝 I said a couple of weeks ago it’s going to be a swarmy season 😆 I did a swarm control split but the original queen swarmed anyway 😂 Keep up the good work and stay safe 🐝🐝🐝
I just had one swarmed no queen no eggs But I have lots of bees and about 10 queen cells on the face of the frame Did they swarm or they replacing the queen ?
The only helpful video on hive swarming that I have found. Most everything else covered when you have multiple hives or have more advanced knowledge. Thank you so much!
I did an artificial swarm on 23rd April and the old Queen and all the flying bees swarmed on the 25th still. Definitely no queen cells in the new box that old queen was in. It was my first colony, luckily they swarmed into my shed roof. I have them in a Nuc with queen excluder entrance a few miles away for a day or 2 before returning to my home stand. Don't know what I did wrong 🤷♂️
Maybe still too congested? Maybe a missed cell that emerged. Maybe a virgin in with them. Sometimes they just want to go and live freestyle in a tree cavity ;)
@@BlackMountainHoney I moved one frame with queen and one frame of stores to a new hive. As soon as old queen and flying bees swarmed I checked new hive and definitely no cells etc. I didn't think about a second queen to be fair but thought I might have seen her when meticulously looking for queen cells. But hey I'm a complete rookie only coming up on 1 year with bees. Enjoying your videos. Thank you
Yes. You cant see inside the capped cells to confirm there is a larvae in it. Could be a dud or the larvae has fallen when you handled the frame. Open gives you a positive ID everything is ok
@@BlackMountainHoney do you have a video on how to change DN4 frames to 14x12. I brought my first bees at the weekend and they're on the wrong frames even after telling the seller what I have🙄. Of course they fit in the box but now have 5 frames 3 inches too short.
The weather over the next few weeks is expected to be poor. How confident are you that this Queen will be mated? What are your plans for the hive if she does not get mated or does not come back from her mating flight.
New Beekeeper here, got my package in may bees already swarmed on 18th july but i caught it and have a 2nd colony now. This video is what i needed as i need to manage the original one have 6-7 swarm cells identified in the old one.
Great Content, keep it coming. Hope you rise to 100k+ subs.
Outstanding video Lawrence! I like your method of cultivating 1 charged open queen cell and culling all the others. Looking forward to seeing how the colony progresses in the future 👍👍
Another great video! Really easy to understand information - keep them coming!
Cheers Mark. Glad they are useful to you. Plenty more to come
Yes my method is to leave two queen cells - one nice looking capped cell - and - one charged open cell. If I can.
Any reason for leaving the capped one in addition to the charged one?
We will sometimes leave two capped ones but only ever leave one if we find a nice charged open one.
@@BlackMountainHoney I reckon that the capped one should open first and produce a queen - but having, in the past, left just one capped queen cell in the nuc box only to find it still there unopened three weeks later (leaving me with a dwindling bunch of aimless bees) I like to have an insurance policy. So the charged cell is left as an insurance policy. Then if the capped cell fails to produce a queen - the charged cell is there to take over.
I do feel a little sorry for the queen in the charged cell because once the queen emerges from the capped cell she will finish her off before she has a chance to emerge at all.
Great video!! Good to see a professional also making mistakes!! I thought it was only us as hobby beekeeper....LOL
Ha! I wish. I make mistakes every day! This channel is all about learning for everyone. Me included. :D
Again great video 🐝🐝 I said a couple of weeks ago it’s going to be a swarmy season 😆 I did a swarm control split but the original queen swarmed anyway 😂 Keep up the good work and stay safe 🐝🐝🐝
Cheers Guys! Sometimes they are just intent on going. Swarmy genes are a nightmare!
I just had one swarmed no queen no eggs
But I have lots of bees and about 10 queen cells on the face of the frame
Did they swarm or they replacing the queen ?
Defo swarmed. Location of cells is a myth. Anything more than one cell and they swarmed
Thanks man keep good videos coming very helpful
The only helpful video on hive swarming that I have found. Most everything else covered when you have multiple hives or have more advanced knowledge. Thank you so much!
Another great tip. Instead of shaking a frame with a decent cell, would it be a good idea to start a nuc colony with it?
I did an artificial swarm on 23rd April and the old Queen and all the flying bees swarmed on the 25th still. Definitely no queen cells in the new box that old queen was in. It was my first colony, luckily they swarmed into my shed roof. I have them in a Nuc with queen excluder entrance a few miles away for a day or 2 before returning to my home stand. Don't know what I did wrong 🤷♂️
Maybe still too congested? Maybe a missed cell that emerged. Maybe a virgin in with them. Sometimes they just want to go and live freestyle in a tree cavity ;)
@@BlackMountainHoney I moved one frame with queen and one frame of stores to a new hive. As soon as old queen and flying bees swarmed I checked new hive and definitely no cells etc. I didn't think about a second queen to be fair but thought I might have seen her when meticulously looking for queen cells. But hey I'm a complete rookie only coming up on 1 year with bees. Enjoying your videos. Thank you
Apologies you’ve already explained below. Many thanks great video.
I've been fighting swarming for the past week. Thanks!
How you holding up? battered and bruised?
Afternoon Laurence , is there reason you kept the open / charged cell rather than the capped queen cell? Regards Richard
Yes. You cant see inside the capped cells to confirm there is a larvae in it. Could be a dud or the larvae has fallen when you handled the frame. Open gives you a positive ID everything is ok
Do you ever set swarm traps nearby to try and capture your swarms?
Yes we always have one or two at each apiary but they sadly didn't go into this one 😔
Glad you didn't get stung! Another really helpful video, thanks.
Cheers Peter. Glad you found it helpful.
Hope that swarm makes its way to Hitchin Herts and funds its way into one of my empty hives 🤞😂😂
They are on the way! Honestly, first warm days after this cold snap is gonna be swarm central!
@@BlackMountainHoney do you have a video on how to change DN4 frames to 14x12. I brought my first bees at the weekend and they're on the wrong frames even after telling the seller what I have🙄. Of course they fit in the box but now have 5 frames 3 inches too short.
Actually scrap that, I just found it
Another well explained video keep them rolling👏
Thanks David. Will do 😉
When will you next examine this hive?
As there were no eggs and very old larvae, I will give them 3-4 weeks before going back in. No need to check until she is mated.
@@BlackMountainHoney thanks, very helpful and as always so practical. You have a great way of making it all so simple- a real skill
You’re knocking them out this week!!
Only for the members of the channel! ;)
I am so behind on my inspections!
Hey - what's a lost swarm when you guys get a video!
The weather over the next few weeks is expected to be poor. How confident are you that this Queen will be mated? What are your plans for the hive if she does not get mated or does not come back from her mating flight.
Sorry for your loss on the bright side some one gained one.
I've been trying to tell myself at least it made a half decent video!
Hope someone got them as opposed to going into the wild