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> From: Gerry Visel <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Is It Swarmy or What???
> Date: Monday, June 30, 1997 9:07 PM
>
>    Two weeks ago, I got a call at work that one of my hives was swarming.
>  I rushed home, and sure enough, there was a football sized ball on the
> branch about 20 feet straight above the hives.  To make a long story
> short, I climbed up and shook the branch, and they flew away.  :-(
>
>    Last Sunday, I was working on the car, and the kids came running
> again!  They were in a different tree this time, and I'd had a bit of
> time to think.  (Sometimes...)  I threw a rope over the branch they were
> on and pulled up a 5 gallon plastic bucket squirted with some honey right
> under them.  Shook the branch again and got a decent sized clump to drop
> in.  Lowered them down and dumped into a hive body.  (Always have an
> extra!!!)  Tried it a few more times, with less success each time.
>
>    Then my daughter says "Why don't you just pull the hive body up?"
> Tied the rope around it four ways, and tried that.  Magic!  I shook the
> branch to get some on top of the frames, and, Voila!, in they marched!
> Inside of ten minutes, there weren't any more on the branch!  Lowered the
> box, added top and bottom, and now have a new hive!   (I know, I
> shouldn't have let them get so crowded, but...)
>
>    Catching a swarm is a neat feeling!
>
> Gerry Visel
> Winnebago, IL  USA
 
Put a frame of open brood in the bucket and Hoist it to them.  They will
march right in.  In about 30 to 40 minutes,  lower bucket,  put frame in a
hive,  close hive.  Dump remaining bees on white sheet in front of hive.
These bees will march in and attract remaining bees by scenting.  Hive can
be moved after dark when all bees are in.
 
Frank Humphrey
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