In message <[log in to unmask]>, Dave Cushman <[log in to unmask]> writes >I would sooner have a swarm land in a bait hive rather than lose it >entirely. Me too - also it is easier than collecting it from someone's tree or house, especially when it is not your own and you do a (paid or free) service to remove swarms and colonies. It is amazing how much time is needed to deal with a swarm - especially if it comes out of planned apiary time - travel, chatting, setting up, chatting, travel, travel back, collecting, chatting, travel, re-siting etc. etc. If you are lucky, some travel and chatting time can be saved. None of this if they do all the removal themselves. I do try to place some bait hives near where they would be a nuisance and hope the farmer will tell me in good time. It is a useful diversion to receive a swarm on a flat roof at home with the entrance of the bait hive facing into my daughter's bedroom window. I have had a swarm move from a large size hive body to a small sized one about 4 feet off the ground. I have even had them move into a stack of old supers not very weather proof mostly filled with empty old frames waiting to be chopped up for firewood! This happened 3 times and I was embarrassed to work out much later that 2 of them were mine - coming from 2 of my own very well fed swarms in a nearby field, which swarmed again when they filled the new hives with brood and food! -- James Kilty