Bee Keeping - Hiving A Swarm

If the queen's wing has not been clipped, a good way to proceed is to place the hive where it is to stand permanently. Have the frames filled with foundation, or with starters in them as before directed. If there is a supply of extra combs use them in place of foundation.

As soon as the swarm issues take one or more combs from the hive the :swarm has come from, at least one of the combs to have young brood in (but be sure there is no queen cell on either of them) and place in the center of the hive prepared for the swarm. Place the frames left in the old hive in the center and fill the empty places thus made with frames that have been prepared for the new hive. Have ready a box or basket that will hold 0 or 8 quarts, without top, and as soon as the swarm has lighted shake or brush the bees into it, and as soon as the bees have settled on it carry them to the hive prepared for them and gradually shake or brush out a few at the entrance of the hive, and as soon, as they begin to enter, the remaining bees may be poured out in front of the hive. All should be made to enter, so as to be sure that the queen is in, or they might swarm out. The hive should also be shaded during the hottest part of the day, and it would be better if every hive could be shaded in the same way during warm weather.

MY METHOD.

I clip a wing of every one of my queens, and when a swarm issues proceed as follows : As soon as a swarm is seen coming out, go with a queen cage or glass tumbler to the hive and watch for the queen, which, being clipped, will soon be seen crawling on the ground, making vain attempts to fly. Place her in the cage or tumbler. Be careful in going to the hive that you do not step on her.

As soon as the swarm is all out move the hive it has just left two or more rods away, and put a new hive, prepared as before directed, in its place. As before stated, the swarm will usually return without lighting, and as scion as they begin to enter let the queen loose at the entrance, and be sure she enters the hive. If the swarm should light the same as if the queen were with it, it can be hived as already directed, letting the queen run in with the first that enter.

As soon as the other bees have all entered move the hive to where it is to, remain and place the old one in its former location and the work is done. Sometimes the swarm while circling around in the air finds the old hive, even when moved some distance away, and will enter unless prevented by again moving it, or covering it up.

Hives in which swarms are to be put should be kept in the shade for if' left in the sun they will sometimes become so warm that the newly hived. swarms will not stay in them.

AFTER SWARMS.

If it is not desirable to have more than one swarm from each colony, it may be prevented in either of the following ways:

If extra queens are in readiness all the queen cells should be destroyed as, soon as the colony has swarmed and a new queen be given to it. This will save the old colony from being without a laying queen for over two weeks. Care must be taken to remove every queen cell before attempting to introduce the queen.

Another method is to remove all the queen cells but one as soon as the colony has swarmed, and at the farthest not later than six or seven days after the swarm has issued. If all the queen cells but one are destroyed as soon as the swarm has issued other cells will sometimes be started, so it will be better to to wait, or examine again for queen cells in three or four days.

Occasionally the colony will swarm without having started any queen cells, in which case it will be twenty-four or more days before it will have a laying queen unless one is furnished it.

HOW TO CLIP A QUEEN'S WING.