Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[AlchemyBees]

I had a good sized swarm on a bush. I put the box under the swarm and shook them in. Got most of them in. No sooner were they in that they all started running out. In no time they were all in the air.

Then they landed about 3 feet off the ground on another bush. I moved the swarm box right up to the swarm. They didn't move in so I thought maybe another box would be better so I stacked it on top of the other, right up next to the swarm clump. I couldn't get a shake because the bees are inside a thick bush.

The bees spent the night outside both boxes and didn't go in. Both boxes have LGO and are the optimum size for happy swarms. But they don't agree.

Any ideas to get this swarm into a box.

[Dexter's shed]

maybe the first time you didn't get the queen, hence they all left, bees like to go up not down, so it's always better to place an upside down box above them, this also offers a little protection from rain/sun, tape some old comb inside if you have any, but if by the next day they have not moved up on their own, smoking them will get them up into the box.
I know some don't like using smoke, but its a way to get them in, then slowly turn the box the right way, add the lid and try to secure in the same place, with just a small entrance open for foragers to return