RichardW
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Just sit back & waitWell I finaly got round to finishing of the TBH.
Fitted the varroa screen to the bottom & drill the access holes. Its also been moved to its position.
After speaking to the local bee bloke (very dismisive of TBH's & also loath to catch swarms let alone distribute them) I bought an attractant. Its now fitted inside the hive. So now we just have to sit back & wait.
Oh & the OH has planted some bee friendly plants close by too.
Richard
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sean
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Good luck.
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RichardW
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There is another bee chap localy but he is more of a "breeder" so I would expect nuc's rather than swarms & high prices. Just waiting for his number.
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goosey
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Snap!  Just done the same thing Richard. Mine weighs a ton - could be a good thief deterent 
I look forward to hearing how that attractant works for you, I'm just thinking about it.
I have aso read that rubbing inside with lemon balm is attractive , but this could just be an old tale. But I've got some, so it won't hurt.
Good luck 
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RichardW
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Mine was very heavy when built as I used "green" Western Red Cedar. Now that it has dried out its much much lighter.
The bumf with the attractant says 50-80% success rate.
Richard
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Treacodactyl
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| RichardW wrote: | The bumf with the attractant says 50-80% success rate.
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Really? That sounds very good, how much did it cost? Good luck with your swarm charming.
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yummersetter
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this is written in total ignorance of attractants, but wouldn't a good dollop of honey attract them best?
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jocorless
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Yeah but it also attracts ants, wasps and any other insect that likes sweet things
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yummersetter
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yes, of course, I knew I hadn't thought that through properly 
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yummersetter
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yes, of course, I knew I hadn't thought that through properly
sorry, double hit
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RichardW
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It was £5.80 inc del of eBay
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Ginkotree
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Still sitting and waiting????
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goosey
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Let's hope the attractant doesn't work too well Ginkotree, or you might look out and find all your bees have flown up to Richard 
Imagine swarms of bees from all over the UK heading for you, Richard.
Or if they all caught a whiff of my lemon balm, and turned up here 
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RichardW
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| Ginkotree wrote: | | Still sitting and waiting???? |
Yes still waiting
| goosey wrote: | Let's hope the attractant doesn't work too well Ginkotree, or you might look out and find all your bees have flown up to Richard
Imagine swarms of bees from all over the UK heading for you, Richard.
Or if they all caught a whiff of my lemon balm, and turned up here |
I wish lol.
It does smell quite lemony. Almost like lemon & honey lockets infact.
Richard
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Ginkotree
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Two beekeepers were talking on the phone this morning, one old chap not having any bees, despite a clean hive there to attract them so hee was offering his equiptment for borrowing as he did not think he would need it...the other chap says he was upset as he had just watched his swam fly off over the hill....
a few minutes later the old chaps partner came in saying "youd never guess what, a huge swarm has just flown in from over the hill and set up home in the hive......
...if a swarm comes.....who do the bees belong to......hopefully themselves...and they chose a lovely clean hive...
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Ginkotree
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Had a bee afternoon and our head beekeeper said that normally her phone is red hot at this time of year with the council calling her out to collect swarms, but she has not had one phone call this year...says a lot...
The reason why the bees went over the hill is possibly because the hives were out in the open. She said if there were trees around the hive the bees sometimes like to hang in them for a while.Best to put his hives in a wooded glade...a lovely old fashioned term
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goosey
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That is where the Chairman of our Assn put the hives, Ginkotree,
in a lovely wooded glade - now I know why!
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Jamanda
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Bees that have swarmed belong to whoever's land they end up on. If it's public land it's finders keepers. No matter if they were your bees until they hopped over the hedge.
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