Hiving a Swarm of Bees.

Swarm high up in the trees.

Capturing a honey bee swarm is one way of starting a bee hive.

Advantages:

  • The honey bees are free.

  • They readily accept a hive that they are given.

Disadvantages:

  • The swarm doesn’t not always choose a place to settle that is to the beekeeper’s preference.

  • If you plan on obtaining your bees by catching a swarm and non shows up then you are simply a box keeper rather then a beekeeper. Not much to learn there!!!

Once you find the swarm you need to be able to get at it. Then you shake the bees into a box or pail and hope that the queen is mixed in with the bees.

The swarm’s view from the tree tops.

Shake the bees in front of the hive and they will march right in. If you didn’t catch the queen then they will fly off again and you will have to repeat the process until you get the queen along with the swarm. After the swarm is settled into the hive you can move the hive to where you want it to be.