A Fun Day Beekeeping as a Couple | Swarm Catching

Today the apiary expanded - we caught TWO swarms in a single day. Both were in trees, with the first being probably the easiest capture I've ever done - aside from catching them in traps. The second one, took two tries before I was able to get the queen in the box.
Swarming is a natural phenomenon that occurs when a colony of honeybees becomes overcrowded and needs to find a new home. When this happens, the queen bee, along with about half of the worker bees, leave the hive in search of a new location to build a new nest.
Before leaving, the bees gorge themselves on honey to sustain them during their journey. The queen bee is usually the first to leave the hive, followed by a large group of worker bees. This group is called the primary swarm.
The primary swarm will often cluster on a nearby object, such as a tree branch, while scouts are sent out to search for a suitable location for the new hive. Once a location is found and agreed upon, the primary swarm will move to the new location and begin building a new nest.
In some cases, the original colony may produce secondary swarms, which are smaller groups of bees that leave the hive after the primary swarm. These secondary swarms may also cluster on nearby objects while scouts search for a suitable location.
Swarming is a natural and important part of the honeybee life cycle, as it allows colonies to reproduce and expand their territory. However, it can also be a disruptive event for beekeepers and nearby residents, as swarms can be large and intimidating. If you encounter a swarm of bees, it's important to stay calm and keep a safe distance. It's also a good idea to contact a local beekeeper for assistance in safely removing the swarm.
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[Mrssarandy]

I'm so grateful for y'all's channel. There's so many YT videos on homesteading when they aren't, farming when they aren't, etc. Rachel and Todd- you both are refreshing and always truthful!

[kellyhawes]

Thank you for taking such great care of the 🐝 bees! 7 hives are amazing to have. ❤

[greenlady]

Thank you for saving the bees, so necessary for our planet. And thank you for all the bird songs!

[marilyncapehart]

No thanks to the bee 🐝 5-15-2023❤. Todd you are Crazy Man you got what you wanted., do your thing 👍🏽👍🏽

[jonesfamily]

This is exactly how my husband and I catch swarms. It is usually when they are the calmest so he is normally in a suit as he has developed an allergy and I am usually in shorts and sandals and not worried. There have been times that he is gone when I find one and I have caught them in my shorts and sandals and no problems. Love that sweet golden nectar! Makes it all worth it!

[kathy]

My husband and daughter are beekeepers. So far they have caught 2 swarms and possibly a 3rd. They really enjoy it. My daughter is doing her 4-H presentation on bees and helping with a bee class this summer.

[marking-time-gardens]

Awesome as always! Thank you for sharing this great experience with the bees! Blessings on your day Kiddos!🥰🌻🐛

[charlenegrady]

Wow great job. Very interesting. I’ve heard of swarming but never seen it. Thanks for sharing✌️🇺🇸❤️

[michelewilliams]

Thanks for sharing. I want to raise bees so bad but that's the 1 thing Im having a hard time figuring out. Usually I just watch enough YouTube videos and i can do it. Such a wonderful talent to have. Great capture

[suedalimonte]

You are so good with the bees. I would be in a panic with them all over me.

[sheliaheverin]

I had to have my neighbor come over last year and collect a swarm. It was fun to watch

[Nancy-zkdj]

Very interesting, I've never seen bees swarm like that. How nice to have too many bees! You guys are fun! ❤❤

[liancabastian]

That was awesome to watch. Of course, I was nervous for you both😂❤

[suesmargiassi]

Thanks for taking us along for the catch. We had a large swarm in one of our oak trees years ago. They hung out for 2 days, then found a better home.

[brens]

Amazing. Loved this video!! I did stick til the end just like the bees! 💜

[valeriewright]

An experienced beekeeper told us novice beekeeper that swarms will be attracted to locations that have had swarms in the past. So keep an eye on those areas in the future for more swarms!

[faithopeloveful]

Wow! Way to go! I always keep Apis Mellifica 200C around for bee stings. I found it works within a minute to reduce the pain. I have lots of grandchildren that I have tested this on. It is a homeopathic remedy!

[joeyhardin]

I had to climb all the trees for my grandfather. Great video. Thank you. God Bless and stay safe.

[Maranatha_Homestead]

I have bees too here in Wisconsin and love seeing your bee videos.

[shamancarmichael]

What an interesting video! Thank you for showing us a different side to beekeeping! 🐝