Well, we have cows (another calf should be born in about 9 months), chickens, ducks, fish in the pond, and aquaponics. (Going to expand to other livestock, too. I happened to find sheep here, today. But, that's another topic.) Anyway, I have been putting off - a mistake on my part, setting up a couple of bee hives. (Prices are going up here in Cambodia, due to beekeeping becoming more popular, and fast!) So, over the past month or so, I have been gathering up parts and accessories needed to help me raise those little guys, err - gals. Me?! Raise them?! Well, you know what I mean. Just sit by, while they make themselves, and me, some honey. Anyway, I have most everything necessary to start up my first hive. I should have my bees by the end of this week - if all goes well anyway. Oh, this will be my first beekeeping venture. Standard Langstroth hives. So, any other 's have hives?
My hives swarmed on the same day last year and the remaining bees were taken by hive moths. I have frozen the hives but will have to replace all my racks before introducing new swarms. I just finished off my last 5 gallons of honey and it's time to replace them.
I don't know a lot about beekeeping, primarly from what I have seen others do, and from my research online. But, it is my understanding they do not swarm far from their previous location, generally? If so, were you not able to capture the swarms again?
I have managed to capture previous swarms and put them into new hives but for some reason that time, both swarmed to a tree top. As an aside, you can modify a nuk-box to take a shop vac in-line, makes it much easier to recover a swarm.
I put out empty hives with some frames fron other hives in them, spacing them about 20 feet from the other hives and have caught swarms that way.. Bee's like where other bee's have been.. This year I have had a small bear or ? pulling the empty hives apart. Have not bothered the active hives.. YET!