Frequently Asked Questions - OLD

  • After much research it appears a size of about 40 liters is ideal, 1 liter = 1.06 quarts.
  • This is about the size of a 10 frame deep box but honey bees appear to prefer the vertical orientation better.
  • I have heard bees like the open area below the frames, it looks bigger.
  • I usually start hanging swarm boxes around the end of February or beginning of March.
  • I would rather have it up early than late.
  • I prefer the west side of a field or tree line so the Honey Bee Haven gets morning sun and evening shade. This really helps during the summer if it gets really hot because I have had bees leave the Honey Bee Haven when it was too hot.
  • This is why I drill several small holes near the top.
  • I also add another ½” entrance on the back top of the Honey Bee Haven.
  • Old neighborhoods are a very good place to put up a Honey Bee Haven.
  • Many people think the country is the best place to hang a Honey Bee Haven but not always, it depends on the resources.
  • Frame Setup – I use one frame of old/dark drawn out comb.
  • Bait – Use a zip lock bag and a paper towel with several drops of lemongrass oil on it. Zip the bag until it’s almost closed then put a stick in the opening. This prevents the bag from closing up completely.
  • I am foundationless because I have found that the bees prefer to build their own comb and will avoid foundation until it’s the only thing left.
  • I have experimented with one frame of comb, 4 foundationless frames and 1 frame with foundation.
  • I have placed the 1 frame of foundation in each position and the bees will avoid it every time.
  • It doesn’t really matter but nine feet seems to be good. I have had a swarm move into a Honey Bee Haven sitting on the ground under a car port.
  • I stopped going too high because of safety reasons while trying to remove a heavy box. The heaviest box I have removed was 57 lbs and that was difficult.
  • If possible I like to check the Honey Bee Haven as often as I can because I like to record when the swarm moves in, plus it’s just exciting to know I have saved the bees by giving them a new home.
  • Your chance of catching a swarm is greater early in the season. Although honey bees will swarm all season, the number of swarms will decrease as time passes.
  • If bees have not moved in to the Honey Bee Haven after about two weeks I like to freshen up the paper towel with more lemongrass oil.
  • It is also a good idea to check the frame of comb for wax moths. Unguarded comb is an attractant for wax moths that will decimate the comb and the wax moth pupae/cocoon will create divots in the wood. Cocoon divots are not a problem it just looks bad.
  • This is a personal choice but you basically have two options depending on how close your Honey Bee Haven is to your Apiary. See below.
  • If you hang the Honey Bee Haven near your Apiary you have several options after the swarm moves in but it requires extra attention, more than if you had it hanging approximately 3 miles or more away from your Apiary.
  • If you actually see the swarm move in you can move the Honey Bee Haven immediately to where their hive will be placed or move it the next morning.
  • In both situations I would put some queen excluder material over the entrance for about a week or two.
  • If you move the Honey Bee Haven the next morning I would also place a stick with several branches or leaves in the ground in front of the entrance to cause the bees to take notice that something has changed with their location.
  • Once the swarm has established the Honey Bee Haven as their new hive you should NOT move it more than about 1-2 feet at a time because the worker bees will go back to where the Honey Bee Haven was, not where it is. The bees will probably, eventually find the hive but until they do they will probably be a little upset with their home not being where it was. They may not find the new location and die.
  • Another option is to move the Honey Bee Haven more than 3 miles away, leave them there for about two weeks and then move them back to your Apiary.
  • As in #7 you can move them immediately and not worry about the location but I would still use queen excluder material because the swarm is not yet established.
  • Because the swarm is familiar with the area and its resources I like to leave it there as long as it takes for the bees to get established, build comb or the queen is laying eggs.
  • Queen excluder material is not necessary if you are going to leave the box hanging because the bees chose that location and moved in on their own.
  • I usually check the box about every week or so and look for eggs just to make sure the queen is laying.
  • Once I have 4-6 frames of drawn out comb I will remove the box.
  • If you wait too long the bees will start drawing out comb on the bottom of the frames.
  • This is usually not a problem just a little more work unless the bees cross comb.
  • I usually just remove the comb and place it inside another frame.
  • NOTE: I have never lost a swarm by doing it this way.
  • I usually show up before first light and staple a piece of wire screen over the entrance.
  • If there are a lot of bees you might need to use your smoker to get the bees inside.
  • If just a few bees I spray orange oil on a bee brush and hold it in front of the entrance.
  • Then wait until light and remove the Honey Bee Haven from the tree as follows:
  • The best way for me is to use two ratcheting straps and a single handle from a ski rope.
  • Put the two straps around the Honey Bee Haven; place one hook in one hole of the handle and the other hook in the hole in the hook that you placed in the handle; do the same with the other strap.
  • Place the ladder above the swarm box and strap the ladder to the tree.
  • Make sure the two cleats are not stuck together.
  • Hold onto the ladder with one hand and lift the box off the hanger with the other, being very careful descending the ladder.
  • Now take the Honey Bee Haven to its new location.
  • The Honey Bee Haven is next to the deep hive box that I intend to move the bees into.
  • I like to release the bees but leave them in the Honey Bee Haven for a day or so.
  • I feel this reduces the stress on the bees.
  • After a day or two remove the frames from the Honey Bee Haven and place them into the new hive in the same order in the center of the hive body.
  • If comb is removed from the bottom of the frames place it on the outside of the other frames.
  • Make sure any comb removed (if the bees built on the bottom of the frames) is touching the top of the frame even if you need to prop the comb up. The bees will have it reattached the next day.
  • I have left mine up as late as October or November depending on the weather.
  • A late season swarm requires lots of attention but without the box if a hive swarms, they would probable die on their own due to lack of resources.
  • With bees inside the Honey Bee Haven I can take care of them until spring.
  • Every beekeeper should have at least one Honey Bee Haven in their Apiary.
  • It gives their bees a place to go just in case one of your hives decides to swarm.
  • I catch swarms every year from hives in my area that are not from my hives. (FreeBees)
  • Honey bees will move into a Honey Bee Haven before a regular hive any day.
  • The Honey Bee Haven is best for catching swarms and temporary use only.
  • It’s always best to move a swarm into a regular hive body.
  • The only time I leave a swarm in the Honey Bee Haven is if it is a late season swarm.
  • A late season swarm is not going to build comb or store up much resources but I can put fondant in the Honey Bee Haven and if it too cold I can bring the bees inside the house.
  • I believe the bees can more easily maintain a proper temperature in a swarm box.
  • The Honey Bee Haven is not good for routine maintenance like a regular hive.
  • If the hanger cleat and the cleat on the box are painted use a piece of wax paper to keep the two pieces from sticking together.
  • Another option would be to stain the cleats where they make contact rather than painting them.
  • I also use the Honey Bee Haven for Trap-outs all the time.