Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[Philippahedger]

Hello everyone. my husband and I caught a swarm from one of our hives on Monday and put them in a hive. It is now Thursday and they haven't moved at all. No flying at all. They are all completely still on the frames. Any ideas what this may be about?

[madasafish]

Weather.

Stores? If they have none, they will be starving. Feed them.

[biobee]

They will be building comb if there were none in the hive. Feeding them is a safe option - if they don't need it, they wont take it.

[sissyblu]

I have the same thing happening. We collected a swarm on Saturday evening, drove them 40 miles to our TB hive and the bees seemed to settle in straight away. During sunny spells there have been a few out flying but the majority are still in a ball around the 3 'starter' combs we put nearest the entrance. (We have a perspex viewing window so can see without opening up the hive.)
It's now Tuesday and I was expecting them to have started to forage more than they seem to be doing so I've decided to feed them tonight, just in case. The weather here has been sunny spells interspersed with heavy thundery showers.
If they are just busy building comb, wouldn't there need to be plenty of bees going out to gather construction material or are they likely to be re-moulding what we've given them? Anything else I should be doing besides supplying sugar solution?

[trekmate]

The weather here yesterday wasn't great for bees! Your decision to feed is a good one (if that fits your beekeeping ethic) as the food carried by the swarm will be running out.

Bees don't collect building materials, but need nectar (or sugar as a substitute) to produce wax.

Other things to do? Let them get on with it!

If that was you that sent me a text yesterday (just call me Sherlock!), apologies for the short reply, but I was trying to keep an eye on the dogs across a field!

[sissyblu]

Panic over! After 3 days in a ball in the hive, my new bees have decided they're staying and have ventured out in force! They're also taking the sugar syrup with a vengeance but (unless the weather gets really bad) I'm intending to just keep that going for a few more days until they've sussed out suitable food sources. Is that the right thing to do?

Thanks for the helpful advice and reassurance - much appreciated.
(BTW - I may be a New Bee but I really didn't think bees need bricks and mortar to construct their comb Honest!)

[Dexter's shed]