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Indications Of Swarming Inside The Hive

Categories: SWARMING.
Bee Keeping: Mysteries Of Bee-keeping Explained

These glass boxes are usually filled with bees; before leaving they may

be seen in commotion, long before any unusual stir is visible outside,

sometimes for near an hour. The same may be noticed in a glass hive.

Now, in good weather, when we have reason to expect many swarms, it is

our duty to watch closely, especially when the weather has been

unfavorable for several days previous. A number of stocks may have

finished
their queen-cells during the bad weather, and be ready to come

out within the first hour of sunshine that occurs in the middle of the

day. We must expect some such occurrences, and in large apiaries there

is apt to be trouble, unless you take some precautions. If you have

taken no care (which but few will), by previous examinations, to know

which are ready, as soon as one has started or commenced flying, look

at all the rest that are in condition to swarm; or, what is much

better, look before any have started. Even if nothing unusual is seen

about the entrance, raise the cover to the boxes. If the bees in them

are all quiet as usual, no swarm need be immediately apprehended, and

you will probably have time to hive one or two first.



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