Trap out question

[D Semple]

Starting a new medium/small beetree trapout today and I'm swamped with work and bee removals and don't think I can get back to check on it for a week. Can I just throw on a couple of extra boxes and not worry about it?

Pretty sure I've got all the extra entrances sealed, got a good stable platform for the bait hive and can tie off the hive from above, got a small nuc with a laying queen for bait.

Thanks.   ....Don



 

[iddee]

Can you? SURE. Will it work? That's another question. In my opinion, the first 24 hour check is the most important one in a trapout.

In your case, I would move the small colony to a 10 frame setup and it would have the capacity to hold the bees exiting the first week. That won't help, tho, if they find a way back in the first day.

[David McLeod]

Aside from the importance of the first check you need to have a plan to get the larger box down. I did a double stack nuc this year that got plugged out with honey. I nearly killed myself getting it down.

[D Semple]

I'll find a way to check it tomorrow, and give them a 3 medium box set up to start with. I've got good equipment and a strong back to get it down.

Was glad to learn from another thread going now, that I can use a few frames out of a nuc (with the laying queen) for bait, instead of using frames of just open brood. Saves the hassle of caring for the open brood while I get things set up and should save them a month by starting with a laying queen.

Thanks.   ....Don