Swarms provided for Financial Members

Advantages for starters

One of the best ways to start beekeeping is with a new equipment and a big new swarm in the Spring. For backyard beekeepers, this method seems to have many advantages over buying an established hive:

1. The equipment is new and will last many years
2. It is highly unlikely that swarms will carry disease when provided with foundation comb
3. New swarms are usually docile for several months
4. New swarms are not likely to swarm the same year but it can happen
5. You know that you are getting what you pay for
6. Your knowledge and skill as a beekeeper expands with the colony.

What you need

If you are not confident about collecting a swarm yourself, other members will collect one for you free of charge and put it into your beehive.  So you need to start in Winter and to have the equipment built and painted:

1. A lid
2. A bottom board
3. An 8 frame bee box for brood, or 10 frame
4. 8 frames with foundation, or 10
5. A hive lock.
6. Hopefully, if it a good season and a large swarm, within 6 to 8 weeks you will need another bee box and a further 8 frames with foundation for a honey super.

If you are not successful in getting a swarm – sometimes there just aren’t many around – you can buy a nucleus colony or package of bees to put into your nice new equipment.

Contact

The members to contact are:

Lyn and Pat Shiels, Southside, 6286 2421

Paul Zarb, Northside, 6241 5534

At times, members may have full hives with new swarms available for sale. Contact enquiries@actbeekeepers.asn.au for details.