trapping bees:
there are different ways to trap bee's mainly 3
1. lure a swarm into your box. this is the approach i use. it's worked twice. set up your hive above the natural fenceline. bee's will fly above fences. using a box that already has bee's in it is preferable, but not necessary. there are other scents you can use to lure them. this can take years to finally lure in bee's.
2. catch a swarm. this is the easiest way to do it. post adds in local places that if they find a swarm of bee's to call you. describe it. it's usually a football sized group of bee's resting on a branch. if you find it, simply cut the branch off, or shake the bee's off into a cardboard box. then transfer it to their future home. i like to seal up their home for two or three days, so they can't get out, and get used to the place. when you finally open the box, make sure it's in a good position for them. high up, no blockage to the opening etc etc etc.
3. transfer an existing hive. sometimes bee's root themselves in places nobody wants them. like in a house, in an old tree, etc etc etc. there are a few ways to lure them out, first, simply cut them out, and repair the thing. if it's a tree, just kill the tree. or you can set up a box outside their opening so they have to fly through it to get anywhere, make sure it's set up for bee's. eventually the queen will make her way into the box, and start laying there. when this happens, and there is enough brood in there, take the box, kill the bee's in the hive (or, if you don't mind, let them live, maybe they will reproduce a queen, and you will have another hive next year when they regain their health)
it's best to do this in the spring. the reason is, you will severely weaken the hive. stimulate growth of new bees by feeding them sugar water. the spring is the best time for this. the first year with your bee's, you may harvest honey, but be careful not to harvest too much, or they will starve throughout the winter. i think this is what happened to mine.
this is not even close to even half of what there is to know about bee's. but is all i will post right now.
