Delivering the Carport Swarm to my Friends

On Tuesday, this swarm moved into the nuc sitting on my carport brick wall. They've been housekeeping and setting up shop quite busily since then. I know they chose me, but I can't have another hive - I have eight now.

At the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers' meeting on Wednesday, I asked my friend Gina if she would like these bees. Turns out her second hive had absconded and she was wishing for bees. So we planned for me to deliver them at dark tonight.


I have a door for a medium hive but not one for a nuc, so I devised a makeshift closure to keep the bees in the hive for the drive to Gina's house, not far from mine. Below you can see Gina and me as we get ready to take the bees out of my car.


We carried the nuc down through her lovely garden spot and placed it next to its new hive home which the bees will move into tomorrow. We opened the front door of the nuc and took off all of the bungee cords, securing the closure of this small hive. Gina's husband, Phillip, took these great pictures of us in action.



Since these bees have been oriented to a location in my carport, Gina placed some greens in front of the nuc to help the bees orient tomorrow. She'll put the bees in the hive tomorrow and then disrupt that entrance with greens as well to help the bees get their bearings. I do hope this becomes a successful hive for her.