Exciting Guide to Catching Swarms with a Layens Hive

If you're keeping bees the natural way, there's nothing more thrilling than catching your first swarm. It’s free bees, straight from nature. The Layens hive makes the perfect home for them.

This guide will show you how to attract, catch, and settle a swarm into a 7-frame Layens hive. We'll provide tips for success and advice for natural beekeeping alignment.

A bee swarm moving into a 7-frame Layens hive sitting on a bench.

Why Swarms Love Layens Swarm Traps

The Layens hive's deep cavity mimics the hollow trees that bees seek in the wild. Here’s why our Layens 7-frame hive is ideal for swarm catching:

• Versatile design: The 7-frame Layens hive can be a swarm trap or a starter hive.

• Spacious interior: Seven frames provide plenty of room for the swarm to build.

• Deep frames: This allows for uninterrupted comb building and natural brood-rearing.

  
  

Bees prefer shelter that feels stable, dark, and protected — exactly what the Layens hive offers.

👉 Learn more about why the Layens design is ideal for natural beekeeping in this deep-dive article.

A swarm of bees resting on an apple tree branch.

What You Need to Catch a Swarm

To ensure a successful swarm catch, you will need the following items:

• Your 7-frame Layens hive, fully assembled and pre-wired — this can double as your swarm trap and temporary hive.

• Lemongrass essential oil (or a commercial swarm lure).

• Protective gear (veil, gloves, long sleeves).

• A box or container in case the swarm is in a tricky spot (i.e. not in your swarm trap).

• A brush or feather to gently coax bees off surfaces.

  
  

Optional Items

It may be helpful to have a stepladder and a calm assistant. This is especially true if the swarm is high up. Use abundant caution if you decide to use a ladder. We generally prefer placing swarm traps at standing height to avoid risks.

This swarm moved into a 7-frame Layens hive placed simply on a bench.

Step-by-Step: Catching a Swarm in Your 7-Frame Layens Hive

1. Set and Bait the Hive (or Swarm Trap)

To attract bees, place a few drops of lemongrass oil on a cotton ball and tuck it inside the hive or near the entrance. The scent resembles queen pheromones and draws in scout bees.

Next, set your hive (in this case, the 7-frame Layens hive) in a shaded, quiet location. Ideally, it should be elevated at least a few feet and near sources of forage such as wildflowers, orchards, or gardens.

Many beekeepers place the swarm trap 10-12 feet high in a tree. While this method works, we recommend positioning swarm traps at heights that allow you to reach them from the ground.

Pollen packets (the yellow balls visible on a bee's hind legs) are a good sign the swarm will stay.

2. Observe & Wait

Scouts may inspect your hive for several hours or days before the swarm moves in. Look for an increase in bee traffic around the entrance. This indicates that the hive is being seriously considered.

Do not remove the swarm trap until you observe bees bringing pollen into the hive. This indicates that the queen is laying, and the colony is likely to stay. After this, you can wait a week or more before transferring the hive to its final location.

2.5. Catch the Swarm (If Needed)

If the swarm is clustered on a branch or another surface and was not caught in your swarm trap, here’s what to do:

• Gently shake or brush the bees into a container (a cardboard box or empty hive body works well).

• Bring the swarm-in-a-box to the location of your hive, which should be set up and ready to receive the bees.

• Quickly and smoothly pour or scoop them into the open Layens hive. A few removed frames will create enough space for you to pour them in.

• Alternatively, allow the bees to enter the hive by tilting the box toward the entrance as a ramp. This leads the bees to walk upward and into the hive.

• Once the queen is inside, the rest will follow. You may see a "marching" behavior at the entrance, which is a great sign.

  
  

Close the hive once most bees are inside. Ensure adequate ventilation if it's hot.

Moving bees from a Layens swarm trap into a 14-frame Layens hive.

The swarm trap entrance is partly blocked with branches to reorient bees to their new location.

3. Transfer to the Final Location

Once you've caught the bees, it’s time to bring them to their permanent home.

If you caught a swarm in your Layens 7-frame hive, all you need to do is relocate the hive to their new home. Set the hive on a stand, usually four cinder blocks work well.

If you caught a swarm in a box or another enclosure, follow the previous section's instructions.

For those who used a swarm trap to ultimately transfer the bees into a larger hive, place the swarm trap on top of their new hive, situated where they are to stay (set up on a hive stand, etc.). Perform this transfer at night after the bees have gone into the swarm trap. Close it up and transfer it carefully.

Use branches to temporarily block the entrance so the bees will reorient the following morning. Afterward, open the entrance and leave them undisturbed. After 5-7 days, when you observe no more bees performing orientation flights, you can transfer them frame by frame into their new hive. They will adapt to using their new entrances within a day.

Swarm trap partly blocked with evergreen branches, waiting to be placed in the hive below.

Moving frames from a swarm trap to a new Layens hive.

A swarm trap being relocated into a large Layens hive.

Once placed, leave the hive undisturbed for 3–5 days. This allows the swarm time to orient, begin building comb, and bond to their new home. Avoid early inspections. Too much disruption can cause them to leave.

Aftercare: How to Support a Swarm in a Layens Hive

Once you've settled the swarm, consider the following tips for support:

• Feed if needed: If there’s a nectar dearth or bad weather, offer raw honey or a honey/sugar syrup to help them get started.

• Hands off: Resist the urge to peek. Natural beekeeping relies on trust and observation, not constant interference.

  
  

• Entrance watching: Consistent bee traffic and the presence of pollen coming in signify success.

  
  

Before long, your bees will draw out natural comb on the deep Layens frames, start raising brood, and settle in for the season.

Bees often get creative with their comb building!

Final Thoughts: Catching Swarms the Natural Way

Catching swarms is a gift to the beekeeper. It provides a fresh start with vigorous, self-selected bees. The Layens hive offers the type of shelter these bees instinctively seek. With the right preparation and a bit of patience, you can successfully welcome a wild swarm and create the conditions for a thriving, treatment-free colony.

👉 Shop our fully assembled 7-frame Layens hive — handcrafted and ready for swarm season.