SWARM 
CONTROL

Beekeeping can sometimes feel overwhelmingly complex therefore, in this guide, I aim to break down three straightforward options for managing your hives, depending on the time of year and whether you're looking to expand or maintain your number of hives.

 

How to Reduce Swarming:

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Being proactive is key to reducing the likelihood of swarming.

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Reduce Overcrowding:

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• Use a larger brood box (14×12), a double brood box, or a brood and a half.

• Add a super before the end of April.

• If using a double brood box or brood and a half, swap the positions of the upper and lower boxes every 12 days starting from mid-May.

• Re-queen every 1-2 years. Swarming is less likely in colonies with a queen younger than 12 months.

• Mark the queen for easy identification, ideally in less crowded months like April or September.​

 

What Not to Do:

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Avoid cutting out queen cells. This demotivates the bees, who will persistently rebuild the cells, leading to reduced honey production and the need for constant intervention. Missing even one queen cell can result in swarming. It's better to work with the bees' natural instincts to produce new queens.

 

Swarm Management Options:

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Here are three swarm management strategies suitable for novice beekeepers:

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1. Create an Artificial Swarm:

• Skill Level: Ability to find the Queen.

• When to Use: To create an additional colony or nuc, regardless of the presence of queen cells (though they can be present).

• How to Do It: In early June, place an empty hive on the site of the original hive.

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2. Create a Nuc:

• Skill Level: Ability to find the Queen.

• When to Use: When queen cells are present, and you want to create a nuc or have a spare queen for emergencies. Ideal after mid-June to avoid impacting honey production.

• How to Do It: Isolate the Queen and create a nuc.

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3. Split Hive:

• Skill Level: Total novice.

• When to Use: To create additional colonies, regardless of the presence of queen cells (though they can be present).

• How to Do It: In early June, take 3-6 frames from the original hive and place them into one or two new hives, ensuring each has eggs, brood, bees, and stores.

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While there are other techniques, I prefer to keep it simple. Remember, these guides are for general interest and should be tailored to your specific circumstances and experiences.