Once they get ready to swarm,can you stop them ?

[Joelel]

Once a hive gets ready to swarm for what ever reason ,can you stop them ? Like if they get ready to swarm from over crowding and start building swarm cells,can you add a supper and they will not swarm ? Or will making splits stop them ?

[riverrat]

once the hive has began the swarm impulse if you do not intervine they will swarm. Adding a super is not enough to stop them at that point. Once they have decided to swarm about the only way to stop them is to take measures to fooling them into thinking they have swarmed one is way is by doing a split.  I have read about moving part of the swarm cells and brood to the top of the hive with a deep and screened board between the lower brood then recombining with more room after the queen cells have hatched. havent tried this one so dont know much about it

[Joelel]

once the hive has began the swarm impulse if you do not intervine they will swarm. Adding a super is not enough to stop them at that point. Once they have decided to swarm about the only way to stop them is to take measures to fooling them into thinking they have swarmed one is way is by doing a split.  I have read about moving part of the swarm cells and brood to the top of the hive with a deep and screened board between the lower brood then recombining with more room after the queen cells have hatched. havent tried this one so dont know much about it

So,it's natural or nature for them to swarm and make new hives ?

[BearCountry]

Absolutely it is natural, most healthy hives if left to themselves will probably swarm at least once, even twice a year.  I dont plan to bother stopping swarms once they have made up their minds to do so.  I'd rather just collect a couple of those new queen cells and start a whole new hive or two, especially if I cant grab the swarm.

[JP]

yes, it is natural for healthy, booming hives to want to swarm, its nature's way of propagating the species.

Like Rat said, when their minds are made up, particularly when they've made swarm cells, you must intervene. Make splits, moving the mated queen into another set up, thus trying to fool them into thinking they've already swarmed, or you will lose a number, if not all the bees.


...JP

[TwT]

yes, it is natural for healthy, booming hives to want to swarm, its nature's way of propagating the species.

Like Rat said, when their minds are made up, particularly when they've made swarm cells, you must intervene. Make splits, moving the mated queen into another set up, thus trying to fool them into thinking they've already swarmed, or you will lose a number, if not all the bees.


...JP

moving the old queen and a few frames of bee's will simulate a swarm and is a good way to save bee's from leaving and easy way to expand hive numbers...

[rast]

 Sometimes a hive swarming once can be a good thing. I had a hive that swarmed this spring that raised a very good layer. Temperament is what I consider normal. Used some brood and eggs from it about 30 minutes for a split. The walkaway split I did with it two months ago is doing well also. I want to use the genetics from this strain of bees  for grafting. Now if some sorry ol drones don't interfere.