Spring is in full swing, and that means prime swarming season! Bees naturally want to multiply, but as beekeepers, we can guide that energy into stronger, more productive hives instead of watching our best bees disappear into the trees. Here are four key swarm prevention techniques we’re using right now:
1. Adding Space to Large Hives 📏
Bees need room! If a colony feels overcrowded, they’ll start making swarm cells. Adding extra brood boxes or honey supers ensures the queen has space to lay, workers have storage for nectar, and the bees stay busy instead of thinking about leaving.
2. Equalizing Brood Between Hives ⚖️
Some colonies explode in population, while others lag behind. By moving capped brood frames from strong hives to weaker ones, we balance resources across the apiary, preventing swarms and strengthening struggling colonies.
3. The Demaree Method (Brood Above an Excluder) 🔀
This classic technique keeps the queen in the lower box with fresh space to lay, while moving capped brood above a queen excluder. The separation reduces swarm urges but keeps the workforce together for honey production.
4. Emergency Walkaway Splits 🚶♂️🐝
If you spot swarm cells already forming, a quick fix is a walkaway split. Simply divide the hive into two separate colonies, making sure each half has eggs and young brood. The queen stays in one half, while the other half will raise a new queen from the available brood. This simulates a natural swarm but keeps the bees in your apiary instead of flying off into a tree.
Want to learn more? Join us this Saturday at 9 AM at the CharlieBee shop in Seguin (694 Smith Falor Rd) for our weekly workshop! Hands-on experience is the best way to master these techniques—see you there! 🐝✨