I'm looking for a bit of input here.

I've got 3 strong first year hives that seem hell-bent to swarm, and am getting tired of cutting out queen cells (FWIW all three have/had caucasian lineage).  What I intend to do is this:

 - transfer queens from original hives to mediums with fully drawn comb
 - shake down/brush house bees from brood combs into new mediums (about 1/3 of total)
 - leave one good queen cell in each original hive/location, and add a super
 - place now populated mediums on queen excluder/upper entrance and run as two-queen hives (maybe with top entrance pointed to the East, as opposed to the South, as original, lower hive)
 - wait a day or two, and begin feeding top hives to re-stimulate queen.

It would seem that this should simulate a swarm (somewhat like a Demaree), stop the swarm impulse, and give me the benefit of two-queen hives with the top hive in mediums rather than deeps (I've been meaning to switch some hives over to mediums anyway).

My questions are:

1)  Are there any anticipated problems with immediately placing newly formed "swarm" hives atop the old? (should I move the mediums for a while, and then place them on top?)

2) This late in the season, the top hives may not build up to more than two mediums (although I'm optimistic, and hope for 3).  Properly wrapped and topped off for the winter, would they likely winter well here in Vermont?  Obviously, I'm planning to seperate the two-queen hives for wintering.

3) Would this likely stop the swarm impulse in the original hives?  

4) Am I missing anything (i.e. any thoughts?)


Many thanks,

Todd.

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