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Date: | Fri, 2 Jul 2004 11:43:04 -0400 |
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Wayne,
It's easy to expand when you are collecting swarms. When I originally
started, I had one hive and went to 11 in a short couple months.
My suggestion is to combine the smaller swarms together as you mentioned. I
would go another step and replace your queens with new, for the following
reasons.
1.)Prime swarms usually are the old queen leaving the hive. She may be 2 or
more years old. The older the queen the less pheromones she produces, and
is usually superseded. New queens are more vigorous than the old matriarch.
2.)You may or may not have queens that are inclined to swarm. Bringing in
new queens helps to reduce this possiblity. Talk to other beekeepers in
your area and get a queen that is working well in Maine. I feel you should
always buy the best that you can find. Poor quality queens will give you
horrid results.The money spent on good quality queens is money well spent.
I requeen every year, and hives that are not producing as I fell they
should will be requeened quickly.
Good luck
Frank Wyatt
Eden, NC
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