Ken Hoare asks: is shook swarming common in the US?

What is common?  One out of five beekeepers?  One of ten?  I know of two
beekeepers who have done shook swarming during the past five years.  My
guess is that something like 20% of beekeepers try shook swarming at least
once.

Shook swarming is promoted as a means of creating an artificial swarm,
thereby "controlling" swarming.  When it is used, I believe it is primarily
for comb honey production.

Today we understand how to control the swarm impulse better than was the
case in Snelgrove's day.  I am not aware of any established producer of comb
honey who regularly uses shook swarming.

Lloyd
Lloyd Spear, Owner, Ross Rounds, Inc.  The finest in comb honey production.
www.rossrounds.com