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