If you can get a firm grip on swarming after two years keeping bees you're
amazing. After almost 25 years, I still have more swarming than I'd like some
years.
    First thing to remember - Swarming is a requeening procedure for the parent
colony. Maintaining young queens in your colonies is the first line of defence.
How many times have I seen overcrowded colonies with young queens not swarm, and
underpopulated colonies with old queens do.
    Second thing - Don't let the colony build up too early. Our first major flow
is from dandelion. If our colonies are aproaching full strength at the beginning
of the flow, they'll often swarm before or during the main flow. If the colonies
build up on the dandelion, and reach full strength at the start of the main flow,
and have young queens, then they don't usually swarm. We try to leave each colony
with 5 or 6 frames of brood at the beginning of dandelion. More than that we take
away and either strengthen weaker colonies, or make nucs for requeening or
winterkill replacement.
    Third - remember that whatever you do, some colonies will still swarm. If you
get one of these(lucky you if you have only one), try requeening it. Cut out ALL
the cells, kill the old queen, and requeen with a nuc over newspaper. Usually
works.
    Fourth - your flow charts don't always help so much. You're learning what
should happen given A, B, or C. Trouble is, things don't always happen the way you
or the book think. I've seen many times when cells are started, and are in various
stages of development, that the bees tear down the cells, and get down to
business.
 
Mike
 
Computer Software Solutions Ltd wrote:
 
> Hi All
>
> This is my second year at beekeeping, and I am presently trying to get a firm
> grip on swarm control, especially as I have hives in a suburban garden.
>
> I have been reading many books, and I have put together a flowchart to assist
> me in seeing the various requirements at a glance.
>
> I show below the flowchart in narrative form together with the development of
> the Queen Cell on which it is based.
>
> I would love to obtain some feed back on this, in case I am making assumptions
> which may lead to a flawed procedure.
>
> Thanks for all input, and thanks to all who gave me data on soap making.
>
> Sincerely
> Tom Barrett
> 49 South Park
> Foxrock
> Dublin 18
> Ireland
>
> e mail [log in to unmask]
> Tel + 353 1 289 5269
> Fax + 353 1 289 9940
>
> Latitude  53 Deg North
> Longitude 06 Deg West
>
> Development of Queen Cell
>
> Day No    Status      Days to Swarm
>   1       Egg               8
>   2       Egg               7
>   3       Egg               6
>   4       Unsealed Larva    5
>   5       Unsealed Larva    4
>   6       Unsealed Larva    3
>   7       Unsealed Larva    2
>   8       Unsealed Larva    1
>   9       Sealed Larva      0  Swarm normally issues
>
> Hive Examination with Queen present.
>
> In terms of Queen Cells (QCs), what do you see as the most developed cell?
>
> NONE or DRY QCs
>
>         Swarm could issue in 9 days
>         Is there enough room?
>         If NO, add frames or a super
>         Next Examination - 8 days
>
> Eggs in QCs
>
>         Swarm could issue in 6 to 8 days
>         Is there enough room?
>         If NO, add frames or a super
>         Next Examination - 5 days
>
> Unsealed Larva
>
>         Swarm could issue in 1 to 5 days
>         Initiate Swarm Control procedures.
>
> The next examination is always 1 day ahead of the possible issue of a
> swarm.
>
> If the bees have not given up the swarming impulse, you will always see
> unsealed QCs at the next inspection.