Swarm Prevention Strategies

Introincluding reference to Ian Steppler YouTube video just posted on varroa treatments, using Randy Oliver spreadsheet model. https://youtu.be/Z2FLoAq6LDc02:20 Recent apiary inspection of nucleus colonies03:50 What causes swarming? 06:40 Impossible to eliminate, but we can influence07:10 Genetics, personal experience, Paul Horton's bees, sub-species11:25 Queen pheromones, age of queens12:35 Brood nest congestion15:10 Climate and weather16:30 Poor weather in spring 2024 reduced swarming18:20 Prevention rather than control of swarming20:20 Selective breeding, selective pressure - leaving a single queen cell in a swarmed colony pushes it in the wrong direction, using cells/queens from breeding program is better, using over-wintered queens24:55 Re-queening, younger queens are less likely to swarm26:20 Gruff Rees YouTube interview "No Weekly Inspections" with David Wainwright - a less intensive style of beekeeping28:40 Regular hive inspections 7 to 10 day rotation, checking for eggs, space for bees, space for queen to lay, swarm cells30:50 Space for bees, brood, and stores. Staying ahead of the bees. Supering.33:15 Frame swapping, making splits or cell builders, space in a Langstroth brood box37:20 Reversing boxes, double brood, brood and a half40:00 Adding a brood box of foundation overhead, then splitting, combined with oxalic mite treatment43:55 Demaree, adding space while keeping the colony together - not a split. Lots of heavy lifting, might be problematic with foundation in the bottom box and the changeable UK weather49:00 What works for one person may not work for the next person49:40 Checkerboarding, small book on the subject published by Northern Bee Books53:45 Summary      Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook