Many hive swarm prevention

[ShinySideUp]

Looking at the current list of swarm posts makes me wonder how people with many hives cope with swarm prevention. All the different methods seem to involve using some form of alternative box so does someone with, say, thirty hives have to have on hand twenty or thirty spares of some sort and twice the room that their normal number of hives takes up?

 

[mjt68]

Looking at the current list of swarm posts makes me wonder how people with many hives cope with swarm prevention. All the different methods seem to involve using some form of alternative box so does someone with, say, thirty hives have to have on hand twenty or thirty spares of some sort and twice the room that their normal number of hives takes up?

Not all methods need more room - Snelgrove or Horsley boards for example. But yes, can't avoid needing spare kit. I don't have a lot of hives but my advice to beginners in to buy frames in 50s!

 

[Eyeman]

Looking at the current list of swarm posts makes me wonder how people with many hives cope with swarm prevention. All the different methods seem to involve using some form of alternative box so does someone with, say, thirty hives have to have on hand twenty or thirty spares of some sort and twice the room that their normal number of hives takes up?

I have 5 out apiaries and for peace of mind I aim to have something available to carry out an A/S for all hives at each site. This usually involves a mixture of nuc boxes and complete full size hives. My spare full size nationals and 14x12 are all dummied down with 3 frame dummies to save on made up frames. Extra frames can be put in at the next inspection a week later.

 

[JohnRB]

As I get more into this I often wonder the same thing. What do the large commercial guys do - how do they even check 1000+ hives never mind take any action. Or do they just let them swarm and take the honey and run?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

As I get more into this I often wonder the same thing. What do the large commercial guys do - how do they even check 1000+ hives never mind take any action. Or do they just let them swarm and take the honey and run?

Clip queens and replace every other year, regular inspections regardless of weather, ensure plenty of space.

Personally I try and keep on top of mine with Demarree

 

[For want of a better word]

Clip queens and replace every other year, regular inspections regardless of weather, ensure plenty of space.

As with JBM.......
We also set up at least one bait hive.... useful place to store the always needed brood box and frames you used at the last apiary! ( leave one pre~used frame for bees to sniff out!)

I do not like or need to go down the "queen importers" requeening every other or every year ideology.... some of my most productive colonies have older mothers!
Got soaked to the skin yesterday moving and setting up another six colonies in a new Lynher Valley apiary...... and got 2 swarm calls despite the rain... no need for a misteriser.... some beekeeper over the ridge is leaking bees!!

Yeghes da

 

[Teemore]

Bait hives are also a useful indicator of the need to look more closely at the colonies in a given apiary and of the potential need to undertake some additional form of swarm management. My position is that I watch scout activity around strategically placed bait hives.
I agree that older queens can be every bit as productive but I guess commercial beekeepers don't want to take the risk..... I know of at least one who aimed to replace queens after their second full season.

 

[Vortex]

Notionally these days I run 18 colonies ..
As has been pointed out this means spare kit..
I have 7 nucs boxes and 2 nuc stack hives..
I also have a couple of adapters that allow me to change the format of the output, from Langstroth to 14x12, so also have 5 14x12 nuc bodies, 3 with floors but I also use these to collect swarms in.
The main advantage of the Nucs is they're much more portable than a full hive. If I need to re-establish a failed colony I use a nuc, then one of the nuc stacks, and then move them into a hive..
The other advantage of a nuc is that if its "spare" then you can always sell it..

 

[Levitt53]

Yes luckily be for there is an apiary down the road where I can buy stuff from or else I'd be buying in bulk. I've got three hives but two are small so should be fine this year. One I need to split and I have stuff for that (snelgrove) plus I keep the nuc filled with frames for emergencies. I've been told about 4 lots of bees locally since Friday but only 1 was honey bees and I was at work.