Pre emptive Demaree

[Hivetool2021]

Hi all,

I recently have been reading and watching various channels in regards to the Demaree swarm control.
I'm going to give it a go this year but one video I watched demonstrated a pre emptive Demaree,which I fully understand the reasoning. have any of you had experience of this snd whst woukd you say woukd be the number of frames of brood to implement the pre emptive Demaree

Many thanks

HT

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

one video I watched demonstrated a pre emptive Demaree

All Demarrees are pre-emptive, that's the whole point. if they're reactive, it's not a Demarree. so all the videos you watched bar one were rubbish.

try this - Demaree

 

[Moody]

Hi all,

I recently have been reading and watching various channels in regards to the Demaree swarm control.
I'm going to give it a go this year but one video I watched demonstrated a pre emptive Demaree,which I fully understand the reasoning. have any of you had experience of this snd whst woukd you say woukd be the number of frames of brood to implement the pre emptive Demaree

Many thanks

HT

Hi. In my 1st year beekeeping. Found 2 charged QC's at very early stages. So have attempted the Demarre.

After 5 days when I see QC's in the top box, can I remove this too box and create a new hive? Or does it have to be split into a nuc?
Let's see what happens. Will try keep you posted.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hi. In my 1st year beekeeping. Found 2 charged QC's at very early stages. So have attempted the Demarre.

After 5 days when I see QC's in the top box, can I remove this too box and create a new hive? Or does it have to be split into a nuc?
Let's see what happens. Will try keep you posted.

Don't be surprised if the bottom box has swarmed already, or is about to.
Have you checked?
Demarree is a proactive not reactive method - if they are already making swarm cells it's too late
But in answer to your question, if you wanted to do that, why Demarree in the first place? just split them

 

[Moody]

Don't be surprised if the bottom box has swarmed already, or is about to.
Have you checked?
Demarree is a proactive not reactive method - if they are already making swarm cells it's too late
But in answer to your question, if you wanted to do that, why Demarree in the first place? just split them

I haven't checked yet as did this 3 days ago. in the bottom box was only 1 frame with the queen and frames of foundation. I didn't split as had limited equipment.

What's the best method to split in your opinion?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If you've found queen cells, either Pagden or take the queen a few yards away in a nuc with a frame of emerging bees, a frame of food and frames of foundation and shake a frame or two of bees in with her.

 

[Moody]

Thanks. Really appreciate your advice. Its daunting knowing what I think to be correct, may not be.

If they have swarmed/preparing. Shall I then move the top brood box down again? Remove all but one QC?

 

[Erichalfbee]

My go to is to nuc the queen too. Let the parents hive raise a queen and you have the old queen as insurance

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If they have swarmed then yes, consolidate back to one box and reduce to one QC.
If the bottom box still has the queen but also QC's, I would remove the queen into a nuc as per post#6
If the queen is still there, but no QC's just hope that the Demarree still worked, cross your fingers and hope for the best

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

After 5 days when I see QC's in the top box, can I remove this too box and create a new hive? Or does it have to be split into a nuc?

You can, but I would advise just take three good frames of brood off (and some QCs) and make up a nuc up with those, remembering you have all nurse bees, so they will also need feeding.