Snelgrove question

[Levitt53]

I have his 'swarming' book and a snelgrove board. I was planning on splitting a hive this way at the end of May assuming they don't start to make swarm preparations in the meantime in which case I'm going to follow his second method. I haven't been in to the hive for two weeks as the weather has been a bit rubbish. They were on 5 frames of BIAS two weeks ago so I think (hope) they are not planning to go. I'm inspecting them tomorrow and want to be prepared for all eventualities.

Method two says on day 2 you need to add the snelgrove board but to do it on day 1 if there are sealed queen cells present. However the initial instruction about how to split the hive talks about putting the queen into box A. Assuming though that if you find sealed queen cells that the hive has already swarmed I assume I just ignore the instruction about finding the queen.

 

[Beefriendly]

Method two says on day 2 you need to add the snelgrove board but to do it on day 1 if there are sealed queen cells present. However the initial instruction about how to split the hive talks about putting the queen into box A. Assuming though that if you find sealed queen cells that the hive has already swarmed I assume I just ignore the instruction about finding the queen.

Method 2 relies you finding open queen cells before they swarm and needs you find the queen to put her in the top box for the queen cells to be torn down......
Although you don't really need to find her if you make the bottom box your top box.
Method 1 is swarm prevention, method 2 is swarm control.

 

[Levitt53]

Yes but it says '2nd day (or on 1st day if there are sealed queen cells), place board under A etc'. I'm probably answering my own question but I guess it presumes that if it has swarmed then you are preventing a cast instead of preventing a swarm in the first place. Good tip about swapping the boxes though as I'm useless at finding the queen. They're probably not planning to swarm but I'm just trying to prepare and fully understand these things.

 

[Beefriendly]

I think he's politley saying that if you find sealed queen cells you have left it too late between inspections....and just in case your queen hasn't flown away, you had better get your fingers out pronto and see if you can find her before she does and get her moved upstairs.....he neglects to tell you what to do if she has scarpered....but then it's too late they have swarmed......and his book is about prevention and control.
There are NO totally foolproof methods of swarm control or prevention, Snelgrove, Demaree etc.

 

[deanrpwaacs]

They're probably not planning to swarm but I'm just trying to prepare and fully understand these things.

I had to carry out an AS today . Several cells found half drawn with jelly in . It is a very strong hive on 14 x 12 . Most hives seem to bee a good few weeks ahead down here (Kent) . Only inspected them last Saturday . Supers filling on some aswell . By the time 'you think' they will want to go they will be long gone .



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[Levitt53]

I think he's politley saying that if you find sealed queen cells you have left it too late between inspections....and just in case your queen hasn't flown away, you had better get your fingers out pronto and see if you can find her before she does and get her moved upstairs.....he neglects to tell you what to do if she has scarpered....but then it's too late they have swarmed......and his book is about prevention and control.
There are NO totally foolproof methods of swarm control or prevention, Snelgrove, Demaree etc.

Yes I appreciate that and have already told myself off for not having a quick look last weekend. But technically assuming there is a very short window between the queen cells being sealed and the swarm leaving is that the scenario snelgrove is imagining or is he assuming that the queen has gone and this is a method for this scenario?

 

[Levitt53]

Well there were no queen cells, lots of bees and 9 frames of BIAS. I didn't see the queen but I've only ever spotted her once so that's no surprise. I've added a super so might get some honey this year . Back on weekly inspections now and panic over.

 

[drex]

Certainly try to keep ahead of their need for space, both for brood and stores, but even then they may well want to swarm. Have your plan, which you understand, so that you can carry it out without delay, and equipment all ready for when you do see swarm cells.
Useful documents can be found on Welsh bee keepers association website

 

[Levitt53]

Yes I'm on plan B. Plan A went out the window when my other hive was queenless after the winter. I'm planning to split this hive though using the snelgrove board at the end of May. I have another super ready. School girl error and slight panic but all back on track now. If only I could find my hive tool which disappeared two weeks ago on site. Very strange, I think the bees carried it off somewhere. Need to get another one although the thing I found in the shed did the job ok.

 

[drex]

I use a stainless steel hive tool, and before the days of never letting it out of my hand, painted the mid section bright yellow. Easier to find in the grass or wherever. Also did it to my crown of thorns after losing that in the grass and having to hunt for half an hour.

 

[masterBK]

Are metal detectors any good at finding hive tools? I lost a crown of thorns marking cage and found it weeks later imbedded on the underside of one of my welly boots

 

[Briarfield]

Are metal detectors any good at finding hive tools? I lost a crown of thorns marking cage and found it weeks later imbedded on the underside of one of my welly boots

Surely they must be, after all tools are usually steel aren't they?

Better in your boot than your back pocket as some one I know did. Ouch[emoji22]