Swarm control without increase

[buzz lightyear]

Got 18 colony's, and want to maintain this number.On past experiance my bees start swarming on the rape, just as i head off to the Spring convention.
I would be interested in your ideas re swarm control without expansion, bearing in mind that the rape is my major necter flow and would like to keep a strong colony to capitalise o this. Cheers

 

[VEG]

Sell the nucs made up from artificial swarms.

 

[oliver90owner]

For a start you might find running on double broods or even brood and a half would slow them down. A change to 14 x 12 would be equivalent to a brood and a half with one tier.

Depends why they swarm. If it is brood space, it may well be reduced. If they are a naturally swarmy strain you may need to change your queens.

Artificial swarm them and re-unite with the young queen as soon as she is proven. That will probably reduce the problem to small numbers.

Changing to Dartingtons or even all omlettes would make this an easy process!

Regards, RAB