I've taken 2 frames of stores out of each of my hives as they started so early I had the risk of being honeybound. They were booming back in early March and on the second supers already. I've never seen so many drone cells so early, it's shaping up to be a bizarre year.
Hi Laurence, I’m with you mate with the nice weather my colonies are booming I done a load of splitting hives and put all my overwintered nucs into full hives supers are on and getting filled up nicely i only have two trap boxes up just for a bit of fun but your right we are in for a lot of swarming there’s flowering plants and trees everywhere lots of hives are going to get honey and pollen bound and the bees will outgrow their hives I’m seeing it at my two apiaries and at a couple of friends apiaries. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Laurence mate.
As a back garden beekeeper I already split my 3 strongest hives and sold 3 nucs, they all put queen cells, left one each hive, hopefully they'll all go out and mate and that way I made a bit of money and kept same number of hives I had
I hope your 1 queen cell in each colony works out. I have done the same thing in the last week. I had 1 colony swarm already that I was able to catch luckily but I have had to pull out queens from my big colonies and leave 1 good cell and make splits with 1 good cell. I didn't see this last year until the end of May. I already have supers on for space but that didn't work. Good luck with your bees.
I've already caught 2 absolute bumper prime swarms this year. It's been really cold here for the last 3 weeks and this weekend is sunny and warm. That's got to trigger a tonne of swarms over this coming week.
I Think you’re absolutely right I’ve had three swarms in my garden and I’ve only got two hives so where’s all three came from your question somebody else’s because none of my hives are swarmed yet
Looking that way already. Made a mistake dropped and killed my best queen 😏 they have swarm cells uncapped should I keep them or let them start again? I did a split also and got healthy looking cells I can transfer, any ideas whats best? Collony was 7 supers no sunlight in back yard last year many thanks.
Decided to check the bees on Saturday which was glorious. Made the mistake of going to the butcher's first and just as i was about to get my bee suit on.....whoosh.....clouds of bees from one hive set off into the wide blue yonder!! Only 2 young charged queen cells though in that give so a bit odd?
I've lost 2, both came through the winter on brood and a half and they were rammed full of stores too, because it was so mild, they just didnt eat much. 2 Apidea currently cooking new queens. Only my 2nd year, but it has caught me out badly.
If I clip my queens you can bet 90% will supersede, careful to those considering it, some genetics will only accept like for like. My colonies mostly on 2-3 supers, a few threw up some swarm cells and some back filled the room I added with stores in the middle of the hive. snelgrove method 2 the whole Lot which will keep them happy normally until July.
I think you're probably rights, i've aquired one swarm colection and one bait hive success just this week 👌 good shout on the fuel trade off though. I'm thinking of starting to Clip... you have a video on that if I'm not mistaken.
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Thanks for the heads up Lawrence !
My bees have been going nuts! It’s been so dry and warm!
I've taken 2 frames of stores out of each of my hives as they started so early I had the risk of being honeybound. They were booming back in early March and on the second supers already. I've never seen so many drone cells so early, it's shaping up to be a bizarre year.
Just got back from inspection, one colony has 9/11 frames wall to wall brood. It's going to be a nightmare, it's April for God's sake 🤣🤣
Ha! Its a nice problem to have. Treble demarees incoming!
Hi Laurence, I’m with you mate with the nice weather my colonies are booming I done a load of splitting hives and put all my overwintered nucs into full hives supers are on and getting filled up nicely i only have two trap boxes up just for a bit of fun but your right we are in for a lot of swarming there’s flowering plants and trees everywhere lots of hives are going to get honey and pollen bound and the bees will outgrow their hives I’m seeing it at my two apiaries and at a couple of friends apiaries. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Laurence mate.
You are 100% right! I missed out on 3 swarms ! In the span of 2 weeks! Not my bees but wild!
All of my hives have wanted to swarm, and all of them have had splits or demaree splits
As a back garden beekeeper
I already split my 3 strongest hives and sold 3 nucs, they all put queen cells, left one each hive, hopefully they'll all go out and mate and that way I made a bit of money and kept same number of hives I had
I hope your 1 queen cell in each colony works out. I have done the same thing in the last week. I had 1 colony swarm already that I was able to catch luckily but I have had to pull out queens from my big colonies and leave 1 good cell and make splits with 1 good cell. I didn't see this last year until the end of May. I already have supers on for space but that didn't work. Good luck with your bees.
Canada's winter has been the opposite, especially in the prairies... it was still snowing a week ago >.
Im in Scotland and my bees swarmed two days ago.
I'm in Western New York USA. We have had SO many bees this year, yet almost no flies. Very weird. What's the explanation?
Ours had a strong start - early and numbers. However ended early and had faded quickly after the peak.
I've already caught 2 absolute bumper prime swarms this year. It's been really cold here for the last 3 weeks and this weekend is sunny and warm. That's got to trigger a tonne of swarms over this coming week.
I Think you’re absolutely right I’ve had three swarms in my garden and I’ve only got two hives so where’s all three came from your question somebody else’s because none of my hives are swarmed yet
Looking that way already. Made a mistake dropped and killed my best queen 😏 they have swarm cells uncapped should I keep them or let them start again? I did a split also and got healthy looking cells I can transfer, any ideas whats best? Collony was 7 supers no sunlight in back yard last year many thanks.
Decided to check the bees on Saturday which was glorious. Made the mistake of going to the butcher's first and just as i was about to get my bee suit on.....whoosh.....clouds of bees from one hive set off into the wide blue yonder!! Only 2 young charged queen cells though in that give so a bit odd?
I am simply clipping the queens to prevent swarming
I've lost 2, both came through the winter on brood and a half and they were rammed full of stores too, because it was so mild, they just didnt eat much. 2 Apidea currently cooking new queens. Only my 2nd year, but it has caught me out badly.
I hope not.
If I clip my queens you can bet 90% will supersede, careful to those considering it, some genetics will only accept like for like.
My colonies mostly on 2-3 supers, a few threw up some swarm cells and some back filled the room I added with stores in the middle of the hive. snelgrove method 2 the whole
Lot which will keep them happy normally until July.
I've been clipping all my queens for a couple of years and not one has tried to supercede.
I think you're probably rights, i've aquired one swarm colection and one bait hive success just this week 👌 good shout on the fuel trade off though. I'm thinking of starting to Clip... you have a video on that if I'm not mistaken.
I do indeed. Makes a huge difference in terms of retaining your bees. Highly recommended