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I agree with the comment that swarming is irreversable. The key to all the systems noted in the responses is that it is not un-preventable. Once the hive has made up it's mind to swarm, it's too...

I lost 80% about three years ago. After changing my whole approach, getting rid of all my old comb, and breeding my own queens for three years I am finally up to fifty percent survival. I'm looking...

<plus it is strange that both hives would have a queen failure at the same time? >

One thing I have learned over the years is that my bees don't read the book or follow the lesson plan. Most of...

<We checked our hive two days ago and the top deep is filled with brood - even frame 8 - we are worried about the bees moving the queen down and filling up that space in a short time. >

If you...

I use Snelgrove Boards to help weak colonies in the spring, but since we have prolonged wet winters and springs here, and even when it snows, it tends to be a wet snow, I avoid them for wintering. I...

I'm not from New England, but I'll buy your weather forcast if you buy the bridge over the Golden Gate that I am trying to sell.

Unless you have actually seen the queen, keep a close eye on the capped brood. With this kind of history I would worry about a laying worker. If they start putting bullet shaped cappings on the...

I generally try to let my bees self regulate and work with natural selection. In extreme conditions, however, I do suplement enough to give them a fighting chance. I don't want to keep any bees...

I occasionally pick up a late swarm. If it is really strong I feed it and give it drawn comb to build up for winter. If it is a small swarm, I feed it and wait until I see what the brood looks...

Hmmm! Maybe we should trade property. We've broken all records in this area for number of days over 100 degrees for this date. Hint!!! Learn to get up real early, start work as soon as the sun...

Can't see anything wrong with the way you handled it. I work with my bees the same way I deal with my wife of 30 years. I just accept that there are days when I can do just about anything, and days...

If you have access to extra queens, I would split the hot tempered hive in as many two frame nuc's as you have brood combs to make up and give them only a few hours before you put the queens cages in...

I would suggest that you try to catch one or two and google small hive beetle to key them out. If there are a lot of them and they move really fast, there is a good chance they are not roaches.

<I think that you need to start doing some reading. There are books that can teach you the basics of beekeeping and help you identify the members of a honey bee colony and save you from asking...

When I first started beekeeping, the conventional wisdom was "don't breed from queens that swarm because that will intensify the swarming instinct in your hives." Today, I only breed from queens...

<just get nervous thinking somehow i will screw this up too......lol >

In all aspects of life, the mistakes I have made have taught me the lessons I keep. The successes have led to overconfidence...

There are many options for fence chargers which pretty much all boil down to personal preferances. My main reason for replying to this thread is to congratulate you on the fore-sight of putting up a...

When I have to move a hive such a short distance, I strap it onto a hand truck or put it in a garden cart and move it a few feet every evening until it is where I want it.

I doubt that it is...

There is a tecnique called artificial swarming, where you take the queen, most of the brood, and a lot of young bees, and move them as far away from the original location as is practical. I would...

Bad Brood Pattern-If you have a new queen that has only been laying one month expect the brood patter not to be perfect.

No Eggs-I can't make out any eggs in your photo, but it takes perfect...

<If you can see them they are too big.>

Heck MB, now a days if I can see them they are ready to be sealed.

<Just not sure we found young enough eggs.>

It only take one egg or early enough larvae to make a queen. Not to worrey if you saw some eggs and they were in worker cells.

There is no question that there is a time and situation for an epipen. I carry one myself and would use it if needed, but have enough experience to know better than use one if it isn't needed. The...

The biggest problem is that it is difficult for the patient to self diagnose anaphylaxis and the risk factors are high enough that it is imperative that someone who self administers epinephrine...

It's always nice to have lots of extra new comb. I would take advantage of this time of year when the bees are in a comb making mood and give them a super of empty frames with at least one drawn...