Lex,
Swarming is not a problem. Swarming is something the colony does to reproduce.
The problem is bee keepers don't like bees to swarm as it reduces the work force to bring in honey. As a new bee keeper it's your job to learn how to see the signs of an impending swarm and take the correct actions to keep it from happening. You keep your work force.
Read books, look at the info on this forum and join a bee club.
As far as problems, yours will be similar to others even in Canada. Most of us would prefer not to use chemicals. But I used them for the first couple of years and I'm hoping this year I'm far enough along on the learning curve to not use them. I'll find out how I did next spring. I'm in 5b here but the problems we face are similar. Except for the summer and winter climate differences.
Good Luck
Swarming is not a problem. Swarming is something the colony does to reproduce.
The problem is bee keepers don't like bees to swarm as it reduces the work force to bring in honey. As a new bee keeper it's your job to learn how to see the signs of an impending swarm and take the correct actions to keep it from happening. You keep your work force.
Read books, look at the info on this forum and join a bee club.
As far as problems, yours will be similar to others even in Canada. Most of us would prefer not to use chemicals. But I used them for the first couple of years and I'm hoping this year I'm far enough along on the learning curve to not use them. I'll find out how I did next spring. I'm in 5b here but the problems we face are similar. Except for the summer and winter climate differences.
Good Luck
