I have two strong hives and it looks like they are both going to swarm. I tried everything. Checkerboarding, check. Plenty of room for necter, check. But, I went through looking for the queens yesterday and could not find them. I know they are there. Young brood and all, but I can't find them! Lots of swarm cells on the bottom of the frames. I destroyed all that I found, except for the ones I placed in the split.
I was going through the hives because I was making my first split. So, I took some swarm cells and eggs and brood from both hives and combined with stores until I had eight frames for a eight frame meduim. Then, I took a couple of frames of, hopefully, nurse bees (they were on capped and young brood), and shook them in.
I do have a couple of swarm traps out, but I was wondering if any of you have any advice about what else I can do to stop them?
I did notice that there seems to be a dearth of the younger brood in one hive, I didn't go as deep into the second hive. Is this a sign that the queen is getting ready to fly out with the swarm?
I feel like standing outside the entrances with a net and catching them when they go. :s
P.S. The flow is on here and they also seem to be filling the brood nest with necter.
I was going through the hives because I was making my first split. So, I took some swarm cells and eggs and brood from both hives and combined with stores until I had eight frames for a eight frame meduim. Then, I took a couple of frames of, hopefully, nurse bees (they were on capped and young brood), and shook them in.
I do have a couple of swarm traps out, but I was wondering if any of you have any advice about what else I can do to stop them?
I did notice that there seems to be a dearth of the younger brood in one hive, I didn't go as deep into the second hive. Is this a sign that the queen is getting ready to fly out with the swarm?
I feel like standing outside the entrances with a net and catching them when they go. :s
P.S. The flow is on here and they also seem to be filling the brood nest with necter.