>“Avoid swarming and ensure your queen and drones stay in the hive…”. My question is: is this the end-all, be-all of swarm management?
No.
> Is it a bad idea to lock the queen in the hive during prime swarming season?
It's not the queen that is the problem. It's the drones clogging the excluder that are the problem. But it won't stop them anyway. They will leave with the first virgin.
> What are the consequences?
Totally clogged entrances with drones stuck in the excluder.
>Anyone use(d) one?
Yes. Used being the operative word. I think I have four or five of them around somewhere. I haven't seen them in decades...
No.
> Is it a bad idea to lock the queen in the hive during prime swarming season?
It's not the queen that is the problem. It's the drones clogging the excluder that are the problem. But it won't stop them anyway. They will leave with the first virgin.
> What are the consequences?
Totally clogged entrances with drones stuck in the excluder.
>Anyone use(d) one?
Yes. Used being the operative word. I think I have four or five of them around somewhere. I haven't seen them in decades...
