[Tdubs0022]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to beekeeping and was just curious of what to look for if my bees start to swarm in the hive and what are the best ways to prevent swarming? ive heard add another hive body, and clip the queens wing so that she cannot fly away. But I fiugred id ask all of you to hear you personal experiences and best tips on what to to.

Thanks

 

[Saltybee]

Welcome, you will see plenty of postings on the subject; for some good reading: http://www.bushfarms.com/beesexperiment.htm

 

[Michael Bush]

> just curious of what to look for if my bees start to swarm in the hive

If they start to swarm they will swarm. Nothing to look for at that point just watch where they land and try to retrieve them...

>and what are the best ways to prevent swarming?

Here's ONE way: http://bushfarms.com/beesswarmcontrol.htm#opening
I don't know if it's the BEST way... but it's the easiest I've found.

> ive heard add another hive body

Space is helpful, but no guarantee they won't swarm...
http://bushfarms.com/beesulbn.htm

> and clip the queens wing so that she cannot fly away.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfallacies.htm#clipping

"In my experience they will still swarm. It may buy you some time if you're paying attention (like the hives are in your back yard and you check everyday for swarms). They will attempt to swarm and the clipped queen won't be able to fly. They will go back and then they will leave with the first virgin swarm queen to emerge. Counting on clipping to stop them from swarming will end in failure."

If I were home all day everyday it might be worth clipping the ones in the home yard as I could check for swarms and retrieve them from the ground or intervene. The problem is since I'm not, I don't know they are trying to swarm and they swarm anyway, so I don't see any advantage.