Swarm Control 3
Pagden method with no increase
Stage 1
The swarm with the original queen is caught and put into a new box on a new stand with OMF and roof.
The original brood box now contains all the brood with queen cells.
The swarm with the original queen is caught and put into a new box on a new stand with OMF and roof.
The original brood box now contains all the brood with queen cells.
Stage 2
After allowing the swarm to settle in the box, this new brood box is exchanged for the original brood box containing the queen cells.
All the foraging bees on leaving the latter return to the original site and augment the swarm.
After allowing the swarm to settle in the box, this new brood box is exchanged for the original brood box containing the queen cells.
All the foraging bees on leaving the latter return to the original site and augment the swarm.
Stage 3
When no increase is wanted the brood box with the queen cells is left until all brood has been sealed.
All queen cells are now destroyed and the box placed above the supers and left for 2 weeks until all brood has emerged. It is likely that the bees will use the top brood box as a super so the box is left until the honey harvest.
Every few days the crown board should be removed for a few minutes to allow the newly emerged drones to escape,
When no increase is wanted the brood box with the queen cells is left until all brood has been sealed.
All queen cells are now destroyed and the box placed above the supers and left for 2 weeks until all brood has emerged. It is likely that the bees will use the top brood box as a super so the box is left until the honey harvest.
Every few days the crown board should be removed for a few minutes to allow the newly emerged drones to escape,
Pagden method with increase
If an increase in the number of colonies is required, then a choice can be made after all the brood has been sealed.
If only one new colony is required then all queen cells should be destroyed except one. The brood box can be left on its stand and the new queen allowed to emerge and mate. New brood should be seen about two week after emergence.
If, however, more than one colony is required then the brood box can be divided in 2 or 3 nucs. For this a Snelgrove board is required with gates 1, 3, and 5 open; also 2 or 3 made-to-measure crown boards are needed. 10 frames from the colony are divided accordingly (5 : 5 for 2 nucs or 3 : 4 : 3 for 3 nucs) with a well formed queen cell in each nuc. In these two cases it is necessary to ensure that there is no bee space on the underside of the brood box, and that a divider is accurately made so that no bees can pass from one nuc to its neighbour.
If only one new colony is required then all queen cells should be destroyed except one. The brood box can be left on its stand and the new queen allowed to emerge and mate. New brood should be seen about two week after emergence.
If, however, more than one colony is required then the brood box can be divided in 2 or 3 nucs. For this a Snelgrove board is required with gates 1, 3, and 5 open; also 2 or 3 made-to-measure crown boards are needed. 10 frames from the colony are divided accordingly (5 : 5 for 2 nucs or 3 : 4 : 3 for 3 nucs) with a well formed queen cell in each nuc. In these two cases it is necessary to ensure that there is no bee space on the underside of the brood box, and that a divider is accurately made so that no bees can pass from one nuc to its neighbour.
Swarm seen to emerge
In this case the swarm is caught and put into a new brood box. A variation of Snelgrove's Method can be used or the Pagden method. The method can be varied depending on how many if any queen cell are left. If one queen cell is left then the colony can be requeened at the end of the season. Or up to three nucs can be made from the queen cells..
In this case the swarm is caught and put into a new brood box. A variation of Snelgrove's Method can be used or the Pagden method. The method can be varied depending on how many if any queen cell are left. If one queen cell is left then the colony can be requeened at the end of the season. Or up to three nucs can be made from the queen cells..
Snelgrove's Method
The swarm with the original queen is caught and put into a new box on a new stand with OMF and roof.
The original brood box now contains all the brood with queen cells.
The original brood box now contains all the brood with queen cells.
One queen cell in this case is left in the top box with a view to requeening the colony.
Gate 1 is opened allowing foragers to join the queen below.
Gate 1 is opened allowing foragers to join the queen below.
Gate 1 is closed and gate 2 opened allowing new foragers to supplement the swarm.
Gate 3 or 5 is opened from which the new queen will mate. (Gate 2 is closed late evening).
The new colony is allowed to build up over the season before requeening.
Gate 3 or 5 is opened from which the new queen will mate. (Gate 2 is closed late evening).
The new colony is allowed to build up over the season before requeening.