Hive Management

The Demaree Method: Swarm Control Without Splitting Your Colony

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Close-up of bees landing and taking off at the entrance of a weathered blue-green beehive during active foraging season.

Swarming can rob you of half a colony right at the peak of spring buildup. If you’ve ever opened a hive and found queen cells while the original queen is still inside, you know you’re on borrowed time. One strategy that many beekeepers use to interrupt swarm behavior without actually splitting the colony is the … Read more

When and How to Requeen a Hive

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A close-up of a queen honey bee surrounded by workers on a brood frame, used to demonstrate queen presence during a hive requeening inspection.

Requeening is one of those tasks in beekeeping that you don’t do often, but when you do, it’s a big deal. It’s not just about replacing a queen, it’s about correcting problems, improving genetics, and setting the colony up for success through the next season. Whether your queen has aged out, gone missing, or just … Read more