Nature's Way Farm - June Online Class

Shook Swarm Comb Honey production

This goal of this method of comb honey production is to crowd a strong hive of bees onto foundation with no initial brood care duties.  This will stimulate the bees to quickly move into the comb honey supers and produce a large crop of honey.  Care must be taken to prevent swarming for the 1st couple days after hiving.

Equipment needed

1- Shallow or 1/2 super with 10 frames of foundation

5 - Comb honey supers ( your choice of styles, we use basswood boxes)

2 Queen excluders

1 Sheet

1 strong colony of bees

Remove the strong colony of bees from it's stand and set it aside.  Place the shallow or 1/2 super with foundation on the old hive's bottom board.  Now place a queen excluder on top and and add 3 comb honey supers.  Place a corner of the sheet between the shallow or 1/2 deep "Brood Chamber"  and the bottom board and then spread the sheet out flat in front of the hive.  Now shake each frame from the old hive bodies onto the sheet, keeping an eye out for the queen.  The bees will immediately orient to the new set up and start entering much like a swarm.  Make sure and watch for the queen so you know she enters the new hive.  Once you have shaken all the bees off the frames and the queen is inside, place the 2nd queen excluder under between the bottom board and the 1st. box to contain the queen for a few days until comb is drawn and some brood is laid.  Once the bees are in remove the sheet.  Your shook swarm is ready to go. Remove the lower queen excluder after 4 days.   With no Brood to care for the bees will act much like a swarm drawing comb quickly and move into the honey supers drawing comb and putting up honey.  Place the "leftover" brood from the original hive in another hive or 2 to strengthen them increase honey flow.  After harvesting your comb honey either combine the hive with another or place the brood chamber on top of a deep and allow the bees to take the fall flow and build up.