May

May is the time of year when your colonies of bees can get out of control unless you help them to expand the brood nest. This is known as swarm prevention.

The queen is flat out laying eggs which is dependant on the quantity and quality of forage and nurse bees and the space to lay. If space runs out the bees will naturally swarm. There are many methods of reactive swarm control and learning one way is very important if we open our hives and see queen cells in the making. It usually means that your colony is thriving.

Hopefully most of MBKA beekeepers have had a method shown to them about swarm control by the artificial method in the training sessions.
Wally Shaw has produced a booklet called There are queen cells in my colony, what shall I do! If you do not have a hard copy there is PDF on the WBKA website.
Also there are experienced beekeepers in MBKA to help you.

It as always a good idea to have a spare floor, brood box with 11 frames foundation, crown board and lid at the ready.
Be aware that swarming can happen from late April through to the Autumn.

Keep a eye on nectar flow and space in supers, adding more when needed.