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Comment by Diana Calkins on February 3, 2013 at 9:46am

I think I got it.  I'll definitely read up on it.

Comment by Paul McCarty on February 2, 2013 at 8:49pm

Sure thing! You can actually see it if you look. The honey band on frames/bars will gradually get thicker until it takes up half to 2/3rds of the comb and the bees quit laying in it. The last comb with brood is the beginning of the cap. If you see this you need to keep a close eye on them and make sure the brood nest is opened up. During a honey-flow, this is pretty much a full time thing.When given a horizontal hive, the bees sort of smush it down.

All of these factors are why top-bar and horizontal hives require more work and vigilance.

Comment by Diana Calkins on February 2, 2013 at 8:27pm

When the time is right, could someone help me see this "honey cap?" 

Comment by Paul McCarty on February 2, 2013 at 7:35pm

Bees will swarm if they are blocked by a "honey cap" limiting their laying space. Normally it is found above the brood chamber, but with top bar hives or horizontal hives it is normally found to the rear of the brood nest. It is deceiving with this style of hive because only half of the comb will be full of honey and the bottom may be completely honey free - still the queen will not cross this and they will want to swarm. You must feed in empty frames or bars between this and the brood chamber frames to create space. Sometimes it work, sometimes it does not. "Opening the broodnest", for you Bush devotees.

Vertical hives are simpler. The honey cap is very apparent in them. You simply reverse boxes, checkerboard them with brood frames, or do a DeMaree split by moving the brood above an excluder and leaving the queen on a single brood comb in a box of empty frames/foundation. You leave honey frames on the ends and basically harvest the rest.

The trick with horizontal hives is to basically keep feeding them empty frames ad infinitum.

Comment by Diana Calkins on February 2, 2013 at 7:18pm

Exactly what should I check for?

Comment by Rob Shepler on February 2, 2013 at 7:00pm

One of mine swarmed with 5 bars last year. Patricia had a swarm but they waited till the hive was PACKED. It really depends mostly on the whether, whether or not they feel like it. They are all different, just have to keep an eye on them and check them every couple of weeks.

Comment by Diana Calkins on February 2, 2013 at 6:10pm

Mine still have a lot of room in the hive.  So should I be concerned about swarming when I still have just under half the bars still available? 

Comment by Paul McCarty on February 2, 2013 at 5:43pm

Yes, swarm control. The bees are already thinking about it - I guarantee. Time to start thinking about breaking up the honey cap. I wouldn't go digging around in the hive just yet, but it will need to be done very soon. Usually if not done when the first drones show up it is too late.

I have a feeling this will be another early swarming year, at least in Southern NM.

Comment by Rob Shepler on February 2, 2013 at 3:09pm

Swarm control? Hey Ralph! How many hives can you build in a week?Good to hear that you have pollen coming in.

Comment by Paul McCarty on February 2, 2013 at 1:07pm

Everybody had best be thinking about swarm control. Now is the time to get your plan into action if you plan on doing a DeMaree split or reversing boxes. It will be time to do this very soon - like in weeks. Top Bar people can't do this. What I normally do is split my hybrid long-hives at first sight of drones.

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