Stop swarming and make honey with the Demaree method

My friend Amy has two strong overwintered hives that need attension to prevent swarming, one was showing early queen cells 5 days ago. We consider, splitting the hive, making nucs, swapping positions of hives but all these will lower productivity. My favorite solution to this dilemma is the Demaree manipulation which will stop swarming and make a monster hive capable of making hundreds of pounds of honey!

[@realeyesrealizerealies]

@36:13 Great queen spot ! I wasn't sure after the 26th frame if we were going to see her! wow. I've been there, last or 2nd last frame. Great demonstration guys! GL on your flow season !

[@Scott2510A]

When I do the Demaree manipulation to a hive, I like to prop up the inner cover with 3/8 inch diameter sticks at the front corners. This gives the bees an upper entrance that allows drones to escape. The bees love the upper entrance and no drones die on the queen excluder.

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

I do it on strong hives growing fast and already with 2 deeps of brood and preferably with a honey super on, early to mid honeyflow OR if they are big and show queen cells but have not yet swarmed.

[@Richiemouse]

As much as this is about a Demaree, it's also useful for us novices to see videos of 'not ideal' inspections as many of us novice beekeepers are like Amy and have limited time available.

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Thanks

[@framcesmoore]

Ha Peter great video, I did this on 20 of my hives this way is great I always enjoy your videos. Thanks for doing them. Have a blessed week

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Thanks, you too!

[@TheDadx3]

A video well done! Thank you!

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Glad you liked it!

[@SylantBill]

I followed your instructions and had no swarms plus an excess of honey so far. Thank you.

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Glad it helped

[@johniacomini8785]

We are living parallel lives! I did a Demarree split today!!!!

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

I hope you had better weather than we did!

[@johniacomini8785]

@@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer In spite of the weather, your bees were pretty calm!

[@harrypapadopoulos4891]

Great video once again on the Demaree method!! Can you explain the logic of putting the original 2 deep boxes with brood all the way to the top so far from the queen? Why not have them on top of first deep box with the queen, right after the queen excluder? Thank you for all the valuable info you are sharing with us!!!

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

It is to draw as many bees as possible away from the active brood area which seems to be where the measure is taken in the hive if swarming should be take place or not.

[@harrypapadopoulos4891]

Thanks for the reply!! I will apply this method for my 2 backyard hives next spring for sure

[@harrypapadopoulos4891]

Question...in order to avoid having to lift a deep super filled with honey from the top of the stack, can we replace it with a medium super once all brood is hatched and is about to back-fill with honey?

[@davidshepard4067]

Do robbing bees spend the night in the hive that they are robbing?

[@tomfury5632]

Just like humans, only if they are invited and know the host.

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

No they head home with the loot.

[@3Beehivesto300]

If there is a queen excluder and Vergin hatches won’t she die against the excluder.

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

The aim is to avoid having a virgin queen emerge. All queen cells are detroyed.

[@jackgoral8482]

Demaree uses two QE. What happened to the second QE?

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

There are MANY variations of the Demaree method.

[@realeyesrealizerealies]

Peter made sure there were no charged QCs. The risk of a missed cell is low. If avail. sure but many ways its a great flexible method !