The BeeHolder, October 2009

Take original site as site A New site B

Site A has parent cells and supers and sealed Queen cells

Move stock ie brood chamber to site B leaving supers at A

Brood chamber on new site B

Place a new brood box on site A with say 3 or 4 frames of preferably drawn comb (undrawn can be used if you have no drawn).

Go through parent stock now on site B and take out 2 or 3 frames which have sealed Queen cells and move over to site A

ENSURE QUEEN IS NOT ON THESE FRAMES    If in doubt shake all bees off!

What will happen is that all flying bees will leave B and return to A which ensures that A has enough bees.

Because the original colony that is now at B has lost all flying bees they will break down any remaining Queen cells and prevent swarming

Now re erect site A with supers back on

Put a super on site B

After a couple of weeks check A has eggs or larvae

If you are in a charitable mood you can feed B for a few days

Graham Winchester