Shook Swarm
- Why do it?
- Brood comb should be changed every 3 years.
- Shook swarm is a quick way to change the brood comb.
- Old cells get contaminated with disease.
- Old cells are smaller due to debris from previous occupants.
- May be part drone comb which is not needed.
- Why use the Shook Swarm?
- It can be carried out in one visit.
- It can be used to treat less severe EFB.
- It is simple to do.
- Why NOT use the Shook Swarm?
- Any existing brood is destroyed.
- Any stores in the brrod box are lost.
- How do I do it?
Busy hive with dirty comb - Prepare a fresh brood box.
- Fill the new brood box with frames of foundation.
- Remove the roof and crown board from the hive.
- Move the old brood box to one side.
Old brood moved away. - Put a new floor on the original stand.
- Put a queen excluder on the new floor.
- This prevents the queen leaving immediately.
- Put the new brood box with clean frames on the excluder.
New brood box in place. - Remove 3 frames from the new brood box.
- Gently shake or brush the bees from the old frames into the new box.
- Gently replace the 3 frames you removed.
Bees in new box - Add a cover board and feeder with strong syrup.
- Replace the roof.
Almost done. - Take away the old brood box and frames.
- The old box can be scorched if wooden.
- The old frames are probably best used as kindling!
- After 10 days or so check that all is well with a laying queen.