Between making splits and collecting swarms these past several days, I am officially out of room for more colonies (so says my wife!). With some of my remaining strong colonies, I'm using the Demaree method for the first time to make vertical splits. Not excited about eventually having a deep honey super to lift off the top and deal with, but thought it was worth experimenting to try and prevent swarming and make a lot of honey.
if anyone has experience trying this around here, let me know what you've learned - good and bad!
Trying Demaree
Re: Trying Demaree
I'm playing with a modified Demaree hive now. My queen, capped brood, and some feed/open comb went below the excluder. I added an Imirie shim above the excluder. Next came a super of honey, and then the super of uncapped brood. I went in at day 7 and day 10 and knocked down any queen cells started in the open brood above the excluder. The THEORY behind this is to prevent swarming, keep the growing brood, and collect a larger honey crop above the excluder. Given my experience with bees, the bees in the bottom will have gone into swarm mode any way. I'll probably check later today.