One of the things I like to do when I find a hive that has begun swarm prep (basically a quantity of swarm cells have been constructed, or at least begun, with open larva, or capped) is to split the hive "to the winds." In other words, I split the hive up for the most part so that there each frame with queen cells starts a new nuc. I use my 3x3 queen castles to do this so that each 3 frame nuc gets one frame of brood with queen cell, then two more frames, either of brood or stores, preferably one of each.
In this way, not only do I "catch the swarm" (though I may have already missed it) but the queen cells don't go to waste when the early queen kills all the rest. It's a very quick and easy way to make a small batch of nucs out of one hive. No grafting, no multiple visits. You do need the equipment, and it needs to be hanging around ready to be used. You could also use 5-frame nucs or split box nucs or whatever your preferred equipment is.
In this way, not only do I "catch the swarm" (though I may have already missed it) but the queen cells don't go to waste when the early queen kills all the rest. It's a very quick and easy way to make a small batch of nucs out of one hive. No grafting, no multiple visits. You do need the equipment, and it needs to be hanging around ready to be used. You could also use 5-frame nucs or split box nucs or whatever your preferred equipment is.
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