Provide ample space

Providing ample space within the hive is a primary swarm prevention technique. Overcrowding is a major trigger for swarming. Adding supers (honey boxes) to the hive gives bees more room to expand, store honey, and reduce congestion in the brood nest. Adding supers proactively in spring, before colonies become overcrowded, is most effective. Providing ample space mimics natural colony growth conditions and reduces the swarm impulse. Adding hive supers is a DIY approach and requires hive supers, which are additional hive boxes designed to stack on top of the brood boxes. Hive supers are commercially available from beekeeping suppliers.