Those experienced in traditional methods of swarm control and in combatting infestation will find those methods can be easily adapted to the Drayton Hive. Just as applicable are the principles of minimal intervention practiced by natural beekeepers.
However, the Drayton Hive is a hybrid and so is the system of management that evolved in its development. The result is a system in which, as in ‘natural’ practice, disturbance of the brood chamber is kept to a minimum but, as in ‘traditional’ practice, the use of frames and queen excluder enables the beekeeper to undertake essential manipulations easily.
This makes for a much less stressful experience for both the beekeeper and bees. It greatly reduces the work of the beekeeper while still providing a good harvest of honey and wax. The system advocated here is also considerate of bee welfare.
Swarms
By adopting this system, beekeepers can free themselves from the relentless treadmill of hive inspections every eight days. Swarms will occur every two or three years and should be celebrated as nature’s way of re-queening. They are essential to healthy regeneration and ensure that the colony is always headed by a vigorous young queen from the same locality, thereby reducing the spread of infection.
Varroa
Thousands of natural beekeepers have demonstrated that bees are capable of developing their own defences against varroa, leading to greater resilience in local bee populations. Those using the System can therefore choose to keep their hives chemical-free, with a reasonable expectation that their bees will resist infestation.
Honey
Under this system, beekeepers are encouraged to share their honey with the bees themselves and, doing so, will greatly aid the health of the colony. Nevertheless, under the right conditions, it is reasonable to expect a harvest of at least 40lb of honey in a good year.
Feeding
Providing a minimum of three fully-capped frames as winter feed in the Drayton Hive should enable the colony to survive until it begins expanding early in the following year. It is then at its most vulnerable and a prolonged cold or wet spell can lead to starvation. The Drayton Hive is therefore fitted with a simple arrangement for feeding with blocks of candy or, as sugar solution, in a rapid feeder (see Seasonal Management).
Photo: Paul Honigmann