Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Saltcreek on March 31, 2008, 03:17:49 PM

Title: How to downsize deep colony to medium?
Post by: Saltcreek on March 31, 2008, 03:17:49 PM
I have one hive left after winter, in a single deep brood box.  I am taking the oportunity before rebuilding my apiary to change my deeps to mediums. How do I change a single colony in one deep brood box into a medium size brood box? Thanks.
Saltcreek
Title: Re: How to downsize deep colony to medium?
Post by: davpress on March 31, 2008, 05:10:29 PM
I would put a medium box on top of the deep and let the bees move up into it.
David
Title: Re: How to downsize deep colony to medium?
Post by: Michael Bush on March 31, 2008, 09:12:40 PM
A medium on top and wait for them to move up can work.  If you're impatient you can speed things along a bit.  Pull out any empty frames in the deep and put medium frames in the middle of the brood (alternate with brood).  When you have some brood in some of the mediums, move them up to the medium box above an excluder along with the queen and put some more mediums in the deep in their place.  When the brood in the deep have emerged, harvest the box, cut any extra comb off the bottom of the mediums and move them up to the upper box as well.
Title: Re: How to downsize deep colony to medium?
Post by: Saltcreek on March 31, 2008, 10:46:37 PM
Sounds like a plan - thanks Guys.