Ok, a week ago last Sat (05/29), got 2 nucs. This Sat, did my first real inspection of them seems they are doing fine. Drawing out comb, eggs, queens free, etc.
Now my question, I had someone tell me that since I got so late a start that instead of adding another brood chamber to each of my hives when 70% full, I should instead put a queen excluder on and add either an Illinois or a shallow super for them to draw out and fill.
Now I am using foundation, not drawn out frames.
What would be the best course of action, I am leaning to putting on broods and letting them do their best, probably going to have to feed thru part of the winter anyway.
Thanks, Bill
You are not going to get much of any honey to harvest this year so why put honey supers on? Give them the second brood box when they are to that point and get them built up for winter.
Thats what I thought.
The reason the person told me to add a shallow and an excluder was to allow them to build up reserves for the winter, not for me to rob. That way they could just build honey and it wouldn't take any room for brood.
It would be less work for the bees, and they would have less to build up.
They aren't likely to go through an excluder with only foundation above. I think you will still have an empty super all summer if you use the excluder.
Ya, no excluder until you have drawn frames. And with "less to build up". Do you ant them in march stuck in the top of the honey super full of brood or a deep brood box? And if they only fill 7 or 8 frames of a deep rather than 10 of a shallow box, you are still good. Go with the brood box.
Thanks Guys I really appreciate the replies.
I was leaning to brood boxes anyway, so that just solidified what I was thinking!
Thanks,
Bill