Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: tedlemay on January 30, 2012, 11:06:10 AM

Title: Switching Boxes
Post by: tedlemay on January 30, 2012, 11:06:10 AM
Is it a must to switch your top and bottom brood boxes in spring for a couple of weeks? My top box has a lot of honey (65%) the bottom maybe 30% or less. Whats the advantages and disadvantages to doing this? When should it be done and for how long? have read about it but wanted to hear from the pros!
My top box is a med. The bottom is a deep.
Title: Re: Switching Boxes
Post by: Kathyp on January 30, 2012, 11:23:29 AM
very rarely is there an advantage and the immediate disadvantage is that you have messed up the bees hive configuration and confused them.  save yourself the work.   ;)
Title: Re: Switching Boxes
Post by: iddee on January 30, 2012, 12:15:44 PM
I do not reverse boxes unless I find a particular situation where I think it may be needed.
Title: Re: Switching Boxes
Post by: yockey5 on January 30, 2012, 01:18:50 PM
I just haven't seen the need?
Title: Re: Switching Boxes
Post by: backyard warrior on January 30, 2012, 05:49:13 PM
the  queen has no problem  any other time filling two boxes  with brood  id have to agree   chris
Title: Re: Switching Boxes
Post by: tedlemay on January 30, 2012, 07:01:38 PM
Great help guys! Thanks :)
Title: Re: Switching Boxes
Post by: Michael Bush on January 30, 2012, 11:35:58 PM
>Is it a must to switch your top and bottom brood boxes in spring for a couple of weeks?

It will break up the brood nest and force them to constantly rearrange it and that will postpone swarming, but create a lot of work.
I never do:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#stopswitching (http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#stopswitching)

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesswarmcontrol.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesswarmcontrol.htm)