I am using all medium eqpt for the first time. Packages were installed on 10 frames of drawn comb, some containing stores. The hive seems pretty full from the get-go (bees on all 10 frames) and though the queen hasn't started laying yet, I'm already wondering when I should put the next medium underneath?
On any size boxes it's the 80% rule. When they are 80% full you double their space. With 10 frame boxes that's eight frames when there is only one box. When that box is full and the new one has six frames full you can add two boxes. When they have started on the top box you can now add four boxes...
X2 on the 80%.
I find that a new package won't need a second (medium) box for ~ 1 month, as the population normally declines until somewhere in the second brood cycle ( 3-6 weeks). That is, unless you can do a "brood injection" at 2 weeks.
With so many variables in climate, regional flows, etc., the "80% rule" is the best way to proceed.
Thanks, guys - the 80% rule is what I've always used, but on new packages starting fresh with new eqpt.. With a hive full of drawn comb and some stores, I wasn't as sure how to count 80%. So, I guess that I should still be looking at 80% brood and stores... Thanks.