Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

Hey all. You probably remember me from a few years back under the username "Xerox". After a year break from beekeeping while I was moving to CA I'm back in business! I got a package of Italians and installed them Wednesday. I have a quick question about my plan of management this year. I was planning on doing a single deep brood box with a queen excluder and stacking supers on top as needed then once October rolls around taking off all the extra supers and leaving them with one full one to overwinter with. Not quite used to the CA climate yet and I'd like to learn more about single brood box management. Thank you!

Donovan,
Welcome back.
I recommend that you use at least 2 brood boxes. If the queen runs out of room to lay her eggs,
The hive will swarm every time this occurs.
Jim Altmiller

Quote from: BeeMaster2 on April 17, 2022, 04:34:11 PM
Donovan,
Welcome back.
I recommend that you use at least 2 brood boxes. If the queen runs out of room to lay her eggs,
The hive will swarm every time this occurs.
Jim Altmiller

Sounds good. I was going back and forth about it and thought that singles would be better for me during the summer so I don't have much to inspect during 90-100 days but it's not all about me! Thank you. So I've got another idea to build them into two boxes and super on top and if they aren't using both boxes come fall I could condense them into one box and leave a super full of honey for the winter and repeat? And if they are using both leave them with the two boxes and take all supers off and leave them with the stores in the boxes?

As aways, it depends on your winters there. Warm winters tend to mean the bees stay more active and they eat more. However, going into the winter with a double brood box of 20 frames should take you straight to spring, I would think. Mine do fine here in central Georgia with 12-15 packed deep frames.

Welcome back, Xerox/Donovan J!  :happy:  I can't answer your questions about beekeeping in California, but it's always nice to see old members return.  :smile:

Quote from: Bob Wilson on April 17, 2022, 06:35:00 PM
As aways, it depends on your winters there. Warm winters tend to mean the bees stay more active and they eat more. However, going into the winter with a double brood box of 20 frames should take you straight to spring, I would think. Mine do fine here in central Georgia with 12-15 packed deep frames.

Yeah this winter was very weird. We had torrential record rain in October then a dry November then lots more rain in December then warm and dry January through March. We got two nice little snow storms but the temps were never super cold. I'll definitely need to adjust my strategy and plan for more food

Quote from: Donovan J on April 17, 2022, 03:47:14 PM
Hey all. You probably remember me from a few years back under the username "Xerox". After a year break from beekeeping while I was moving to CA I'm back in business! I got a package of Italians and installed them Wednesday. I have a quick question about my plan of management this year. I was planning on doing a single deep brood box with a queen excluder and stacking supers on top as needed then once October rolls around taking off all the extra supers and leaving them with one full one to overwinter with. Not quite used to the CA climate yet and I'd like to learn more about single brood box management. Thank you!

       I believe the best thing you can do to find a local beekeeping.. To get you up to speed about the weather of the area... Where you now live.


        BEE HAPPY   Jim134   :smile:

+1

+2 welcome  back.

welcome back :happy: