Rearranging frames for winter

[misfyredOhio]

I've been reading through my books on the topic of preparing hives for winter. I came across this: "bees cannot cluster on capped honey. If the uppermost hive body is totally honey-bound, then one or two frames in the center should be exchanged with partially filled ones " (Beekeeping Basics). I've got 3 mediums: top one is full of honey. Should I bother with this rearrangement? Thanks.

[annette]

You know that I have heard about all this also and I was prepared to start rearranging frames to give them sort of a ladder to walk up on, but actually I do not want to do this because I feel the bees must know what they are doing and I do not want to start messing with frames so late in the season.

Am I wrong to feel this way, I also have this question?

[Cindi]

I will comment on this, but you may hear other comments, from more experienced beekeepers.  Yes, as far as I can remember in all my reads, the bees require room to cluster in wintertime.  They should have some empty or near empty frames in the middle of the box for that clustering.  That is how I arrange my colonies for wintertime anyways, there is nothing in the centre three frames, I winter in two deeps, this has always worked for me.  Wait and see for further answers.  Have that most wonderful and awesome day, great health wishes for us all.  Cindi

[Michael Bush]

Yes they need some open comb.  But they will arrange that.  I wouldn't rearrange things too much going into winter.  I pull the empty boxes and what honey I think they can spare and leave them 125 to 150 pounds.  I feed if they are under that or put some dry sugar on top.  But other than that and mouse guards (and if you have excluders pull them) I'd leave the arrangement of things to them.

[misfyredOhio]

Even though I am an inexperienced beekeeper and may not know better, it seems reasonable to let them do their own thing.

Question about feeding dry sugar: just sprinkle it on top of the inner cover? or on the top bars? how much?

[1of6]

Even though I am an inexperienced beekeeper and may not know better, it seems reasonable to let them do their own thing.

Question about feeding dry sugar: just sprinkle it on top of the inner cover? or on the top bars? how much?

Pictures are included:

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,17538.msg128965.html#msg128965

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#drysugar

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,18000.0.html

Hope these help.