Beginner Question - When to add a second Deep

[ButternutFarm]

I just completed the 2nd inspection of my two hives. It's been two weeks since installation. Both hives were primarily used comb, with just a couple frames of new foundation on the sides. Both hives have had top feeders from day one. On my first inspection (week one) I saw lots of pollen, uncapped nectar/honey, and probably water too (I couldn't really tell), pretty much distributed on the middle frames, including the middle of the comb where you'd eventually be seeing brood. I saw the queens in both hives, but my sense was they'd been only out of their cages for a couple days and it seemed they hadn't started laying. Another beekeeper friend told me the bees would move or clean out the cells in the centers once the queen got going.

On my second inspection (week two), both hives were almost identical. I saw the queens in each hive again. There were areas of capped brood in the center couple frames this time, as well as larvae and eggs. It just wasn't nearly a picture perfect brood pattern, because there is nectar occupying alot of the center portions of the center frames. Even the used outer frames have a pretty wide distribution of nectar, and the couple foundations are still being drawn out.

So, how does that sound? I think the bees were just responding to a good natural nectar flow (and the feed), and really started to pack it away before the queen started laying. Should I get the second deep on there right away, or should I wait until they get a little more "organized" and get the couple frames of foundation drawn out? Or would the second deep right now help them get the honey/brood thing straightened out?

[Brian D. Bray]

The method for determining when to super a hive is by using what is called the 80/20 or 70/30 rule.
When 70-80% of the last super applied is covered with bees and drawn comb, then add a super. 

It works like this:
In a 10 frame hive box, when 8 frames are covered with bees and drawn comb, move frames 2 & 8 (drawn combs w/bees) to the outside of the box to the 1 & 10 position and move the undrawn 1 & 10 frame to the 2 & 8 position.  You are switching the position of the 2 outside frames on each side of the box.  Then add the next super.

The bees will move off of the drawn frames that were on the outside of the bee covered frames because they only contain food stores, they will then draw combs on the last 2 undrawn frames in that box.  The next round of brood hatch will increase the population sufficiently to enable to cover all the frames in the box and since they don't need to cover food stores they will move up to the next super.

Occasionally they will refuse to go up and begin to draw burr combs.  In that case remove the newest drawn frames (2 & 8) replaceing them with undrawn frames from the super and place the drawn frames in the 4 & 6 position of the super, this will draw the bees up since those frames will probably have brood on one side.  Face the brood, if any, towards the center with 2 frames between them.  The bees will, again, move off of the storage frames in the lower box and begin drawing combs on the 2 empty frames between the 2 drawn ones placed in the super.

[Kathyp]

if you will put your location in your profile it will help you get better local info.  

you were fortunate to be able to start on drawn frames!  it speeds things up a lot.  you don't need to worry that there is food in with the brood.  they will use it or move it as the queen needs room.  

when i hive a swarm on drawn comb i usually add the second brood box when i have about 4 frames of brood.  remember that your numbers go down before they go up with a new hive.  you don't need to be in a huge rush to add the second box until the numbers are going to take a leap.  now...if there is a lot of brood and they have stored a lot of food, you need to add earlier because you don't want the queen to run out of room to lay.

take that new foundation and move it to either side of the brood.  that will make them draw it out and give her some more room.  at this time of the year, and if you don't have a problem with SHB and wax moth (location would help here), you can add that second box earlier without problem.  before you add the second box, see if they have stored nectar/syrup over the brood that exists.  if they have, you need to either pull a couple of frames of brood and nurse bees up to the new box or add the new box under the 1st.  my preference is under, but over will do if the queen has unobstructed access to the top.  often, she won't cross honey.