Switching Boxes

tedlemay · 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.

Kathyp · 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. ;)

iddee · 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.

yockey5 · January 30, 2012, 01:18:50 PM

I just haven't seen the need?

backyard warrior · 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

tedlemay · January 30, 2012, 07:01:38 PM

Great help guys! Thanks :)

Michael Bush · 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/beesswarmcontrol.htm