full or not full hive?

[lisbethanne]

Okay 85% seems to be the number most people talk about when discussing the hive and swarming. So does that mean 85% drawn comb or 85% filled comb.  I have over 85% drawn frames but only about 60% filled. My queen is laying in a great pattern and there are drone cells in abundance. So, do I worry about swarming with over 85% drawn? Doesn't make sense if that is the fact because the hive will be too tall to work it. I have two deeps and two supers on my hive. It is their second year. We are in a huge pollen and nectar bloom now and all looks good I am just disturbed by this 85% number.....

[iddee]

Neither. Does the queen have sufficient empty cells in which to lay? If the bottom box is the brood nest and filled 100%, with 4 empty boxes above, they will swarm. They need empty cells in and around the brood nest. Check the brood area. If it is filled, move some frames up and some empty frames down. If you have a full frame of capped honey, harvest it and put empties back. Do some checkerboarding.

[Steel Tiger]

 As long as the queen has room to lay, they probably won't swarm. I say probably because bees are going to do what they want to do. If both deeps are full of brood, consider adding an empty medium between the brood box and the supers to give the queen more room. Or you could pull frames of brood out and make nucs or add them to a weak hive.