Box rotation in Spring?

[Dr. B in Wisconsin]

Hello
I went into Winter with 2 deeps and 1 super, I was going to get it down to 2 deeps but the cold set in early. Its Spring now here in Wisconsin and I opened up the hive and the bees are at the top of the super. I do not know how far they go down, its too cold to disrupt them too much.  I have 2 questions, in the lower 2 deeps if there is unused honey on the outside of the 2 deeps what would you do with it? Leave it there for another season or remove it and place it in just before the next winter? Or? The second question is would you rotate the super down in between the 2 deeps or place it on the bottom with the 2 deeps above it or shake the bees in the bottom deep or I don't know. Any ideas on what should be done would be helpful.
Thanks,
Brian

[bee-nuts]

Take your hive tool and break the seal between the boxes.  Pry the top box or two top boxes up so you can see between them.  If you crack it up can bees start crawling out they are down into the bottom.  You only need to lift if up and inch or two to be able to see in there and have a good idea of whats going on.  If all the bees are in the top box put it on the bottom.  Move frames of hone from outsides of boxes void of bees into the center.  The bees will eat there way up into it and make brood on the way up.

Thats what I would do.  If you did not treat and there is not brood in the honey super I would leave it on top.  I have colonies that are as weak as a frame of bees to two plus boxes full.  You just have to crack the boxes and lift them up quick to see under them.

[iddee]

I would not open them again until a day it is warm enough to go through all boxes. If you have 10 or more empty frames, I would put them in the upper deep. Then the remaining deep frames in the lower deep. Find the queen and put her in the lower deep. Put the super back on and wait 3 weeks. It should then be as you want it. They will arrange everything correctly if they have that to start.

[Brian D. Bray]

Don't rotate boxes, if you just have to rotate something rotate the frames.

In rotating the frames make sure the ones in the middle of the brood chambers are open uncapped comb.  Place any frames containing honey at the out edge of the brood box, this is what the bees do.  The frames of honey will then be there for them to begin rearing brood and the other frames will be open comb just waiting for her majesties seat.

[Finski]

I do not know how far they go down, its too cold to disrupt them too much. 

It their habit to start spring in the top most combs. They have there brood and they are valuabe.

You are right, don't distrupt them.

Take care that they have capped food there upstairs

in the lower 2 deeps if there is unused honey on the outside of the 2 deeps what would you do with it? Leave it there for another season or remove it and place it in just before the next winter?

old honey or winter sugar is always in the hive in spring. Otherwise bees die. You cannot play the game so that all is gone before new nectar come in.

Or? The second question is would you rotate the super down in between the 2 deeps or place it on the bottom with the 2 deeps above it or shake the bees in the bottom deep or I don't know. Any ideas on what should be done would be helpful.
Thanks,
Brian

To keep brood warm the super need to bee top most. The lowest box you may take off.

When new bees emerge

[Finski]

.I must continue because text above waggled too much

When new bees emerge, they sooner or later occupie the middle box.

Then the colony enlarge to the third box and it is time to arrange the frames again. Since then, just wait and let bees do their job. The colony is strong enough to stand frame arrangement. Summer is enough warm too.

If you have then old winter food, give to the hive some foundations 3 boxes occupied 3-4 pieces, and bees consume quite much food to draw foundations.