when to add number two brood box?

hardtime · February 17, 2008, 11:07:34 AM

i live in south wast VA. i just have bottom hive and want to add number two brood box .to get more girls this spring . we know more girls more honey. i have 6 hive none have the dobble brood box on them yet. can someone tell me when to add?

pdmattox · February 17, 2008, 11:33:45 AM

I go by the 80% method. when the brood box is 80% full of bees and comb I add a box.

JP · February 17, 2008, 12:13:34 PM

Yes, when you are clear of any severe cold fronts, and spring is in, 8 of 10 frames drawn out means time for a new box.

....JP

Jerrymac · February 17, 2008, 01:04:19 PM

If you don't have 10 but 8 then 6?

randydrivesabus · February 17, 2008, 01:16:23 PM

its a weird feeling to know what jerry means in that little cryptic question. lets see....80% of 8 is closest to 6.5

Cass Cohenour · February 17, 2008, 02:13:05 PM

Quote from: hardtime on February 17, 2008, 11:07:34 AM
i live in south wast VA. i just have bottom hive and want to add number two brood box .to get more girls this spring . we know more girls more honey. i have 6 hive none have the dobble brood box on them yet. can someone tell me when to add?

I've spent a lot of time working around south western Virginia and I don't live very far away. You should put the second hive body on between the middle of next month and the first of April. Your colony should be of sufficient strength by then. Don't wait too long to add the box or they will swarm.

Cindi · February 18, 2008, 09:43:47 AM

Hardtime. Welcome to our forum, the place to send your questions, all of them, your questions will always get answers and it is a great and friendly place to be.

See, Cass lives in your area, bet your didn't know someone lived around your vicinity. The response given is very appropriate for you to follow. Yeah!!! You probably have an enormous amount of uncertainly lifted already. That is the power of this forum, spend time here, tell us of your experiences (oh yes, and change your profile to say where you live, you don't want to live in "hopelessly lost", I was there once and it is a very strange place to be, so strange). Have a wonderful and awesome day, good luck, live this life with love. Cindi

Cass Cohenour · February 19, 2008, 02:01:37 AM

Abingdon, yes I've been there. I worked in Lebanon and actually met a beekeeper down around Carbo that I got a swarm from. I got two supers of honey from that swarm that year. (still have the queen :)) It was around the first of April and I drive out to his house every day for lunch. I caught another swarm there also but it had plans on going somewhere other than WV so it it left the hive I put it in. There are some real nice people down there in Washington County. I used to go to a bar called "The Old Mill". I think that was its name. It was and old mill on the river close to Abingdon. I had a lot of fun there. I hope you get your bees going good and get some honey from them.