Bees aren't storing honey

[fletchroot]

Hi, I have 2 hives at my house in a city, near several parks and water sources.  One hive is doing well, but the other hive isn't.  It is a new hive that I installed in May.  They have yet to move up to the second hive body - no drawn comb, no honey, nothing.  I haven't seen the queen, but I have found (in all three inspections) ample evidence that she is there - larvae in all stages of development, not too much drone comb.  How do I encourage them to move up? Can I put some full frames from the other hive into the weaker one? Any advice would be appreciated - I don't think I can go through losing another hive this winter!
Megan

[Kathyp]

a couple of things.  first, we need your location so that you can get some area specific advice.

bee expand when they need room.  they also move down, not up in spring and summer.  when you add another brood box you'll have better luck if you put it under the first.  

if the queen is laying well and you are not seeing a good increase in bees, you may have something else going on in there.  chalkbrood, etc.  you need to really check the brood to see that it's ok at all stages.  if you have questions about what you are looking at, take pictures and ask one of the moderators to post them for you.  we'll all look and help you out if we can.

yes, moving frames will probably encourage them to work the other box IF they need the space.  also, if they are not storing food, you  need to feed them.  depending on where you live, you need to be getting them full for winter.

if there are not enough bees for two boxes and you can not get them to move along and fill a 2nd, you'll be overwintering in one deep.

[fletchroot]

I'm in Central New York State.  I haven't seen any evidence of disease or parasites, but I can look again.  I am worried about overwintering with only one hive body - it won't be enough for our winters. 

[Kathyp]

it can be done.  i have done it with late swarms.  the first thing i would do is feed.  feed all that they will take.  if, when your weather changes, they have not pretty much filled two boxes, cram them down into one and put on some dry sugar.  they may very well make it...

you might also consider taking off that 2nd deep and putting one or two shallow honey supers on.  let them fill those will food for winter and leave them on.

[VolunteerK9]

bee expand when they need room.  they also move down, not up in spring and summer.  when you add another brood box you'll have better luck if you put it under the first.  

Never really thought about it (first year beek here) Makes perfect sense though. Heat rises so the girls would probably tend to hang out in the basement during this rough summer this year. Time to move some boxes around when I get home.

[Kathyp]

Makes perfect sense though. Heat rises so the girls would probably tend to hang out in the basement during this rough summer this year. Time to move some boxes around when I get home.

it's less about heat than about how they store for winter.  they store honey above and down the sides.  in winter they move up as the eat through stores and usually winter high in the box(s).  in spring they begin to lay and work their way down building new comb as they need it.  that's why we put the honey supers on the top.

if they are doing ok the way you have them, i would not disrupt things by swapping boxes.