Advice on Plan Needed

[William F Abell Jr]

My first year wintering bees. I have 3 hives, 2-8 frame medium boxes each, installed first part of May 2011 with Russian/Carniolan bees. I left all of the honey and put in a sugar brick this winter. All appear to be doing well I peeked in today as the weather was 60. All appear to have mucho bees covering 60% of 80% of the frames. However, in the one hive that I went through both boxes there are lots of bees in both boxes and lots of honey but I cannot find any brood. I couldn't find the queen but there are no queen cells. (Sorry my posts are so long, but I am kinda on my own out here in the boonies) Anyway my plan is to give each of them a pollen substitute and another medium super with some drawn comb and some foundation less frames. I don't have enough drawn comb to populate all three boxes. What do you think.     

[buzzbee]

Be sure to keep bonus feed on(such as sugar brick) especially after feeding pollen substitute. Once brooding starts consumption will get exceptionally high and starvation can become an issue.
I am not sure of the need to add another super until a flow starts..Also it's more unneeded space to lose heat to when they need to keep brood warm. If the queen is not laying right now she could be very thin and hard to spot.
This time of year the queen may lay and then wait to lay more.

[William F Abell Jr]

Thanks. That sounds like good advice. I sometimes get carried away and rush things. We certainly can expect to get some cooler weather. I have to remember to slow down and watch the bees more.
This is a great forum for someone like me-long on enthusiasm, short on experience and knowledge. 

[buzzbee]

We/re all here to help. :)

[sc-bee]

If one hive has alot of honey and no space for the queen to lay, keep watch on it because as brood rearing cranks up the extra space will be needed. In particular if you begin to feed this hive the extra comb will go to the feed and no space for the queen to lay.
In my area I would not hesitate to add the extra box better to have than not. Your climate is a little cooler, maybe somebody more local will chime in.The main thing to remember is don't bust up the brood.