Frame Placement

[sean]

when supering a hive and baiting the new box with say 2 frames of brood does it matter where the 2 frames are placed i.e over the the new frames that would have replaced the 2 taken from the lower box or above the drawn out frames of the lower box.

[Cindi]

Sean, my opinion.  To always keep the broodnest in the same relative position. I would always put the frames of brood lifted up to the next box within a frame or two of the brood below.  But that is my area. You are realy warm where you are, so maybe it would not matter so much. I would do it to keep the broodnest warm, we can have cool nights, even during summertime.  It will be interesting to hear other comments from our forum friends.  Beautiful day, beautiful life, all that is beautiful.  Cindi

[NWIN Beekeeper]

1.  ...always keep the broodnest in the same relative position.
2.  ...keep the broodnest warm...


Both very good points.
Comb types and cell orientation are built based upon location.
It is best if adjacent combs can be use to keep that orientation.
Since you don't want to split the brood nest, it is best to take from one side.
From one wall, I would take the first frame with brood and the adjacent.
My personal preference is to move this just over the center of the brood nest.
This way brood heat convects up through the new location.
It is best if drawn comb can be put in place of the removed frames.
This returns the combs to use the soonest and restores the brood nest fastest.

I am a bit more likely to split the moved frames if the weather is especially warm (60+ nights).

[sean]

ok i see what you are saying. However for  us who dont have extra drawn comb that they can be replaced with we have to use undrawn, so invariably we(at least me) end up with a bottom box for a while that have maybe 7or 8 drawn frames 2 ot 3 undrawn,then the box on top with 2 or 3 drawn frames and a couple undrawn.
But now that you mention convection, i am thinking if it might encourage the queen to move up faster and consequently have the frames being drawn out faster if i place them in the middle.

[Michael Bush]

Baiting up works fine in warm weather in a hive strong enough.  If it's cold or the hive is weak you can end up with some chilled brood.  Put it right over the brood in the box below so that the brood is all adjacent.