Help! I need to add boxes

Rachel · June 03, 2008, 09:41:35 AM

Ok. I'm totally new at this and stuck. I have a hive that I started with a deep, and then because I didn't have another deep on hand (It was taking forever to get shipped) I added a medium. I checked it yesterday and the deep is completely full of larvae, eggs and capped brood, and the medium is FILLED with honey (or nectar). I don't know what to do. I know I need to add to this hive...they are so full. Can I take the medium off and put another deep under it? Do I need to keep adding in order going up or does it matter? I know this sounds confusing because I don't know how to explain it.
My other hive is barely doing anything. It's amazing how different they are.
thanks in advance!
Rachel

pdmattox · June 03, 2008, 09:50:01 AM

I think you are going in the right direction. I always put the empty super under the capped honey. If you are only at one brood box you may want to put another brood box on then put the honey super on top.

JP · June 03, 2008, 10:17:48 AM

Some use one deep for brood chamber and one medium, some use two deeps for brood chamber and mediums for honey supers, some use all mediums for everything, that way its all interchangeable.

Like Dallas says, I would move the medium up that is packed with honey. You always want to make sure when a colony gets to where yours got to that they didn't start backfilling the broodchamber with honey or they will swarm out.

Always give them room when lots of nectar is available. You could even add two more mediums if you wanted to, that way they have plenty of extra space.

...JP

Rachel · June 03, 2008, 10:39:45 AM

Thanks! I knew I'd get an answer soon! I love you guys! :-*

jathomas · June 05, 2008, 05:45:47 PM

I got a lot of advice when I was starting out to use two brood boxes, so that you can manipulate them, and prevent swarming. It was a GIANT HASSLE. This has been my first year with only a single brood box, and it's MUCH EASIER to do inspections (not to mention a good deal less expensive per hive).

I would tend to agree with the other guys. I take the top medium box off (don't put it directly on the ground, instead put your outer-cover on the ground upside-down, and use that as a temporary rest stop for the full super to sit on (at an angle)).

Then, add a queen excluder if you haven't already. Now, some people like 'em, some people don't. I've tried both ways and I'm a believer now.

Add your new medium super, with all the frames inside (you will hear your bees sigh with relief)

Throw the full super on top. Careful, it'll weigh about 75lbs! The box full of honey will draw the bees upstairs. It's like you're saying "COME BEES... COME UPSTAIRS... There's a lot of honey up here! Enjoy spending time on the empty frames while you're on your way... aren't they lovely? Maybe you'd like to put comb on those..."

doak · June 05, 2008, 05:56:50 PM

The regular, changing, switching, of brood chambers is a lot of worthless work.
As long as the bees are not running over like a bucket of water, no need to switch the boxes.
I will do it some time when the situation calls for it, but not often.

If the queen hasn't started to lay in the medium, then add another deep if that is what you will be using for brood. Put the medium back on top and then add another "honey"super.
They will utilize the deep for more brood and continue to store honey in the honey super.
Thats the way they do it. :)
doak

johnnybigfish · June 05, 2008, 07:07:47 PM

Shouldnt you eventually be putting on another full anyways so the bees can fill it with their winter stores?

Oh,...another questions which has been sitting in the archives of my mind. Is the "Medium" box the same as used for a "Honey super"?
your freind,
john

doak · June 05, 2008, 07:15:14 PM

Yes, It got the name Illinois super some how.
To my notion it is the most versatile box of the bunch, except the comb honey box. Which is in it's separate class.
For brood and/ or honey space 3 mediums equal two deeps.
It will take the bees a day or two longer to fill the medium than it does a shallow.
I have had shallows filled in 4 to 5 days.
doak

Brian D. Bray · June 05, 2008, 11:58:31 PM

Quote from: johnnybigfish on June 05, 2008, 07:07:47 PM
Shouldnt you eventually be putting on another full anyways so the bees can fill it with their winter stores?

Oh,...another questions which has been sitting in the archives of my mind. Is the "Medium" box the same as used for a "Honey super"?
your freind,
john

Illinois = medium = 1/2 super = 6 5/8, same, same Abi.
Western = 3/4 super = 7 7/8, ditto.
Shallow = 1/4 super = 5 1/2, ibid.