question about adding a second brood hive

[marliah]

newbie question for you all. My first brood hive is about 85% full, I know I need to add a second one now, how do I go about doing that? Do I just throw a completely empty one on top (with the frames in it of course), or do I take a couple full frames and put them in there?

Just want to make sure I do this the right way. :)

Oh one more question too, about supers. I know I don't need one yet, but when the time comes (which could be soon at the rate my girls are building!) is a queen excluder a must? or can I put supers on without one? seems to me from looking at my brrod box that the bees are pretty organized, I could see clearly breeding comb and honey comb, So I was jut a wondering.

Thanks in advance!

I'm off to paint up the new hive so I can get it on there asap. :)

[doak]

With what ever you are going to use, foundation, starter strips or drawn comb, just put it on top and they should come on up. They do this better some time for a brood box than a honey super.
If you are expecting any honey and have a good nectar flo you could add a honey super about 5 to 7 days after you add the second brood box.
It's what I'd do. :) ;)doak.

[marliah]

oh really? I can add a super that soon? I was told not to expect any honey this year since its their first year and I live in Maine. If I add a super and they fill it,  is that honey they need for overwintering or is there a possibilty of me scoring a couple little tastes this year? ;)

[HAB]

Yeah, just a taste would be really great!  But we're going to leave it all for the Bees this (our start up year also) year. Well, may we might try just one itsy bitsy teeny tiny frame. :lol: :lol: 8-)

[doak]

As in "IF" they do real good and you have a good flow.
Maybe one frame.
doak

[JP]

You don't have to move frames up, you can just put the second box on. I don't suggest a queen excluder right now, I never use them anyway.

Some hives will surprise you and build really fast, you never know, if they are quick builders and your area has the resources you may wind up with a harvest this season.


...JP

[Brian D. Bray]

newbie question for you all. My first brood hive is about 85% full, I know I need to add a second one now, how do I go about doing that? Do I just throw a completely empty one on top (with the frames in it of course), or do I take a couple full frames and put them in there?

You can.  The outside frames occupied by the bees are always storage frames.  By taking those storage frames and moving them up into the super you bait the bees up.  If you're adding a 2nd brood box you can putt 2 brood frames between the storage frames.

Just want to make sure I do this the right way. :)

There is not realy right or wrong way.  A few guidelines: super when 70-80% of frames have drawn comb, Bait supers as explained above if you want, Once established and especially if using drawn comb super with 2 or more boxes at once during a flow or just prior.

{quote]Oh one more question too, about supers. I know I don't need one yet, but when the time comes (which could be soon at the rate my girls are building!) is a queen excluder a must? or can I put supers on without one? seems to me from looking at my brrod box that the bees are pretty organized, I could see clearly breeding comb and honey comb, So I was jut a wondering.[/quote]

Queen excluders are never necessary.  They can help in the case of comb honey production but a super of capped honey works better and is less restrictive to the bees.  Never put an excluder on until after the bees start to work the frames and if using an excluder see baiting mentioned above.

Thanks in advance!

I'm off to paint up the new hive so I can get it on there asap. :)

Painting like an excluder is not necessary.  Sometimes taking the time to paint a super can cause the bees to go into swarm mode due to overcrowding, lack of comb to put nectar and honey, or they build lots of burr comb.  If necessary put the super on and paint it during the winter after it is removed.

[danno]

marliah
This is also my first year with 5 - 3lb packages that were installed on April 19.  They will be 7 weeks old this Sat.  All are building but one is really building fast and last night I went through them and found this colony almost plugged.  I found the queen laying in the top brood chamber which had  8 plus frames drawn out.  I could have done some frame swapping to build the weaker colonies but chose not to.  I supered this colony and will be getting a harvest this year.  By the way is your hair pink?