How many brood chambers should I start with?

sweet bee · May 09, 2011, 09:41:00 PM

Hi, I just installed 2 packages of bees on Saturday. I have two of the garden style hives, 8 frame with two medium hive bodies. I installed each package in the bottom hive bodies and used the top ones for the feeder pails. Should I have used both boxes for the brood chambers?

JP · May 09, 2011, 09:47:04 PM

After they have drawn out 7 and 1/2 frames add another box. After they draw 7 and 1/2 out of that box be ready to add another and so on.

Does this sound confusing to you?

...JP

Finski · May 09, 2011, 10:00:47 PM

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It takes at least one month that you need not add more space, if bees cover now half of those frames.

Michael Bush · May 09, 2011, 10:26:31 PM

Leave out the excluder. Add boxes when what they have is 80% drawn and full. It's all space. No need to designate it as "brood" if they are all mediums with no excluder.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesulbn.htm

sweet bee · May 09, 2011, 11:43:50 PM

Thanks everyone for your advice. I noticed a handful or two of bees on the underside of the screen bottom board and wondered if it was because of lack of room inside the hive. I went into this pretty confident, now I'm questioning everything :)

JP · May 10, 2011, 12:48:13 AM

Sweet, hardly anyone on here uses queen excluders in their set ups. Just let the bees do their thing. They will show you how many boxes they choose to make brood in, usually no more than three.

Your bees on the underside of your sbb are just a little disoriented but will figure things out soon enough and find their way into the hive.

Thanks for updating your profile with your location!

...JP

Finski · May 10, 2011, 03:57:31 AM

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How big packages you put in each hive?

2 kg swarm occupyes one langstroth box and it is enough for next 4 weeks.
Before new bees emerge, half of those bees have died in working.
If the hive has too much space, it has difficulties to keep brood area warm.

Michael Bush · May 10, 2011, 11:20:40 PM

>I noticed a handful or two of bees on the underside of the screen bottom board and wondered if it was because of lack of room inside the hive.

Doubtful. Probably just hanging out.

FRAMEshift · May 11, 2011, 09:41:54 AM

Quote from: JP on May 10, 2011, 12:48:13 AM
Your bees on the underside of your sbb are just a little disoriented but will figure things out soon enough and find their way into the hive.

We always have a bunch of bees on the bottom of the SBB. Bees returning with nectar will often go under the SBB and transfer the nectar to storage bees through the screen. Saves lots of time by using the large surface area of the screen rather than having to go through the entrance and then crawl to a place where they can find an empty storage bee. Some of them will stay there overnight and start foraging again the next morning.

sweet bee · May 11, 2011, 11:23:35 PM

Smart little creatures aren't they? :-D Hummmmm....So much to learn.