When to expand broodnest?

[tireman]

On the two established colonies I acquired, when should I add another deep and split the frames between the boxes? I am using foundation less frames so there will be five empty frames in each box. The girls are bringing in lots of pollen so far but I have no idea about nectar.

[Wolfer]

You can split the brood nest in half putting five over five in the middle of the box. I usually just move two frames up in the center and put my new frames at the edge of the lower nest when using foundation.

Foundationless I separate with drawn comb but put them in the lower nest. As soon as they have them drawn I move a couple more up and do it again.

I DON'T put another box on until the first is full of bees. Plum full.

[Steel Tiger]

 If you go through the frames and see honey, then they're bringing in nectar too.  Depending on how much nectar they're bringing in, you may want to feed them.

You can add another box when the bees remain active and growing in numbers. If you're using ten frame equipment and you have 6-8 frames of brood, it's probably a good time to add.

As far as adding a new box, I wouldn't go crazy with dividing the frames. I would pull two frames from the bottom, preferably capped brood, and put them in the middle of the top box with one empty frame between them. Put two empty frames beneath the two drawn frames. You'll be surprised how fast they'll draw those two frames out. Give them a week or two, then rotate some frames. pull two frames from the outer side of the bottom box and put them in the middle of the top box. Take the two empty frames from the top and put them in the middle of the bottom box, again separating them with a drawn frame.
Repeat every week or so until all frames are drawn out.

[tjc1]

Steel Tiger, I am in Mass. About what date do you start this process of moving frames up? I worry about having the empty box/brood frames up top as it means most of the bees are below with a large unpopulated/unheated space above, when it still may get pretty chilly out.

[Steel Tiger]

Steel Tiger, I am in Mass. About what date do you start this process of moving frames up? I worry about having the empty box/brood frames up top as it means most of the bees are below with a large unpopulated/unheated space above, when it still may get pretty chilly out.

I wouldn't start until the bees are out everyday and bringing back supplies. If you're worried about chilling the brood in the top box, move the end frames from the bottom box up and center. Put two empty frames into the middle of the bottom box with a full frame between them. The bees know that the empty space doesn't belong there in the middle of the brood nest and will draw them out fast. Give them a week and repeat.
Now that things are finally warming up, the hives should be really gearing up and taking off.