Changing frame size

[NeilTheCop]

I finally finished my long lang hive and am ready to move a colony from their existing stacked lang hive into my new creation. As my existing hive uses medium frames and my long lang uses deeps I was considering placing half of the frames with brood at one end of the box and alternating the rest of the brood frames with new empty deep frames near the entrance.
Any alternative suggestions or warnings about problems I'm likely to encounter?

[BeeMaster2]

If you place that much space between the brood frames, you may chill the brood on the first cool night. Put the frames in with empty frames just out side the brood and let them build out, one or two empty bars in the front side and an empty between the brood and the honey frames.
Jim

[little john]

I agree with Jim that chilling could well result with that plan.  My solution would be to make and install a 'Thermal Curtain' which is simply a posh name for a dummy frame or follower board with something flexible attached to it's sides.

http://heretics-guide.site90.com/beek15.htm - last photograph.

Something like that - even just a bog-standard Follower Board - is a very useful tool to have when working with Long Hives, especially for when introducing small colonies.

Alternatively, you could fill the excess space with cardboard boxes or similar, covered with plastic to prevent chewing.  With either method, the bees will then be transferred into a cavity much the same size as the one they came from.  Then you can gradually give them more space, (say) two frames-worth at a time ...

With Long Hives (assuming an entrance at one end), a typical layout is that the first frame is used as a temporary storage frame, with pollen and nectar being held there during the day, and then transferred to wherever it's needed during the night. Then comes 6/8/10 or however many brood combs have been laid-up. Finally, towards the back of the hive are located the stores combs.
Now - that layout isn't 'cast in stone', for I've often seen variations to this  - but it does indicate (perhaps) a need for the beekeeper to physically expand the brood nest as required, in order to keep this working layout intact.

Regarding the frame depth change - there are two approaches you could adopt.  One is to make a 'space-occupying box' to fit under the shorter frames.  I can dig out some graphics if you want more info on this technique. But - that would require you to install and keep the shorter frames together in a 'block'.  For just the one install, making such a box probably isn't worth the hassle, and I'd be tempted to simply chequer-board deeper frames in-between the shorter frames, one or two at a time as mentioned above.
If chequer-boarding, then the bees are almost guaranteed to draw wild comb below the shorter frames - that's untidy, but hardly constitutes a major problem.
LJ

[cao]

I was lucky enough to fill my long hive with a swarm so I didn't have frame issues.  I would probably put the brood together with a couple empty deep frames at the entrance.  As they need more room keep adding frames at the entrance.  Eventually your medium frames will be near the back and should filled with honey.  You could pull them when capped.  The bees will draw comb from the bottom of the medium frames unless you put some type of filler piece below them.  It is no big deal if they do as long as it is straight.

[NeilTheCop]

Thanks for the input. I have a follower board and intended to keep the interior space much the same as the existing hive. My main worry was building in the space below the medium frames.

[cao]

My main worry was building in the space below the medium frames.

They should just follow the frame straight down.  Just keep an eye out for any wonky comb.  I have at least one(maybe more) medium frames it a deep box in my hives now.  It always suprises me when I pull it out.  They have been using it for a year now with no problems.

[Captain776]

Right now, I have all deeps, I will use them for Brood Boxes and use Mediums fir Supers.
I am here to read and learn.........and I have read many many times about lifting heavy deeps full of Honey.
I will heed the advice.

Thanks