Empty Brood Super?

[Sungold]

I was planning on going through cooler months with 2 deeps and 1 medium super. Since it was nice today (low/mid 70's), I thought that I would swap out the FGMO cords one last time. In doing so, I was suprised to find that the bottom deeps (all 3 hives) are empty (no brood, no honey, just a bit of pollen). Is this a problem or just the expected result of diminished brood rearing? (the uppper deep weighs a ton (50+lbs??) and the medium is part full (20lbs?) ( I have been feeding 2:1 syrup). As always your insights are welcomed. cj

[Iowabeeman]

This is not abnormal. If you have a good cluster of bees in the second box, you are probably okay. If you are down to 2 or 3 frames of bees, they are probably crashing.

[txbeeguy]

I agree: what Iowabeeman said.
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I'm not familiar with honey flows in your area - but off hand, I'd say keep feeding heavy sugar syrup for as long as your weather allows. If the deep is completely full of honey, then it's probably closer to 90 lbs. The bees have a tendency to move the cluster up the hive during the winter. So it sounds like you could still help their situation if you keep feedig (perhaps they'll finish filling the medium super - this may not be absolutely necessary but would add an additional measure of safety against possible late-Spring starvation).

[Sungold]

Iowabeeman,
There are lot of bees (more than 2-3 frames).


txbeeguy,
Those second level deeps are very, very heavy (they just might be 80/90lbs)

Thanks to both of you, cj