Adding a second deep hive body.

[hmeadq]

My bees are working like crazy, and I want to give them a second hive body.

Is it to late to do that? When I do, do I put it below or over the existing one. I'm not even sure if they need it? Do they to make it through the winter, or will supers do?

Thanks...

[Mitch]

Yes you need the 2nd deep to make it thru the winter.It is not to late to add a deep this is a perfect time.you tell by how many bees are in the hive. Look for 2 things 1 you need to have 7 or 8 frames in the 1st deep drawn out,2 you need these 7or 8 frames of drawn comb to be full of bees.If you have bees and comb put the 2nd deep on asap you should be in the middle of a good honey flow like here.

[hmeadq]

I am in the middle of a good honey flow. The hive already has 2 supers on it and one is just aout full, the other is all drawn out.

Friday is the day! I know why beekeeping seems to be mainly a mans hobby because WOW are supers heavy! So I will take off both supers (if the one is full I'll pull it.) Then inspect the hive body, which I have not done in a month or so, and put on the new one. But where should I put it and should I split up the frames in the one and leave each one with half done and half not done?

Their are a TON of bees. And the honey flow is good, maybe about to get better since we finally had some RAIN!

[Mitch]

If you have supers on put the 2nd deep above the first deep and put the supers on top of the 2nd deep if they are not done.thus deep deep with super on top.

[Tia]

Talk to me about heavy supers! The gentleman I bought the hives from had placed a brood box on top of one hive as a honey super! The bees filled it and I couldn't lift it! I had to take 5 frames out & put them into a separate deep box. I was nervous about sticking deep frames in the extractor, but all went well. Darn box had to weigh well over 100 lbs.

[hmeadq]

Ha, Ha...

I pulled off a super last week it is 80% capped. It was SO heavy! I almost held it against my body. I was only wearing a t-shirt!

OW! That would have hurt, the whole side was covered with bees...

I am going to get my fiance to attach handles to the supers this winter to make them easer to lift!

I cannot imagine a filled deep!

[Joel]

Actually Richard Taylor who, as you know, has written numerous books on Beekeeping wintered his hives in Upstate New York in single deeps very successfully. The optimum method is to actually run 3 deeps in the north. The configuration bees make with honey and pollen up the middle is more conducive to bees moving to reach new stores (as opposed to side to side) in cold weather, crowding is almost non-existant due to space and swarming is reduced. Just a few points for thought. I would think in Ohio you still have a mid July flow for Basswood and a heavy fall flow from goldenrod, sow thistle and such. I would use Mitches configuration if you're going to run 2 deeps.

[Mitch]

Joel
You are correct basswood is blooming now.Usualy here around 1st week of july.


It is a must to run 2 and sometimes i run a med. to boot depending on how big of winter cluster IE Italian vers carnie.I like the darker bees here in Northen Ohio they seem to winter better with the smaller cluster.The winters here are not all that nasty just long.One of my first bee books is by Ritchard Taylor.While Taylor may have been able to winter in a singel deep in the north,he was a master beekeeper.Most of us hobby people will never get to this so why take chances.A little less honey in the fall and live bees in spring is a much better idea.

Been there done that
I have done just what hmeadq has done.Not sure it it was the plan or not.But one needs to think of one great point mentioned in taylors book.What is best for the beekeeper is not allways best for the bees.It took me all of my 5 years in beekeeping and more than one post on this site to see i was sometimes starving my bees out in winter.I feel it is best to get the brood nest going first IE in my area 2 deeps min.Then take what the good Lord and bees give you after what is best for the bees.I few times I thought the fall flow will make enough for winter.NOT.Lesson learned take care of the bees first then the honey cutomers or there is not much honey next year.