Checkerboarding....

[Phil Minnesota]

Hi,

CB/NM used on one hive for this year. Do I Keep this top of the brood nest open with altnernate empty frames all year? Removing as needed to leave open space above the brood.

OR, Do I just stack more supers om top til I reach Tower of Babel Status?

This technique really boosts hive moral.

Thank you, Phil

[ikeepbees]

Hello Phil,

Walt's method is to continue adding supers on top of the stack throughout the buildup period, trying to stay two shallow supers ahead of the nectar storage level (Tower Of Babel).

Where are you located?

[Phil Minnesota]

Thanks for the Info.

I,m in east central Minnesota, About twenty miles north of the cities. Every year that number gets smaller.

[sc-bee]

I too am using NM for the first time this year and so far am pleased with my or shall I say the bees outcome. As ikeepbees states just keep adding to the tower after the first manipulation!

[Phil Minnesota]

The way this technique is looking right now is unreal. The Hive is really motivated. It's early yet for me, no fruit blossoms yet, but I can't wait to see the year end result

Good Luck

[chief]

I to have been using Nectar Management. I was also looking at Michael Bush’s site and he recommends putting some empty frames between drawn frames for the bees to draw out to help prevent swarming. How early can this be done? We are just starting our apple blossom and white wax is a few weeks off still. Will they still draw these frames out if they haven't started producing wax yet?

[Albert]

Fellows,

I understand it to be TWO months before the appearence of white wax. Checkerboard and add two supers. For me that would be the first week of Febuary. Of course I missed it by a month or so, and I had little drawn comb, but it was very effective and productive. I used empty frames where neccesary, and adjusted everything a couple of weeks later to more evenly distribute any drawn comb. I also made sure that the frames were lined up top to bottom and checkerboarded as described. This hive is already on its third 7 5/8" super and by the looks of it needs two more.

I'm hoping to do better next year! With my timing that is!

Regards,
Albert