inspecting deeps

[kierka]

Hi, my first season beekeeping and I just added the second deep to both my boxes. I am wondering, when I next inspect, do I need to remove the upper deep to inspect the lower, or just check that the bees have moved into the upper? There were still 2-3 frames left open in the lower when I added.

Thanks!

[brooksbeefarm]

Hi, my first season beekeeping and I just added the second deep to both my boxes. I am wondering, when I next inspect, do I need to remove the upper deep to inspect the lower, or just check that the bees have moved into the upper? There were still 2-3 frames left open in the lower when I added.

Thanks!

I would wait a couple of weeks to inspect them to see how their doing and if they need a super or will need one soon. If they haven't drawn any comb in the top box i would remove the top box and look for brood, larva and eggs in the lower box. If they are present then no need to look for the queen. When inspecting your hive it's alway's best to start with the outside frames and work toward the middle, leaving the first frame out and moving the frames toward you (in it's empty space) when inspecting each frame to keep from rolling the queen and killing her. Then replace the frames back the way you found them. Good luck. Jack

[JOHNYOGA2]

When I inspect a hive, I like to have a reason to do so because there is always the possibility that you can accidently harm the queen, and that is just something I'd rather not do.
Check the new deep to see if they are actively up and working the new foundation. If they've expanded and are now on more frames then they were when you started, things look good. If there is new brood in the upper deep, even better! With a frame or two of the top deep removed, you can probably see down into the bottom deep some, especially if you're running with SBB. If it looks like they have filled out the empty frames down below, I wouldn't go deeper.
But you can do whatever you like! They're your bees!

[alpha6]

When checking your hive start at the top. If everything looks ok there is no reason to go into the deep. If things don't look right or there is no brood on any of the frames in the top (in an established hive) then for sure dig into the bottom. Sometimes its the best way to figure out what is going on with your hive. You can also catch problems quick this way. To get to the bottom just lift off the top hive body and set it on its short side so the frames are not in contact with the ground. It will be ok like this as you inspect the bottom.

[indypartridge]

Hi, my first season beekeeping and I just added the second deep to both my boxes. I am wondering, when I next inspect, do I need to remove the upper deep to inspect the lower, or just check that the bees have moved into the upper?
Because it's your first season, I recommend inspecting both. I believe that regular frame-by-frame inspections are invaluable during Year One. Consider this your 'learning year' and this is your 'learning hive'. Just a golfers learn how to 'read' a green; beekeepers learn how to read a hive. By seeing week by week what's 'normal', in the future you'll be better able to see at a glance if something's not right.