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Playing it by ear sounds the best. There are too many variables that could happen.

Definitely seek out treatment free genetics. You need a good foundation to build on, otherwise your efforts will likely be fruitless. The key is in genetic based behaviors, not foundation less, or...

I'd use a double, so you can fit more bees in there. :) The more the merrier. The screened bottom is a plus. They'll need good ventilation if they're good and crowded. Not sure if the slatted rack is...

Also, follow Michael B's advice on it overflowing with bees. That's gold. Rob brood from other colonies to boost the number of nurse bees. Good queens are worth the extra effort. Good luck.

Your original plan sounds great. I would place nectar, pollen, grafts,open young brood, nectar, in the top box. I've used queenright, and queenless starter/finishers, but prefer queenless. Both have...

I use several of the three compartment mating boxes. I do use them in early Spring, but I'm not as far North as some of you. My biggest complaint is they are prone to leaking without a telescoping or...

For the best chance of getting quality queens I would recommend two things. For smaller numbers of queens, use frames with swarm cells on them in a similar manner you used above. The only difference...

Split as soon as they come in or day prior.Banking queens that long would be terribly hard on them.

Jason, sorry I made assumptions that you weren't mating queens. I do stick with my original answer.

Rod, you do know laying workers are a "last ditch effort" God designed to prolong genetics in a...

Walt has the only feasible answer. Inserting drone comb will encourage the "desirable hive" to produce lots of healthy drones, without interference. The previous suggestions are not only...

Very welcome. If I see a hive displaying signs of parasitic mite syndrome(withered wings or K wing) I kill the queen and replace her.

Squarepeg, No, I don't break them all down into two framers. I only take a two frame split out of each double deep hive I choose. I leave the old queen in the double if she's performing well. The...

Fozz, I do divide my non impressive colonies in the Spring to stock mating nucs. In the fall I often make two frame divides with new queens while the nectar flow is on.(feed them to four to six...

Fozz, I run a little over 100 colonies. This will be my fourth season treatment free, although I never treated on a consistent basis prior.
Deknow, I'm not really concerned with my % of VSH...

How long have you had varroa? If for a couple decades, natural selection has probably weeded out some of the more susceptible stock. Do you have any feral or wild colonies thriving without treatment?...

I've used a great deal of VSH F1 queens in my colonies with no treatments. I've not had any crash from mites to my knowledge. I don't graft exclusively from VSH breeders, I don't know that I would...

Absolutely. Add a good frame of brood with accompaning workers. You want the nuc to build a population to fend, defend, and forage for themselves. Sealed brood is best, as the cell you introduce will...

JWH,

My decision not to treat, is unfortunately not based on a solid sampling routine. I knowingly allow high mite levels to accumulate in some of my hives. My decision is based solely on...

I've utilized both VSH and Hygienic Italian breeders from Glenn for the past three years. (The last two years the hygienics were specifically Pol Line Hygienic Italians) I keep bees with no...

I had good luck with a VP breeder too Matt. Their price has gone up since Glenn is out of the picture, and they no longer offer the open mated breeders I don't believe, which was what I used for...

The down sides are: not using standard sized frames, which prevents you from using your standard colonies for resources.(brood, stores) A large handicap in my book. Also, most are too small to...

It's never a bad idea to use resistant genetics, no matter how small your operation is.

I've had good luck with strictly treatment free apiaries yielding the sword of"resistant" stock for years now. However, I fall I to the category Oldtimer mentioned. I'm smaller scale, and non...

I agree with Michael P. Nucs are ahead of the ball game. They have drawn comb (which takes resources to build), brood in all stages (which require resources to raise), and honey and pollen...

Good article Seymour. Thanks for sharing. He did a good job of describing the reasoning behind his proposed feeding methods. I've followed the same feeding guidelines he proposed. Seems to work...