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Nancy,
Didn't say I had done it -just that it was a good idea. You work out the details, and I'll come take a look. Things slow in N'ville on a Friday evening?
Walt

You are thinking girl. Except for the extra work and equipment, it makes a lot of sense. A couple of other considerations not mentioned are: A. The overwintered nuc with added space in the spring...

2 weeks is marginal from capped cell to laying replacement queen. Give that one some more time. Considering the time capped is unknown, 2 more weeks.

The start of "main flow" is supersedure (SS)...

In the frig it will continue to dry even if not fully cured when put there. Almost anything dries out in the frig if not tightly covered. Lightly cover it and it will last longer than you.
Walt

Don,
The backfilling of nectar in the swarm prep period is generally limited to the upper 1/3 of the broodnest. The bottom 2/3 still has brood in developement. When that brood times out, the basic...

In answer to your original question: One good indicator of hopelessly queenless is filling the whole broodnest with nectar. You have that?
Walt

David,
The lull that is just ended is the period that the colony is rearing the nectar processors and wax makers for "main flow." Now they are ready to store honey at efficient rates. You will be...

Joe,
Unusual is not unusual. I speak in terms of norms. Genetic diversity is a norm. Some colonies stray way outside the norms. Never say never or always.
Walt

If we could kill that crap about cell location being an indication of colony intent, we would all be better informed. Supersedure cells are normally on the bottom of frames in the overwintered colony...

In the supersedure process, the old queen doesn't have to be missing. When both mother and daughter are co existing, it's called an "efficient" supersedure.

Walt

Don't think you will get any assurance that niether half of your equal divide will not swarm. I think you successfully thwarted supersedure in process. Giving each a queen was a good move. If you...

I have an uneasy feeling about the bee pattern on the frame. If it's an outside frame that is being filled with honey you may be okay. But then, you should have interior frames with mostly brood. In...

To continue:
We maintain that the new wax of main flow is a result of the colony internal operations and not related to field nectar availability. In this 5 week period of no overhead nectar gain,...

We are located in the southerly edge of the 7a arc that swoops northeastward to coastal PA. We are almost down to the Alabama state line. From here, the zone drifts more southerly to the base of the...

It is likely drone brood cells. Very little loss to the colony if you dispose of it. Maybe some gain for a first year colony.

How are your carpenter skills? You will get very little interbar comb...

I think your proposed insertion of the deep between the deep and medium is likely your best course of action. You would not want to do that 2 months ago, but we are coming up on summer temperatures....

Ace,
Have never said they "Won't" cross the interbar space. Most do, some don't - under a wide variety of circumstances. Do you understand the word reluctant? Almost all hesitate - some more, some...

UPDATE ON THE EXPERIMENT
Refresher on the fall activities: Two colonies were combined in mid Sept. One, a package hived on all shallow supers and a second package hived in a shallow over a deep....

The bees actually benefit from the added insulation of the box sidewall on nippy nights, but I generally center them for the aesthetics of seeing a balanced cluster and growing in both directions....

If you had a cattle salt block in sight after a rain, you wouldn't need any academic input on the advantages of salt.

Walt

What you have in both is standard for a swarmed colony with the starting (winter) configuration that you describe. Classic.The uncapped liquid in what was brood area is the nectar backfilled in swarm...

Aer.
Now is not the time for complacency. If they have stopped expansion,they are likely in the backfilling stage of swarm preps. You might try checkerboarding or "pyramiding up" a la Dee Lusby....

Thank you beepro for responding. Is it okay if I concur in your recommendation?

Aer.
Sounds like your colony is expanding at full throttle. Pollen is difficult to move and the rapidly expanding...

I'm in the fringe of zone 6 - as far south as 6 goes. Main flow has not kicked in yet. The cold spring period retarded the bees progress. Main flow is not a function of field nectar, but is a result...

tn07,
It goes into winter empty - no stores. If the broodnest is in box 2, immediately above, it depends on whether or not they get the broodnest fully backfilled in the fall. That does not always...