brood box reversal question

[adamant]

if my bottom box is empty and all the bees and queen is working the top box should i reverse the boxes? if so is it as simple as "reversing the boxes" in addition to reversing them what else should i look for? what else should i do?

[HONEYDEW]

It's that simple...and if your ready for bee season start feeding

[Vance G]

Some feel that having your bees up off the bottom board and out of the draft is beneficial and just like in a tree, the bees will move down when they need more space. Just seems if they been doing something for millions of years they might benefit from keepin on doing it. Granted some very sucessful folks advocate it, so maybe it just doesn't matter. I would reduce the entrance till the bees get some numbers and it gets warmer so you don't chill brood if you decide it is what you want to do.

[Michael Palmer]

Bees have been moving up and down in the broodnest for eons...as you say. They've also been swarmoing for that amount of time...when they are located in the top of the nest, there's incoming nectar plugging the upper reaches of that nest, and they feel crowded, or the queen's available space for egg laying is being filled with nectar. Sure, some will move down easily...but some won't. Reversing and early supering takes off the pressure, allows the bees and queen easy upward movement and overhead storage of nectar.

[lakebilly]

Michael,

Do you super @ the time you reverse?

I have two colonies that fill two deeps & a medium. Would you go to a third brood box?

[LenInNorCal]

I would not reverse boxes, as the girls know better how to do what they do. Doing so will only stress out the hive. For example, when the foragers return, and the brood chamber is on the bottom, those returning will go where? And they don't need to go there. They need a place to off load their nectar and pollen without bumming out the queen, brood and caretakers. The Lady of the House will move down and fill what is necessary during the summer and the bees will store their honey where needed, which will be on the top! When that is done the natural excluder of the queen will be a top layer of honey on the frames. If you are a commercial beek and care only to make honey-money, then reverse, as that is what is written for that very purpose. If you want to enjoy bees and are fascinated with their life cycle, don't reverse.

[Michael Palmer]

I super before I reverse. Early supering takes care of early flows and strong colonies, and reversing on the dandelion takes care of nectar going into the active broodnest. Normal years here its super first week of May and reverse after that.

You already have a third box. Two deeps and a medium is best for the Northeast...IMO.

Michael,

Do you super @ the time you reverse?

I have two colonies that fill two deeps & a medium. Would you go to a third brood box?