7 box hive

[tucker0104]

I have a 7 box tall hive that is almost full of brood and honey. How many boxes would you recommend taking off for the winter and how many would your recommend keeping on?

[Lburou]

Subscribed. I want to hear this advice.

[Vance G]

Personally, I would start stripping off the top until the remaining boxes weighed around 125 pounds. That would be leaving a generous amount of stores for your lattitude. Odds are the bottom box has very little honey and probably quite a bit of pollen. You might have three boxes of surplus or possibly four. That is my opinion but listen to some old beekeeper in your area. Local advice is best.

[JRG13]

What size boxes?

[tucker0104]

What size boxes?

They are mediums. I was thinking of taking 3 off and leaving 4.

[applebwoi]

I use all mediums here in Amarillo, Tx and overwinter in 3 or 4, depending on bee population and how heavy the boxes are. Four, if the top two are full of honey are likely plenty. Good luck!

[oblib]

If they are 10 farme then 3 boxes equal 2 deeps. If 8 frame then it takes 4. I would think that a double deep would be plenty for where you are.

[dfortune]

1 box of brood/honey/pollen. Then leave 2 more boxes of completely capped honey. Dont know how much brood you have so it may be more like 1.5 boxes so adjust accordingly but i wouldnt leave any more than 3 boxes on in your area and feed in late winter/early spring if needed.