I have one hive that is now in it's second spring, composed of 2 deeps and one honey super. The 1st deep is mostly brood, but the 2nd deep is all honey, and they are now drawing comb in the medium honey super and beginning to fill it with honey also. I had thought that they would expand the brood nest into the 2nd deep, but that hasn't been the case. Is this any cause for concern? Should I assume that the bees know best how to use their space and not worry? Thanks in advance for your advice. Jewelweed
2nd Deep Full of Honey
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I think you need to be thankful for the fine flow and put another super on! Nectar takes way more room to store than cured honey. Sounds like those bottom two boxes are all in use. At least two supers are appropriate and they can't fill em if they aren't on the stack! If you are drawing foundation, consider putting a box on underneath the super being drawn to get them working in both. I just have a little pollen coming in! My honey flow is at least a couple weeks off.
Haha, Vance. Thanks for putting into perspective for me. I guess I worry too much.
It takes a really exceptional queen to lay more than one deep box of brood. If she is laying on the whole frame that is over seven thousand holes times ten! That is seventy thousand cells of brood which means she would have to lay 3333 eggs a day to run out of room in one box! If she is that good would you consider selling her to me? I know that some space is honey, but you get what I am saying. Personally, I might reverse the brood chambers putting the honey on the bottom and brood over it, throw on a queen excluder and about five supers if I was as far south as you are. I like honey to sell!
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Keep an eye on them, a 2nd deep full of honey only leaves her room below. Might want to manipulate some of the honey up and open it up a bit.
"Moving some of the honey up" or "checker boarding" would require a third deep. Is that an issue? I prefer to keep the honey in mediums, if I can, for ease of moving. But if I suppose I can't really complain if they're filling deeps up with honey.
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