[umchuck]

Just inspected a hive today that I haven't been into for almost 3 weeks all 8 frame H Bs the top hive had brood in every frame with 5 being full, and the outside ones had one side of brood and some nectar and pollen, was wondering about reversing the hive bodies, bottom did have a lot more room than the top one, hope that's enough info for some replies, thanks
randy

 

[crofter]

That brood in the top box will emerge in the next couple of weeks, and the queens should start to slow down egg laying so the upper box will start to get filled more with honey from the top down, and the active brood nest will move down. That is the natural late summer progression. You want that top box full of honey going into winter with the bees in the center bottom and one or two combs of honey beside them.

It is early enough that they would likely recover and survive if you reversed them now but it would mess with their plans. Get some more local opinions but usually the bees have good basic stratedgy.