I finally had enough honey comb and drawn empty comb to checkerboard this year...the Carniolans left plenty of stores.
I did a full inspection just now and found the queen and 4 frames with sealed brood in the medium above the deep. I also have two mediums above that (the top on could probably be taken off...I was nervous about Carnis rep for swarming and didn't know how fast their buildup could be. We have had extended cold weather this winter and flowering is just coming on (red maples, red bud starting, cherry, magnolias....oh and my helibores...they are wearing them out! Central Virginia.
So I reversed the medium with brood with the deep in the hopes I could establish a pollen box that I could keep under the deep. Did I do right or is my timing off? (Walt?) Supposedly the bees are more likely to fill the box with pollen after the brood hatches out than if I just put empty comb under the deep...just not sure when to make the switch. (not that it stopped me!)
Frozen windshield yesterday morning and 80 today.... just a swingin'!
Thanks, Jim
I did a full inspection just now and found the queen and 4 frames with sealed brood in the medium above the deep. I also have two mediums above that (the top on could probably be taken off...I was nervous about Carnis rep for swarming and didn't know how fast their buildup could be. We have had extended cold weather this winter and flowering is just coming on (red maples, red bud starting, cherry, magnolias....oh and my helibores...they are wearing them out! Central Virginia.
So I reversed the medium with brood with the deep in the hopes I could establish a pollen box that I could keep under the deep. Did I do right or is my timing off? (Walt?) Supposedly the bees are more likely to fill the box with pollen after the brood hatches out than if I just put empty comb under the deep...just not sure when to make the switch. (not that it stopped me!)
Frozen windshield yesterday morning and 80 today.... just a swingin'!
Thanks, Jim