Greetings to all!
This is my second year using deep boxes as I moved to SW Montana. I was previously using all medium boxes so this was not an issue but; how do I go about getting them to build up winter stores in deep boxes with most of the honey currently being in 2-3 mediums above the deep boxes?
All of the honey is in the mediums above the double deeps and I dont really want them to have just sugar syrup stores. IF thats how its normally done that's fine but I'd really like them to use the honey they made versus me taking it all and giving them syrup. I plan to harvest this weekend and do my mite treatment. I am hoping I have options other than harvesting the honey and then feeding it back to them. Is there any logic to just removing the one bottom deep box and overwintering in 1 deep and 2 mediums or is that nonsensical and too easy. I plan to add a quilt board and some mountain camp sugar on a feeder shim in late fall but I am always up for other ideas.
Thanks for any feedback.
This is my second year using deep boxes as I moved to SW Montana. I was previously using all medium boxes so this was not an issue but; how do I go about getting them to build up winter stores in deep boxes with most of the honey currently being in 2-3 mediums above the deep boxes?
All of the honey is in the mediums above the double deeps and I dont really want them to have just sugar syrup stores. IF thats how its normally done that's fine but I'd really like them to use the honey they made versus me taking it all and giving them syrup. I plan to harvest this weekend and do my mite treatment. I am hoping I have options other than harvesting the honey and then feeding it back to them. Is there any logic to just removing the one bottom deep box and overwintering in 1 deep and 2 mediums or is that nonsensical and too easy. I plan to add a quilt board and some mountain camp sugar on a feeder shim in late fall but I am always up for other ideas.
Thanks for any feedback.