[chrissv]

I have a booming hive, 2 deeps plus 3 honey supers on it (2 of the supers are drawn foundation; one is undrawn that they are drawing out). They have put a good amount of nectar in the supers like they should.

However, they are also filling up the lower brood chambers with nectar. Here's an example frame:



You can see that wherever there is NOT a capped cell, it glistens with nectar.

I would point out that I did not see any evidence of swarm cells, supercedure cells, or even queen cups. Just lots of bees. I also don't see any empty cells nor larvae or eggs - just capped cells and nectar (plus pollen in some of the edge frames).

I have a few empty drawn deep frames - should I put some in and give the queen (which I have yet to physically see in this hive) places to lay?

Any other suggestions?

Thank - Steven

 

[chrissv]

If you're not using a top entrance...

I do have a top entrance, due to the fact I have offset a couple of the honey supers (the queen had layed eggs there in the spring before the excluder was put on, and the drones need an exit. Plus the bees seem to like the upper entrance).

It looks like this

.HSUPER
.HSUPER
HSUPER
EXCLUDER
BROOD
BROOD

where the periods show the offset boxes.

So am I understanding that I should put in some (undrawn) deep frames in the top brood chamber (pulling out some nectar-filled ones) to give them room?

Thanks for the advice,

Steven