[bean tree homestead]

Why do you move drone to the outside of the hive cluster while you are doing an inspection and can you use a frame feeder in a empty hive body above the brood chamber or does it work best down in the hive body with the brood?
thanks

 

[Jon B]

The idea of moving frames with lots of drone comb to the outside is the hope that the bees will fill it with honey and not more drone larva. I always put the frame feeder in the second box with the other frames. When the weather is cold they will get the syrup better. Putting the feeder in an empty box above the brood might work in the late spring when temperatures are warmer.

 

[bison]

I have used frame feeders in otherwise empty deeps above an inner cover here in CA with no problems. Makes it easy to fill them without disturbing the hive much. Warm weather may help.

You can always try it - worst thing is they start to draw comb in the upper deep in which case you go back to plan A.