I live in North East Ohio, I checked my hive for the first time this year today. The bees seemed to be in the top and bottom deep hive boxes. There was brown brood (I believe it was drone brood) in the bottom box, and there was yellow brood (I believe it was worker brood) in the top box. The weather the next 2 weeks looks to be in the 40's and 50's during the day, and in the 30's at night. My questions are:
Do I still need to switch the boxes since there was brood in both?
If so, am I late in doing this? On time in doing this? Or too early in doing this?
I appreciate any advice, thanks
Hi Thunder, We had a hard frost here last night, I would if I were you just leave them as is, Chilled brood is a bad thing. Have a reason to do something , like the swap you suggest
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My first question would be Why??, Because some one suggested it is not a good reason, unless they were there to see inside your hive. so think of the brood nest as a basket ball , today centered, and round. When you reverse you have 2 1/2 ball shaped, units of brood, one like a bowl, up at the top of the hive and one like an upside down bowl at the bottom. The bottom one is the one likely to get chilled as you moved brood down and close to the door.
So if they are using both boxes, they are already in both boxes, IMO most folks swap to get the bottom (empty) box on top . think "keep the nest intact , offer space above". not "swap", each has different meaning. Swap is what they do , offering space above is what they want to do
BTW, I do not box swap, I am a proponent of brood nest integrity. Just understand what it is you are trying to accomplish, and if there is potential for harm.
IMO this early in OHio, with bees already in both boxes, you have very little to gain and lots of risk for brood chill, so it would be illogical to swap.
GG