Advice on manipulation of brood and a half

[CB008]

I over wintered with a super for stores and intend to keep it in place to make brood and a half this year. My concern is accidentally harming
the queen during manipulations. On the first inspection last weekend, the queen was seen on a BB frame so I did not check the super below for fear of crushing her accidentally. I now wondered whether I should I have trapped her with a crown of thorns on the frame and then inspected the super. I woudl welcome advice on the best methodology for avoiding damaging her as she is a bit of a runner whenever seen.

 

[drstitson]

whatever your winter arrangements isn't it normal to run B+H with super above.

that way you check super. lift super off onto upturned roof. check brood box. replace super.

 

[borderer]

whatever your winter arrangements isn't it normal to run B+H with super above.

that way you check super. lift super off onto upturned roof. check brood box. replace super.

 

[enrico]

As suggested, swap the box's round. It is easier to lift the super than the BB.
You can get over cautious about killing the queen. If it happens it happens, that shouldn't stop you looking through the hive properly!
My advice would be to try and avoid a brood and a half unless your bees need it, it just means you have to check two box's each time. You can always add a super if they are really prolific later in the year but if they are a small hive they will just store their food in the half brood and you won't get as much in the supers above the QE

 

[oliver90owner]

As I have posted in other threads, leave the crown of thorns and the queen alone until she can easily be replaced, should a calamity occur between the two and you lose our queen. You are already admitting she is a run-around queen.

Yes, shallow on top, less likely for her to be in there and easier to find, if she is; like the rest above, etc etc.

Queen will move away from the light so risk of crushing her, when replacing a box is fairly minimal (on the vertical placement) and almost zilch if you have a box full of Hoffmans.

A final question might be: Why are you wanting to completely disturb a brood and a half arrangement (as in 'inspection') at this time of the year? If you have no good reason for doing so, simply don't! It is bad for them.

Regards, RAB