advice on single/double brood please

[Cuckmere couple]

a buckfast colony in a nuc (collected 28/5 from reputable dealer and a very nice colony)

they have 5 frames capped brood below...have drawn out 5/6 frames above and q is laying upstiars.

we go away for 10 days on 24/6

my plan for this colony was to have it on a single national (double next year) with a super

i dont think it will be big enough for double brood this year AND be able to draw out super comb etc

it is getting big enough to go into a national and she will have to re-lay where current capped will emerge etc so space there

Would it be ok to leave them on 24/6 with a super of foundation and no QE so they have space and not congested, they draw out super comb whilst we are away (which may speed them up) and if she lays in it i add a QE and let that hatch out but keep super in situ....

sound ok or better plan?

 

[enrico]

Put them in BB, put empty BB underneath which they can use if necessary. Add qe and super
I don't go away in summer because I am a beekeeper!!!!!

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i know...and we dont...friends wedding in uganda and have to really

undrawn brood box underneath AND undrawn super above?

can they work on both at same time...

 

[Vortex]

They'll draw foundation better with the undrawn brood box above..
If you're not interested in a honey crop this year then put the BB above and give then the facitilty to go double brood this year.
If you really think you're going to get a honey crop of some sorts then put the super above without a QE.
If they pull the super then you can always add the BB in after you return and put the QE above that.. and brood in the then super will hatch as normal and potentially be replaced with honey.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

They'll draw foundation better with the undrawn brood box above..
If you're not interested in a honey crop this year then put the BB above and give then the facitilty to go double brood this year.
If you really think you're going to get a honey crop of some sorts then put the super above without a QE.
If they pull the super then you can always add the BB in after you return and put the QE above that.. and brood in the then super will hatch as normal and potentially be replaced with honey.

that was my plan...using the heat rising to pull supers, no QE whilst away so they think they can lay into that space (helps with pulling super frames too) and if there are eggs in on return...do as you say

checking that logic sounds ok...

 

[enrico]

I was under the impression that you wanted double brood next year. If you added it underneath it would be there if they needed it this year, but fine, I was just telling you what I would do.
E

 

[Cuckmere couple]

I was under the impression that you wanted double brood next year. If you added it underneath it would be there if they needed it this year, but fine, I was just telling you what I would do.
E

i do want double BB next year...so...adding it this year with foundation...and a super, is ok? i was thinking it would split their efforts 50/50 between second BB and super...but if not i will?

im doing my first double BB at the moment on my other colony but this one is a bought buckfast which seems to be laying fast

so, will a second BB underneath not denude their drawing of super frames and storing honey?

 

[Stiffy]

i do want double BB next year...so...adding it this year with foundation...and a super, is ok? i was thinking it would split their efforts 50/50 between second BB and super...but if not i will?

im doing my first double BB at the moment on my other colony but this one is a bought buckfast which seems to be laying fast

so, will a second BB underneath not denude their drawing of super frames and storing honey?

You will always need to provide a good Buckfast queen sufficient space too lay or she will be off. Single brood boxes, I assume national are too small for Buckfast queens. I have some on brood and half and found this to be too small and being changed over. I would agree brood underneath and super on top if you are going to be away for a time, easier IMHO to sort out a few frames when you get back than lose the queen.
S

 

[Anduril]

As Enrico and Stiffy

 

[Beefriendly]

i do want double BB next year...so...adding it this year with foundation...and a super, is ok? i was thinking it would split their efforts 50/50 between second BB and super...but if not i will?

Don't overthink it....but with the fecundity of Buckfast queens not giving them sufficient space soon enough is not a good move. You may wish to go to double brood next year....Her Majesty may wish to get there in the next few months. Your job as a beekeeper is to manage and provide what the bees need.

 

[Hachi]

to the three posts immediately above this one.

 

[taurus]

I gave a local beginner a nuc this year with a queen I raised from a Buckfast queen I bought in last year. He started in a single box in May, they are now filling a double brood (national) with two supers filled with honey.

I'd given them the space, especially if you're going to be away for a period.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thanks all

wasnt sure that foundation below in a BB and foundation above in a super, wouldnt over stretch them

am away for 10 days in 2 weeks time so will see as that time apporaches

currently in a two storey nuc and upper still has 4 undrawn but a lot of capped...

 

[enrico]

i do want double BB next year...so...adding it this year with foundation...and a super, is ok? i was thinking it would split their efforts 50/50 between second BB and super...but if not i will?

im doing my first double BB at the moment on my other colony but this one is a bought buckfast which seems to be laying fast

so, will a second BB underneath not denude their drawing of super frames and storing honey?

They will only draw the bottom BB if they need it for brood. They will only draw the super if they need it for stores, that's the theory anyway, too much space is always better than too little ( in summer)
E

 

[Beefriendly]

They will only draw the bottom BB if they need it for brood. They will only draw the super if they need it for stores, that's the theory anyway, too much space is always better than too little ( in summer)
E

That is pretty much the way I find it as well. You can of course get it wrong and they haven't enough drawn comb in supers for storing honey so they back fill the brood nest...which restricts the queens laying space.....have one of those to sort out tomorrow morning with about 6 brood frames of honey clogging things up in the top box.

 

[Clemcook]

From personal experience I've bought my first nuc last year with a incredibly prolific Queen I had to perform an artificial split, she filled two brood boxes and I sufficiently raised another colony from her, my best advice as a beginner is to make sure they have enough room because otherwise before you know it they have made a queen cell and are ready to do one

 

[Bakerbee]

When they backfill the brood box and dont draw and use the super how do you sort it yo encourage it otherwise? Thanks

 

[Cuckmere couple]

ok...think ill put them in a hive this weekend and add undrawn super to see if they start drawing...then when we go...depending on what theyve done...will add BB underneath

 

[Clemcook]

That's exactly what I've done with mine, I tend to find the if you give them the super then at least you've got some extra space there you may end up with brood and a half but that's easy enough to sort out

 

[Cuckmere couple]

That's exactly what I've done with mine, I tend to find the if you give them the super then at least you've got some extra space there you may end up with brood and a half but that's easy enough to sort out

yup...we go away fro 10 days in two weeks time...see where they get to with the drawing super and then add a qe when drawn and potentially a BB underneath