All honey and very little eggs

[Madge]

Because if he had a double brood now (when most colonies have little/no brood) they'd be enormous when colonies can be expected to be at their peak (late spring/summer)
pargyle meant two boxes full of brood.....not just two brood boxes (1 empty and 1 full of stores)

I understood what Pargyle meant, that's why I queried his statement. I've never found that colonies over-wintered on double brood have a problem the following spring and summer - particularly not being too large. In my colonies, and living where I do, the colonies' lower boxes are usually almost empty empty by now (when I last looked a few weeks ago).

... Empty box for Winter, why? Draft, wind? For goodnes sake, put the ventilatin smaller.
RULE ONE FOR WINTERING: REDUCE the bee space! NOT ADD IT!
Take empty combs off. They only take mold there. .... And don't say anything about climate, please!!!!

As you know, a lot of people here overwinter with open-mesh floors - so having a lower box does not affect the bees (heat rises). And yes, I think if the hive has an open-mesh floor, a lower box can protect the bees from strong wind finding its way into the hive.

I do think it's important to reduce the space, but I do it with dummies in both boxes, and I keep the varroa trays in.

I agree that mould can develop on empty combs, particularly those near the sides of the hive - that's another reason why I like to reduce the space with dummies.

By the way, I'm not advocating one system over the other. I have colonies on single and on double brood - it's just how it happens when winter arrives (and I'm still trying to find a system that works for me).

... I would take the second box off. Weather is mild today so easily and quickly done.
Cazza

As others have already said, I think leave well alone now.

 

[pargyle]

Finman's knows what he's talking about. I would take the second box off. Weather is mild today so easily and quickly done.
Cazza

Sorry Cazza ... In this situation he's WRONG .. New beekeeper, potentially a very large colony next season which will build up quickly and SWARM if there isn't enough room and the OP is not on the ball, the bottom box will protect from draughts over winter and as long as there's a mouse guard on there's no problem, there's two frames of stores in there which the bees will use ... plus, any hive adjustments at this time of year (and a beginner is going to be slow) is just going to piss the bees off and it's not going to be pleasant.

 

[B+.]

And Jenkking, do you think that France is UK.

I doubt that JBM would mind whether someone was French or any other nationality. The latitude of the UK extends from France all the way up to Southern Finland. We can have differences between one county and the next, let alone one end of the country and the other. Thats why a local mentor is important.

 

[pargyle]

Because if he had a double brood now (when most colonies have little/no brood) they'd be enormous when colonies can be expected to be at their peak (late spring/summer)
pargyle meant two boxes full of brood.....not just two brood boxes (1 empty and 1 full of stores)

Exactly ... could be a real handful for a new beekeeper and the potential for swarming is going to be greater as well .. my advice for newbies is to start off with a swarm or a Nuc ... seeing them grow in size, build comb and develop into full size colonies is a lot easier and more interesting and educational than taking on an established colony. Plus, on a general basis, new/small colonies tend to be easier to handle than those that are full size and full of confidence !

The OP would be well advised, in spring, to split this big colony into two .. might not generate as big a crop of honey but the reward will be a better beekeeper for the following year .. and two colonies which are always a good idea. A demaree in spring before they think about swarming would be a good idea ... might be a bit early talking about this but something for the OP to think about over winter ?

 

[Madge]

Exactly ... could be a real handful for a new beekeeper and the potential for swarming is going to be greater as well ..

Giving a colony more space is more likely to reduce or delay swarming - not the other way round.

...
The OP would be well advised, in spring, to split this big colony into two ...

My preference is to wait until they prepare to swarm, and make use of the swarm cells. Splitting the colony won't necessarily stop them swarming - so let them be until they want to swarm.

 

[Finman]

I doubt that JBM would mind whether someone was French or any other nationality. The latitude of the UK extends from France all the way up to Southern Finland. We can have differences between one county and the next, let alone one end of the country and the other. Thats why a local mentor is important.

Oh dear. What about continental effects. You should go somewhere to adult geography class
I have a degree in geography in university. And all books were English language.
I know these things enough.

But you cannot explain, that you recommended to a beginner 2 brood box for wintering, and one is empty That has nothing to do local.

Winter is coming and guys hive swarming advices. That is why they put second brood box on time. In November.

.

 

[greig1983]

I'll keep clear of them until the spring. Don't want to upset them anymore. I went out for a look earlier and the bees are flying in and out a lot today. Probably because it's mild.
I did at the time move one of the honey frames down below and put an empty one up. Thinking it might help them work more but see what happens. Just inexperience at the moment even though watching hundreds of films on YouTube you still don't get the feel until you have your own and each country and coloney is different.

I have a wooden national hive which has one brood and one super. I was thinking of splitting this next year and hoping they rear their own queen to save me purchasing a nuc of bees.

 

[Finman]

As you know, a lot of people here overwinter with open-mesh floors - so having a lower box does not affect the bees (heat rises). And yes, I think if the hive has an open-mesh floor, a lower box can protect the bees from strong wind finding its way into the hive.
.

As you know, in Finland most of beekeepers use meshfloor. We have -20C to -30C temps.
But no one use empty box under wintering box. No one.

And how many professorional uses empty box under wintering box in UK?

 

[pargyle]

Giving a colony more space is more likely to reduce or delay swarming - not the other way round.

Yes ... but not guaranteed ...

My preference is to wait until they prepare to swarm, and make use of the swarm cells. Splitting the colony won't necessarily stop them swarming - so let them be until they want to swarm.

That's all very well when you have a season under your belt but the odds are that a big colony will swarm ... and we've seen enough newbies on here bemoaning the fact that their bees have swarmed and what to do with what's left for me to think that it's better to pre-empt the situation with a demaree rather than waiting for the inevitable ...

Splitting a colony will reduce the chance of them swarming .... at least in the early part of the season.

 

[Finman]

...

Splitting a colony will reduce the chance of them swarming .... at least in the early part of the season.

And it kills honey yield too. Early splitting ruins the build up.

Main idea is to get a colony build up so, that surplus foraging is possible. IT takes 6-8 weeks. When you split the hive, build up starts from beginning.


.

 

[Madge]

As you know, in Finland most of beekeepers use meshfloor. We have -20C to -30C temps.
But no one use empty box under wintering box. No one.

And how many professorional uses empty box under wintering box in UK?

The OP's lower box wasn't completely empty, and I'm not saying you should add an empty box. Some colonies have two boxes as winter approaches, others not. It doesn't matter either way.

 

[B+.]

But you cannot explain, that you recommended to a beginner 2 brood box for wintering, and one is empty That has nothing to do local.

Winter is coming and guys hive swarming advices.
.

If the second box is underneath, it will do no real harm to the colony. It is just space that they may move onto in the spring as they expand....and, yes, you are right...the advice is 5-6 months early, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. The more beginners who can plan what they're doing a season ahead, the fewer cries of desperation we'll get in the spring (particularly with regards to emergency feeding, overcrowding, swarm control). Yes, these things are a long way off ...I'm trying to encourage him to plan ahead but, knowing how things often happen with beginners, I'm building in some slack so that if he can't inspect his bees at the right time, they won't be overcrowded straight away

 

[Finman]

Giving a colony more space is more likely to reduce or delay swarming - not the other way round.



My preference is to wait until they prepare to swarm, and make use of the swarm cells. Splitting the colony won't necessarily stop them swarming - so let them be until they want to swarm.

Beekeeping basics. Enlarge the hive in spring. No need to explain.

What you say about waiting for Queen cells to appear, is only wise way.
Second best way is to pick them from apple trees.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have a wooden national hive which has one brood and one super.

So it isn't even a double brood but a brood and a half - even more reason to leave well alone - but I think the OP has already seen sense

I'll keep clear of them until the spring.

Word of advice though Grieg - you don't have to open them up to keep an eye on them - hefting the hive now will give you an idea of the weight when full of stores - hefting regularly throughout the winter is a rough check of how much stores are left.

More important bit of advice yootoob is not the best place to learn all about beekeeping - quite a few absolute idiots seem to spend their time putting ill thought out videos on there - join a local association, get some advice - even do a winter beekeeping course - now's the time to prepare for spring

 

[Hivemaker.]

I'm new to beekeeping and got my first hive which is a polystyrene double brood hive.

I have a wooden national hive which has one brood and one super.

So it isn't even a double brood but a brood and a half -

Two different hives i guess.

 

[pargyle]

Two different hives i guess.

Well ... I'm confused let alone the OP .... First post "I'm new to beekeeping and got my first hive which is a polystyrene double brood hive" and only ONE hive on his profile ...

So ... if he has TWO hives ? AND one of them may be timber ? could be slightly different advice for spring but doesn't change the leave them be for now advice ....

 

[B+.]

So ... if he has TWO hives ?

I think he means that the wooden one is a spare (empty equipment) that he wants to expand onto. I don't think this hive is occupied

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

doesn't change the message though - leave alone until spring!

 

[BrianO]

As GOOD advice above.

Dont fret, relax, forget wonder lotions. Leave Them, opening now and breaking propolis seals breaking comb, subjecting to lower temp will do much harm.

 

[B+.]

Dont fret

Amen!