Bees only on half of brood & half

[Deerefergy]

Had a good brood and half colony which went Queen less.

Put in a new mated queen and now she is now laying a good pattern.

However, she is only laying in the half box and doesn't seem to want to go down into the full size box (half box is on top of full size box)

How can I encourage her to start laying in the full size box?

Would putting the half box on the bottom help?

 

[Tom Bick]

How long has she been in the hive? Is there enough bees in the hive to sustain extra brood right now?

When the bees and queen need to they will move down onto the brood frames.

 

[Dishmop]

I'd guess its because she naturally lays from top to bottom.

 

[midnight sun]

If the colony is small, the heat is at the top so more efficient till enough bees are able to cope. Its warm now, but bees need 35 degrees for brood.
When colony is bigger, if she still sticks to the upper box then swap boxes and see if she alters her pattern. Plus the with brood now at the bottom the heat will rise and help brooding higher up where you want her to lay. Just my opinion.

 

[Dishmop]

I cant see it that the queen will suddenly decide to lay eggs downstairs because its warmer....

 

[midnight sun]

I cant see it that the queen will suddenly decide to lay eggs downstairs because its warmer....

I meant that I didn't know how many bees were in the colony. So if there was very few there would not be enough to produce the heat required to lay further down the box where it was cooler. That is, big box not 'dummied down' so large space to heat. Therefore more heat at the top for now, allowing easier brooding and saving of energy. (I know I didn't put it across well)
Then I thought when the colony is bigger and can cope easily with the volume, she may move down. If she then doesn't just flip boxes and see what happens. (Sure I've seen something similar by Wally Shaw?)
Don't know if that expresses my thoughts better. (Probably not)

 

[Dishmop]

Queen shouldl move down when space at top is full or mostly full. Used cells will then be used to store hoeny.

 

[Finman]

.
If there are old brood are not emerged, the queen starts laying in the centre of old brood area. IT does not start from upstairs

Queen continues laying in circles. You have capped brood in centre, then larvae and outmost eggs.

If the colony has Lost 2 swarms, it has lack of foragers and home bees.

Laid half box.... It depends how long the queen has been laid and how old are larvae.

 

[Finman]

.
Like I have said many times, shut the mesh floor, if it is open. The colony does not need 100 fold ventilation.

 

[Dishmop]

.
If there are old brood are not emerged, the queen starts laying in the centre of old brood area. IT does not start from upstairs

Queen continues laying in circles. You have capped brood in centre, then larvae and outmost eggs.

If the colony has Lost 2 swarms, it has lack of foragers and home bees.

Laid half box.... It depends how long the queen has been laid and how old are larvae.

But surely she will start laying upstairs if there are empty cells there?

 

[Finman]

But surely she will start laying upstairs if there are empty cells there?

IT does not. IT starts there where was previous brood.

If there are too few bees, you must take extra box off if bees cannot occupy it.

 

[Dishmop]

IT does not. IT starts there where was previous brood.

If there are too few bees, you must take extra box off if bees cannot occupy it.

well therefore we must assume that there was brood in the top box and that is why she is laying there.

 

[midnight sun]

Maybe it's the 'bee space' under the shallow box that she is reluctant to bridge whilst laying? (like when the Queen is reluctant to pass along the box if the nest area has been 'checkerboarded', breaking up that continuity of frames)
Just asking opinions on this particular post, not offering a definitive answer.
Come on RAB where are you?

 

[midnight sun]

IT does not. IT starts there where was previous brood.

If there are too few bees, you must take extra box off if bees cannot occupy it.

Warmth needed?

 

[Finman]

Warmth needed?

NO warmth, but bees. Bigger colony.

Not only nurser bees but foragers too that they bring pollen to home bees and home bees decide to enlarge the brood nest.

1 box colony cannot nurse 2 box of brood, even if you heat it with electrict.

 

[midnight sun]

NO warmth, but bees. Bigger colony.

Not only nurser bees but foragers too that they bring pollen to home bees and home bees decide to enlarge the brood nest.

1 box colony cannot nurse 2 box of brood, even if you heat it with electrict.

Thanks Finman