Jonathan01
New Bee
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2020
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 3
- Number of Hives
- 8
I know it's early days yet, but it looks like my colonies are going to make it through the winter - some incredibly well!
On the warm days we have had here in Lancashire recently, a couple of the colonies have even started bearding on the landing board!
Given how packed some of the colonies are, I am thinking about extra space for some of them. I thought, as a temporary measure, start by putting a super under the brood box just to give them space for the next month or so, but what about when spring has truly sprung?
Should I be increasing some hives from my usual 'single brood' to either 'brood and a 1/2' or even a 'double brood' box.
What is the general feeling? What do you do? Stick to the one brood box?
Or, give additional brood space and if so how much?
- Will the extra brood space not result in a lower honey crop?
- Does a good queen really need that additional laying space? Won't the bees just backfill with honey?
- Does the extra brood space help much with swarm delay? Won't piling on the supers, above the QE, do the same?
- I was thinking of a double brood box (on my two strongest colonies) and then using that for a stronger split and reverting to a single brood for the rest of the season.
I understand that many of these manipulations are probably 6-8 weeks away, but I would like to get equipment ready for when the action starts.
On the warm days we have had here in Lancashire recently, a couple of the colonies have even started bearding on the landing board!
Given how packed some of the colonies are, I am thinking about extra space for some of them. I thought, as a temporary measure, start by putting a super under the brood box just to give them space for the next month or so, but what about when spring has truly sprung?
Should I be increasing some hives from my usual 'single brood' to either 'brood and a 1/2' or even a 'double brood' box.
What is the general feeling? What do you do? Stick to the one brood box?
Or, give additional brood space and if so how much?
- Will the extra brood space not result in a lower honey crop?
- Does a good queen really need that additional laying space? Won't the bees just backfill with honey?
- Does the extra brood space help much with swarm delay? Won't piling on the supers, above the QE, do the same?
- I was thinking of a double brood box (on my two strongest colonies) and then using that for a stronger split and reverting to a single brood for the rest of the season.
I understand that many of these manipulations are probably 6-8 weeks away, but I would like to get equipment ready for when the action starts.