Double brood

[whoosling]

My bees are bursting at the seams at least last time I looked which was during the brief but wonderful sunshine last w/end, I have been advised by the guy I bought them off to put on another brood box, didn't have time last week and now its cold here again would it hurt the bees to open up and put on the second box or should I wait for warmer conditions? Cant get hold of the guy I bought them off so thought I ask you good people on the forum. Thanks in advance. By the way I they are in a standard national.

 

[BeeJayBee]

How many frames of brood are there?

 

[Cazza]

If they need space I wouldn't wait.
If you put the BB under the original, all you have to do is lift off the BB from the floor, place new BB on the floor (or replace floor with a clean one.) Bung the original on top.
If you're quick they won't notice a thing. No need to open up. Bish, bash, bosh, done..
Cazza

 

[whoosling]

There are at least 8 or it could have been 9 (I was abit paniced when I opened them for various reasons) frames with brood so I think I so I'll def bung on another brood box, does it make a difference if below or above then apart from getting the thing on? thanks for the answers

 

[Cazza]

There are at least 8 or it could have been 9 (I was abit paniced when I opened them for various reasons) frames with brood so I think I so I'll def bung on another brood box, does it make a difference if below or above then apart from getting the thing on? thanks for the answers

As bees tend to work downwards and it's cool at the moment so it would make sense not to make them have to heat the space on top, I'd go under.
Cazza

 

[whoosling]

If they need space I wouldn't wait.
If you put the BB under the original, all you have to do is lift off the BB from the floor, place new BB on the floor (or replace floor with a clean one.) Bung the original on top.
If you're quick they won't notice a thing. No need to open up. Bish, bash, bosh, done..
Cazza

Have done just as you suggested and at the same time replaced floor, as you said it was a quick job and fingers crossed my queen is still there not squished or anything and will have lots of room, The bees were trying to push out of the floor is that because they were really overcrowded?

 

[Browntea]

i put a second BB on a hive last weekend on the top, could i still put this BB under the main or just leave it now? I looked through the glass quilt today and it appears some bees have moved up but maybe only covering 2 frames

 

[Langstroth]

Persoanlly, I don't think it really makes a great deal of difference if you put the brood box above or below the existing one. You will get people telling you that you must put it below or above for a variety of reasons but from what I have seen the bees will adapt equally well. When I add an additional brood box to a really strong hive I tend to split the brood and stores between both boxes so there is a vertical brood nest in the centre. I find the the bees respind well to this and will work on expanding the brood nest over both boxes.

 

[yeogi75]

i put a second BB on a hive last weekend on the top, could i still put this BB under the main or just leave it now? I looked through the glass quilt today and it appears some bees have moved up but maybe only covering 2 frames

the weather is going to change for the worst over the next two weeks, I would leave alone but put the floor inspection tray in for a couple of weeks, and take back out when warms up that will keep more heat in, and save the bees a lot of hard work

 

[Erichalfbee]

I would put the floor inspection tray in for a couple of weeks, and take back out when warms up that will keep more heat in, and save the bees a lot of hard work

I supered two hives with no QX earlier this week to give them more room and that is what I did.

 

[yeogi75]

forgot too say keep eye on inspection board for any sign of mould, with damp weather and warm hive mould grows on any fallen pollen

down to paper shop for some matches