Earliest Bailey comb change?

[Newbeeneil]

I'm looking to change one of my hives from standard national to 14x12 as early as possible in the season. When would you folks suggest it would be reasonable to carry this out on the Surrey Sussex border?

 

[SDM]

I'm looking to change one of my hives from standard national to 14x12 as early as possible in the season. When would you folks suggest it would be reasonable to carry this out on the Surrey Sussex border?

Either about the same time as they'd require supering, or simply transfer them into the 14 × 12 box along with whatever standard national frames have brood on them.
They'll draw those frames out to 14 x 12 and you can cycle them out as and when.

 

[mbc]

I'm looking to change one of my hives from standard national to 14x12 as early as possible in the season. When would you folks suggest it would be reasonable to carry this out on the Surrey Sussex border?

Never, 14 x 12 is the devil's dung of a format, or if you're dead set on lumbering yourself with awkward frames do as SDM suggests.

 

[Poly Hive]

RE the Bailey ask yourself the 2nd and 3d of your questions. My reply would be no to both.

Double brood would serve you better and certainly give you more flexibility which is at times priceless.

PH

 

[For want of a better word]

RE the Bailey ask yourself the 2nd and 3d of your questions. My reply would be no to both.

Double brood would serve you better and certainly give you more flexibility which is at times priceless.

PH

When the bees need a split... depends on how colony is behaving... late April /May??
.... easy to make up STANDARD NATIONAL nucs.... 3 frames... move frames to center as drawn out and remove old brood as hatch
We have tried 14 x 12 frame format... as my back will attest!

 

[Poly Hive]

That's the location difference.

In mid May my colonies will be on 5 to 8 frames ish... so making increase (do we have to use the American split?) is for me early June at best really unless I want to destroy the donor colonies.

The American split technique is when they literally split a double brood and give a cell to each. They do not check for anything just slap one BB on a new floor pop a roof on and move on. The stylish way their commercial guys work.

PH

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If you're hellbent on changing to 14x12, don't bother with a Bailey change (unless all your comb is in such an atrocious state it's a neccessity)move all the occupied deep frames into the new box surrounded by 14x12 frames, wait for them to draw out the foundation then gradually move the deps out to the edges and remove/replace when they are free of brood.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the feedback, I assumed that there would be plenty of advice on the pros and cons of 14x12s but I made that step last year when I thought I would have a play and changed the first hive in that apiary, so I have experience of the 14x12s. To be honest I quite like the format so hence I'm going to change the second hive to match. This will allow me to swap frames and I have knocked up a 14x12 eke for my nucs ready for swarming.
My question was on timing but I love the debate on formats!

 

[Hebeegeebee]

If the colony is too small, it will take an age to do a Bailey - so wait until it is a decent size and the weather is not too cool. There's no need to hurry. I would not want to just put some deep frames in a 14 x 12 box as you will invariably finish up with comb below the deeps. However once bees have started to take down syrup feed from up above, one frame up into the top box with the queen and above the excluder will get them moving quicker - and plenty of feed with insulation on top to keep it warm as they will have a lot of comb to draw. Once a couple of 14 x 12 frames have been drawn, then the deep frame can go downstairs again.

But then I tried 14 x 12's for a few years and gave up with them.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I would not want to just put some deep frames in a 14 x 12 box as you will invariably finish up with comb below the deeps.

Who cares - you're working them out and geting rid anyway

 

[Ian123]

As above just add your standard deeps in with the 14x12. You only need to have those few with brood in the new box and a feed of week syrup keeping an eye on stores. They may initially draw a little rogue comb, but once you can alternate new and old frames the larger deeps act as a guide and you tend to get rather good combs. Then just work out if/when you want....as others have said I would prefer dbl brood/standard boxes.....failing that just add you new box above