How many frames to overwinter on?

[RichardK]

The impression I'm getting is that I should be looking to reduce a 10 frame hive to 7 or 8 frames over winter - does that seem right? And if so...why?? My assumption is that it's planning ahead for Spring to provide room for them to expand but really I've no idea!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The impression I'm getting is that I should be looking to reduce a 10 frame hive to 7 or 8 frames over winter - does that seem right?

No, just leave as is, any frames with no brood in should be filled with stores, they will consume this over winter leaving plenty of brooding space in the spring.
There comes a time when obsessing over quantifying everything needs to be put to one side and just leave the bees sort themselves out as they see fit

 

[enrico]

Amen

 

[Boston Bees]

The impression I'm getting is that I should be looking to reduce a 10 frame hive to 7 or 8 frames over winter - does that seem right?

If you had a 10 frame hive with 3 frames of undrawn foundation, yes, you might want to take out the foundation and replace with some kind of insulation. Otherwise, no.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If you had a 10 frame hive with 3 frames of undrawn foundation, yes, you might want to take out the foundation and replace with some kind of insulation. Otherwise, no.

I find that if you feed them properly (not in four litre dribs and drabs) they will bot draw out the foundation and fillit with stores, I observed that with a few late hived nucs last winter.

 

[Murox]

I find that if you feed them properly (not in four litre dribs and drabs) they will bot draw out the foundation and fillit with stores, I observed that with a few late hived nucs last winter.

I have a habit of removing\cycling out old brood frames on whole hives each autumn as required. I feed 5 litres at a time, they haven't yet failed to draw out all the foundation and fill with stores.

 

[Amari]

If you had a 10 frame hive with 3 frames of undrawn foundation, yes, you might want to take out the foundation and replace with some kind of insulation. Otherwise, no.

Good advice. That would leave only seven frames of brood + stores = danger of starvation in early spring. OP would be advised to add a slab of fondant Jan/Feb.