Immediate Demaree?

[JonnyPicklechin]

First inspection I've got a couple of single broods bursting....also probably 4 to 5 full capped brood.

No drones though...can I demaree or should I wait for drones on the scene?

 

[Erichalfbee]

First inspection I've got a couple of single broods bursting....also probably 4 to 5 full capped brood.

No drones though...can I demaree or should I wait for drones on the scene?

No I would super ( drawn) if all the other frames are full of nectar. You need two supers between boxes.
Cold spell coming remember

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Way too early to think of demarree, I wouldn't think of doing it until there's eight frames of brood (and preparing to put a second super on)

 

[Curly green finger's]

Way too early to think of demarree, I wouldn't think of doing it until there's eight frames of brood (and preparing to put a second super on)

What if it was a double brood with 13 frames of brood?
Apologies for jumping on the thread.

 

[Arfermo]

No I would super ( drawn) if all the other frames are full of nectar. You need two supers between boxes.
Cold spell coming remember

Put a super on each of mine last Thursday - they are booming in gratitude!!

 

[Ian123]

Go dbl brood or add a super personally for me it’s dbl brood, just don’t go brood and a half

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What if it was a double brood with 13 frames of brood?
Apologies for jumping on the thread.

I wouldn't dream of doing a Demarree on double brood.

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

Way too early to think of demarree, I wouldn't think of doing it until there's eight frames of brood (and preparing to put a second super on)

Have you tried it? What happens? Or if not and its a theory, what do you reckon would happen? To be clear, full coverage of all frames with maybe 6 good frames of good pattern capped brood, no drones and a single new, drawn, super...

(You can guess, Ive gone ahead and done it with one hive....I need convincing to go and reverse it...Before disaster strikes...)

 

[Erichalfbee]

(You can guess, Ive gone ahead and done it with one hive....I need convincing to go and reverse it...Before disaster strikes...)

So what is the set up in this Demaree?

 

[Erichalfbee]

What if it was a double brood with 13 frames of brood?
Apologies for jumping on the thread.

Just split and requeen one half

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

So what is the set up in this Demaree?

Full (ie boiling with bees) single brood with 6 full, good pattern capped brood frames moved up in new BB along with 2 more half-full-capped brood frames. HM and replacement all-drawn frames below (remaining 3 frames were stores). One new empty, drawn framed super between with 2 x QE bordering each top and bottom BBs. And to repeat, no or very low number of drones.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Have you tried it? What happens? Or if not and its a theory, what do you reckon would happen? To be clear, full coverage of all frames with maybe 6 good frames of good pattern capped brood, no drones and a single new, drawn, super...

(You can guess, Ive gone ahead and done it with one hive....I need convincing to go and reverse it...Before disaster strikes...)

Why ask if you just go ahead and do it anyway? I haven't tried it because why would I need to, the colony isn't ready to Demarree.
Reason is simple, why bugger about with a colony so early in the season when they don't need it, you should get on with a Demarree at a time when you'd think they are running short of space (I don't call six frames of brood running short)

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

Some, doubtless you included, would call it stupid and pointless. Others might call it "developmental research" or at the very least, an interesting experiment. I'll charge on in the name of the latter and report back as to what happens. There seems to be a decent harvest of new drones from other colonies and that inherent benefit of QCs from a strong hive for increase is in play. Its beekeeping, what could possibly go wrong?

All told, there will at least be some empirical evidence following the escapade should some other hapless risk taker ask in the future.

 

[drex]

Each to his own. In my beekeeping I prefer to be led by the bees, and not do beekeeper centred beekeeping

 

[Erichalfbee]

Each to his own. In my beekeeping I prefer to be led by the bees, and not do beekeeper centred beekeeping

I Demaree but I wait till the bees are full of brood and drones and on the cusp of swarming by which time there is a full super on and they are working on the second

 

[Ian123]

4-5 brood frames in a standard national is not a lot. Just give another bb when needed and be done with it till later.

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

Each to his own. In my beekeeping I prefer to be led by the bees, and not do beekeeper centred beekeeping

I get your point but there has to be method, an application and style. Mr Demaree was not a bee.

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

4-5 brood frames in a standard national is not a lot. Just give another bb when needed and be done with it till later.

If i wanted to Demaree, even later, i wouldnt want to add a second BB now.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If i wanted to Demaree, even later, i wouldnt want to add a second BB now.

Indeed which although you might have a plan in which colonies you want to Demaree they have to be flexible. Some you can and some you can’t.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It's a very unwise move to try and 'force' an early Demarree, especially when you haven't really enough brood to fill one deep. you are splitting your workforce of nurse bees when they have very few to spare, even if they do make QC's (I'm assuming by your mention of drones you plan to make increase)the paucity of nurse bees will mean they will be pretty poor.