Just put natiOnals in
Yes do just that mine built drone comb under the nationals brood in prefrance to drawing out new foundation on 14x12 frames. The bees seam to like it so much that I on my next hive I deliberately bought and fitted some 14x12 frames with deep brood foundation so they could continue to do it .
The still confided myself a total novice so heed any others contradiction to this but I would the swap early in spring once cluster has broken and they are over say 4 frames . only use those 4 frames in your 14x 12 with new foundation both sides then feed all they will take until they have drawn the rest of the frames and probebly filled them then stick a super on if they appear to be getting short of laying space because they are back filing the original 4 frames with feed remove an outside foundation frame and put it in middle of brood if it’s warm enough or if cold use one of your spare empty-brood frames.
Thinking of trying couple hives next year as 14x12 single brood box colonies. Currently running single standard deep configuration.
What’s the best way to move them over to 14x12? Demaree them into the 14x12 box? Put the deep frames into a 14x12 box and have them draw those further down?
Have no 14x12 drawn frames at this point.
Thanks.
Yes do just that mine built drone comb under the nationals brood in prefrance to drawing out new foundation on 14x12 frames. The bees seam to like it so much that I on my next hive I deliberately bought and fitted some 14x12 frames with deep brood foundation so they could continue to do it .
The still confided myself a total novice so heed any others contradiction to this but I would the swap early in spring once cluster has broken and they are over say 4 frames . only use those 4 frames in your 14x 12 with new foundation both sides then feed all they will take until they have drawn the rest of the frames and probebly filled them then stick a super on if they appear to be getting short of laying space because they are back filing the original 4 frames with feed remove an outside foundation frame and put it in middle of brood if it’s warm enough or if cold use one of your spare empty-brood frames.