Normal size of hive

[simonforeman]

At this time of year what would be a good average size of brood nest, as in how many seams of bees would you be looking for?
Just interested in what would be a good size. I have different brood sizes that I can see through the clear crown boards and wondering if I need to pay particular attention to any.

I guess that too small and they may struggle but too big and they may run out of stores or swarm early.

 

[enrico]

Some of my best producers reduce to two frames in winter. No idea why, I don't think you can predict growth. As long as they are alive when spring comes they will increase. Bit like planting plants two weeks apart, they all seem to fruit at the same time!!!
E

 

[Beersmith]

Bit like planting plants two weeks apart, they all seem to fruit at the same time!!!
E

You never spoke a truer word. I've had an allotment for far longer than I have had bees. Sow some lettuce and a week later some more. More a week later and more a further week later. But eight weeks later they are all ready at the same time and one week later they are all running to seed!

 

[Millet]

Bees are a tad different to growing plants..weak colonies coming out of winter seem to struggle with spring build up and the lack nectar gathering capabilities. strong colonies seem to explode and bring a hell of a lot more nectar in at the same time..weired ehh.

 

[pargyle]

Bees are a tad different to growing plants..weak colonies coming out of winter seem to struggle with spring build up and the lack nectar gathering capabilities. strong colonies seem to explode and bring a hell of a lot more nectar in at the same time..weired ehh.

It rather depends on what you term a 'weak' colony. I have a colony that slims down over winter to the smallest of colonies but come spring the queen starts laying like you can't imagine and by the time summer comes it's always the biggest colony and very productive. This will be her third season and I raised another queen from her colony last year in the hope that she will be the same -what I really hope is that they will supercede her.

I've had colonies that have come through winter on 5 or 6 seams of bees and don't ever expand beyond that,

I think colony health is important and a good queen - so if your definition of a weak colony is one that is diseased or riddled with varroa and has a queen that really does not perform then I would agree with you.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

TBH I don't look in my hives to assess the bees particularly at this time of year. And cluster size will depend on the temperature as they will squeeze together when it's cold. As has been stated, some colonies (Ligustica have this reputation) keep a large brood-nest over winter and consume a lot of stores. If you want a "should I be worried" answer, if a 'full sized' colony has gone into winter I would be worried if there were not 4 seams of bees now. Nucs could be down to two without too much concern. Once by mid-march or whenever I can inspect them, they are doing OK with brood of all ages, I'm happy.

Note: last year I inspected in t shirt weather in mid-feb. [Unusually mild for a few days]. By mid-to-late march when I could check again, they had had a brood break as they could not get out to get pollen as the weather had been poor for weeks. The year earlier we had the Beast from the East, and there was no way I would have been able to inspect in Feb!

 

[Swarm]

At this time of year what would be a good average size of brood nest, as in how many seams of bees would you be looking for?
Just interested in what would be a good size. I have different brood sizes that I can see through the clear crown boards and wondering if I need to pay particular attention to any.

I guess that too small and they may struggle but too big and they may run out of stores or swarm early.

It really depends on your bees. As others have said, some reduce to just a few frames, I had a colony that would be on about three frames of brood by first inspection and would be in a double brood by mid summer.

Remember, people take nucs through winter.