Replacing old frames

[JonnyPicklechin]

I have had a hive now for 3 summers... Two broods which have the same age of frames... Given I only have one full hive I am wondering about replacing the frames based on the 3 year guidance over old frames.

Everything looks healthy right now but realise I can't see viruses... I was going to plan for next spring and then perform a Bailey change. Thoughts?

Also I have a NUC as a result of an artifical swarm split back in June and as they are doing well I am hiving into a National brood. That NUC has 3 frames of the original hive plus brand new ones and will be introduced to the national with fresh frames of foundation. Any tips on this one to maybe make the change next spring easier on the original hive?

Thanks in advance

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[Swarm]

Are they really grotty? I'd phase them out a frame at a time and aim to change three old ones.

 

[Teemore]

With regard to the first hive mentioned, you might wish to consider removing a few old, brood frames now and replacing them with frames of foundation(perhaps 3 frames or so). It is likely there will be frames to the outside of your two brood boxes that are currently free of brood and it is these that it will be easiest to remove. Poorly drawn frames and those that the bees have remodelled to craeate holes can be worked to the outside of the brood boxes and replaced at your convenience. If you are feeding these bees or the ivy flow has started, there is a good chance that the bees will happily draw out the new foundation. If the frames of foundation are close to the sides of the current brood area, the bees will generally be quicker to draw out new comb than if you simply stick the new frames to the outside of the brood boxes.
When you hive the nuc into the fullbox, if you keep the old frames to one side of the new brood box, it is likely that these old frames will be free of brood and stores at the end of the winter and at that point they could be replaced with frames of foundation. It is easiest on the bees to phase out frames rather than do a bailey change.