Restoring some semblance of normality

[pargyle]

We're not talking about a super - it's a brood box with foundation so I assumed (maybe I shouldn't have) that the frames would be Hoffmans or the OP would use narrow spacers to give eleven frames in the box.
Never yet seen bees get 'creative' with a box full of correctly spaced brood frames.

I was talking about the video where David Heaf at the end is putting a full box (I thought it was a super but it might be a brood box) of empty frames (no foundation) in where there was all that free comb that he had cut out ... with nothing to guide them they will have a field day with that unless he's very lucky ..

 

[pargyle]

You've had the same misunderstanding as I had at first; pargyle is referring to your video, not my inverted chaos.

Yes ... didn't see your post - see above/

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I was talking about the video where David Heaf at the end is putting a full box (I thought it was a super but it might be a brood box) of empty frames (no foundation) in

Ah - well nothing would surprise me with him - seems to live in cuckoo land.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

If the top deep is entirely filled with honey, I would remove that then move the rest, as is on to a lower more stable stand, chuck a new deep filled with foundation on top of the lot and leave the bees move up to the new box in their own time. When you are able to inspect the new box and you find the queen, chuck a QE under it and wait for the brood in the bottom box to emerge before removing.
Even if it takes until the spring....

Well, I did as you said, and it did take till spring, and finally I have a good result. The queen has been laying the upper brood box for some time, over the lower inverted box, but she never seemed to be in the upper box when I was looking for her. It was as if she sensed me coming and headed straight back down to safety in the lower box. So one day, I crept up to the hive, cracked it open between the two brood boxes, and slid in an excluder. But I'd failed again. A few days later, no eggs in the upper box. But putting in the excluder had done one good thing. As I lifted it up, there was a large piece of new brace comb attached below it filling a gap between frames in the lower box. That looked promising, so I lifted the excluder and comb out and there she was! Given the choice, queens do seem to prefer new comb! I've now got her in the upper brood box, with the excluder back in place between the boxes. When the brood has emerged from the lower box, I can finally get rid of it and restore normality. Thanks for the guidance. Much appreciated!