Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: melnik on August 25, 2009, 02:50:17 pm

Title: Should i add another broot chamber?
Post by: melnik on August 25, 2009, 02:50:17 pm

HI, i am continuing on the same topic where i think my bees are about to separate, so should i add another broot chamber just in case...?  This particular hive is new, i started building it in spring and they are still developing....So far i have 2 broot chambers (10 deep frm each), and it is about 1 1/2 full.  The honey super is still not set. So i was wondering, for my location, Southern New Hampshire, where we still have hot days but cooler nights, is it ok and should i add another broot chamber?

What other ways do you know how to make sure your bees dont fly away?

Title: Re: Should i add another broot chamber?
Post by: Kathyp on August 25, 2009, 03:53:59 pm

is your brood area expanding or contracting?  at this time of the year, brood production begins to go down for most of us.  how much honey is stored for winter.  for me, it is not time to add space.  the queen is reducing laying and they are beginning to back fill the space with honey in preparation for winter.

we really need to know what is going on in your hive.  if they have 5 empty frames and you are in a cold winter climate, i would not add space. 

do you have swarm cells?  have they drawn out all frames?  are they storing honey?  are you days warm?  is there any nectar flow going on now?

it is unlikely that they are preparing to swarm at this time of the year.  that said, if they have decided to swarm (you have swarm cells, etc.) they will almost always do it in spite of your efforts.