So some of this was covered in a recent topic "How Many Supers to Add..?" with regard to giving the bees lots of space to work.
Space, I have here. Foundationless frames, yes. Just no more empty comb to put in the brood nest. The problem is, the nectar's coming in so fast, that even when I've added empty frames at the edges of the brood nest, they are filling it with nectar. Totally pre-swarm and I don't want to lose them. And now I'm out of drawn comb.
As Bob mentioned is happening in CA, the Japanese Privet is in bloom. It's gorgeous. There are ten trees within 200 feet of the hives. The bees are working it from 7am to 7pm.
https://youtu.be/_2hswJMCozYSo, the problem: They aren't drawing new comb, but rather, the emerging brood is replaced with nectar. No swarm cells yet that I saw, but I might have missed. I pulled two frames of brood today, and added my last two empty drawn combs.
It's as if the bees don't want to take the nectar to the top of the stack, and they aren't using the top entrance yet.
I'm contemplating adding a hive body with 10 totally empty frames UNDER the bottom box. Thoughts?
Here's the equipment stack, top to bottom.
Telescoping lid
Inner Cover
Imirie shim with exit
9-frame super with 2 drawn frames of honey
QX
Med hive body - 7 drawn frames, 2 empty frames - all nectar & stores
Med hive body - 6 frames capped brood speckled with nectar backfill
Med hive body- 6 frames capped brood speckled with nectary backfill
Slatted rack
Screened Bottom Board
I'm also considering a swarm guard, which might slow them down at the entrance. Or maybe make them start using the top entrance (I wish!)
What are thoughts on a totally empty hive body underneath the current stack? Or should I keep interspersing empties? I hate interrupting them. They're not keen on the interruptions either...
Thanks, all