Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Dr. B in Wisconsin on March 08, 2018, 09:05:37 pm
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Hello everyone
I am going to do a 3 lb install come about the middle of April here in Wisconsin
I will be installing into drawn out comb with some honey and some pollen (the frames have been in the frig all winter in the garage)
The bees swarmed and did not come back and were completely gone come late fall.
Here is my question, should I install into 1 deep or 2 deeps, it will probably be a little cool in April in Wisconsin.
If your answer is 1 deep how long should I wait before adding the second deep.
This is my seventh year having fun with the bugs.
Thanks for the help.
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One deep, then check weekly and add the second deep when 8 frames are fairly full of brood and supplies.
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Seventh year? This is a bated question...
One deep and depending on flows and location 2-3 weeks
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Start with one deep, the queen will take up to a week to start laying and the brood three weeks to hatch so you are looking at the population of the hive (package bees) to decrease for about three to four weeks. Plan to super up sometime after three weeks or when the first super gets 8 full frames.
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1 deep because the bees need to cover the broods when it is still cold at night.
If they build up fast then add a 2nd with drawn comb. Usually at 70-80% build up.
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As mentioned, 1 deep, I would leave one or 2 frames un drawn. The bees are probably making a lot of wax while caged and need a place to build.
Jim
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As with others, a single deep including at least one partially drawn
or new frame to build out.
What I would be working on is figuring next Fall's works to evade
another swarm event
Shad
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I'd add that many beekeepers only run "1" brood box and manage accordingly. As the nectar flow begins just slap a queen excluder on and a honey super (I use mediums). Once they start storing nectar in the honey supers you can pull the queen excluder. I install a QE initially to keep the queen in the brood box. If you find that your (1) brood box is getting to strong, you can always do a split, start a NUC, or give weaker hives a frame or 2 from it. So... don't think that you have to run 2 deeps.