It is interesting all this information about the unlimited brood chamber. It makes pretty good sense, and if the queen can move around, without getting the honey bound brood nest, it is probably really good swarm prevention too.
I used a queen excluder last year on my colonies and I am now thinking, after reading so many experiences with ULBC that some of my brood nests may have become honeybound. Inadequate supering, supering too late, so many small issues that arose from inexperience with beekeeping.
In reflection of some of my experiences over the past season, it has come to my attention a new matter.
I thought that I had such a severe infestation of varroa that it destroyed many of my colonies eventually. I have a thought that perhaps there was indeed high levels, but it may not be entire culprit that I thought it was. Perhaps the queen had become honey bound and was not laying to her full capacity that she should have. The result, decreased levels of brood, and we know that that carries on and afflicts the build up of the hives. Correct?
This may have affected the strength of the colonies to even ward off the varroa mite. There is so much pondering of ideas and advice, it is a good thing.
Do my summarizations regarding the above matters make sense to you other beekeepers that have so many years of beekeeping experience held in your hands? I need to know, please correct me or advise if I am correct. Great day all. Cindi