>IMO, reversing is more about getting excess feed down below where it will
be uncapped and moved -- stimulating the colony and out of the way of brood
rearing up top than anything else.

> Reversing can also force conservative bees to expand the nest.


Those are exactly the two reasons that we do.  My concerns are also exactly
the same as yours.

>it does seem intuitive that reversing too soon, especially if there was
still a dome of capped honey in the top box before reversing, would get
them crowded in the bottom under that honey and promote swarming.

We don't see that happening--strong colonies quickly rearrange the honey
band.  Reversing weak colonies in cool weather can result in split
clusters, even a week later!

Unfortunately, I've never taken the time to set up a controlled trial to
determine the overall cost/benefit to smaller colonies.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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