> From: Rodney Farrar <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 08:38:40 EDT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: New Hives

Hello Rodney and all:

> When is the best time to add second hive body for a new hive? Using deep hive
> bodies, do not have drawn comb, should it be 70-80% drawn and capped or only
> drawn before putting second body on?

    When the "brood box" has 90-95% drawn comb,  a lot of brood, pollen, and
substantial honey being processed, a good nector flow or continuing 1:1
syrup being fed, is the right time.  If are to use a queen excluder, be
sure to take from the brood box  one 'side frame' that is at least partially
drawn and with considerable nector-sugarsyrup in it out of the BB, using
this to bait the center of  the second  box;  place the removed center frame
of foundation from the second box into the removed side frame position in
the brood box where the colony will begin to redraw it and fill IT with
nector-syrup.  Of course some of the honey in the 1st body wil be partially
capped, especially across the top including top corners.   All this is not
absolutely critical.  Be sure the bees don't fill the primary box to point
of being crowded....they may need some place to hang out at night!

Bob Barnett...Birmingham AL

> Thanks,
> Rodney