Brood placement

[JUDELT]

I have a question ;first some background- this hive swarmed 5-6 times in April and I guess there were not enough bees left to protect the hive. Also, as a fairly new Beek, I didn't realize SHB was taking hold. By the time I realized what had happened,  they slimed the super and top brood box. The bottom brood was clean, just dark. there were bunches of bees in this bottom box! They had a jar of sugar water  for about 3 weeks and didn't drink it. They had/have a little syrup in the foundation. Questions- should I add another deep brood box with new foundation and should I put it on top of the original brood box or on the bottom this time of year/ thank you  all in advance. Judy       I did remove the slimed super and brood box!

[Woody Roberts]

Bees work best when they have just enough room. If the bottom box isn't boiling with bees I wouldent add one yet.
If its full of bees with three or more frames of capped brood then they will need more room as soon as it hatches out.
If its capped it will hatch in the next 9 days or less and each frame of capped will make about two frames of bees.
I don't want them to have any more room than they can cover and protect. I look at what they need now and also what they will need next week.

Hope this makes sense.

[Jen]

Good advice Woody, but I'm wondering if the SHB Small Hive Beetle if still a potential problem?

[JUDELT]

  The frames were completely empty. I took each one out last visit to make sure there were no SHB. When I filled feeder jars on my 2 swarm hives a few hours ago, I opened this one to see how they were doing and they have 4 frames filled and capped. It looked like honey, but maybe is brood! Every time I checked this hive I am amazed!

[Jen]

 

[Woody Roberts]

If the bees occupy all the space they have then they can keep SHB at bay. It's when you have frames of honey that's unguarded that the beetles can lay eggs.

The beetles themselves are not the problem. It's the larva. A strong or rather full hive will keep them from laying or when one gets by they'll drag the larva out.

I run the IPK beetle trap from green beehives. As long as I keep oil in the tray I have no beetle issues no matter how much vacant space or if their in the shade.

Ps. Full sunlight goes a long way at keeping the beetles away

[riverbee]

what woody said in his post #2 and ditto, i would wait.  i like to see 3-4 frames of brood and bees covering those frames plus bees covering/working the additional frames of pollen/honey.  like woody described 'boiling'.  is there foundation left to be drawn on these frames?  bees won't utilize additional space until they need it. i know this is generic but you said the hive swarmed 5-6 times already and that there were 'bunches of bees' in there now.  describe 'bunches of bees'.....how many frames of brood do you have?  do they have pollen/honey frames filled or being filled out?  judy, i know you said you had 4 frames that were filled and  capped but weren't sure if this was honey or brood, are these capped frames in the center of the deep? 

also, when i add a deep, it goes on the bottom, unless it's a deep of foundation, it goes on top.