Brood Chamber

[Tommy]

I was conducting a hive inspection today, and noticed that the bottom box is a lot lighter than the top deep which has lots of honey.  Is this normal, or should both top and bottom be around the same weight?
Thanks.

[iddee]

Bees store honey from the top down, with the brood embedded in the bottom of the honey.
Yes, the empty and brood, thus lighter, comb will be below the heavier honey.

[Perry]

Sounds like everything is where it should be.

[Tommy]

Perfect!

[efmesch]

Though it is quite normal, when I find that too many of the bees' activities have moved up (not only stores, but also a lot of young brood) I like to reverse the boxes and put the active one with the queen down below.  That way, if there is any new nectar to come in, the bees will move it to the top. Generally, it is best to have stores above the cluster in the winter so that they can work their wayup as honey stores are consumed.

[riverbee]

tommy, about this time of year (fall) your queen should slow laying down a bit (unless you have italians).  the bees will fill out the 2nd deep with nectar/honey to prepare themselves for winter months. there will some outside frames in the bottom deep of honey, but not like the top deep.

yes, this is normal as all have said.  i don't reverse boxes as ef does, our weather is so much different than efs. the bees fill in the top deep to prohibit the queen from laying in the second deep. (best way i can describe it). i just let the bees do what they need to do to prepare for winter, and like ef said, stores in the top. the bees move up and consume what's available in that second deep. living in nova scotia, i would consider adding a shim on for extra feed for extra insurance.

[Tommy]

I'm going to do that Riverbee. It has an upper entrance in it as well. I was going to use plain white sugar for the extra feed on some newspaper with a hole in the center. What do you use? Fondant, patties, etc?

[riverbee]

the mountain camp method? works great from everyone that uses it tommy......'plain white sugar on newspaper'. whatever works for you and your bees!

this year most of my hives are pretty heavy in the 2nd deep already, but i will still add a shim on with feed.won't purchase the patties this year, instead i will whip up some fondant, or a 'sugar brick' method i have used. 

[Lburou]

If you use the mountain camp method, (I recommend it too), be sure to spritz some water on the newspaper before adding the sugar and then more water as you add the sugar, LIKE THIS.  The purpose for this is to solidify the sugar so it does not appear to be debris to the bees.  If they get the idea its refuse, they have been known to take it out the front door and dump it. If you live in a humid location, the sugar may solidify on its own.  HTH 

[yes2matt]

Wow, great tutorial! What do the bees prefer to read with their sugar? Comics? Ads for winterwear?

[Lburou]

Wow, great tutorial! What do the bees prefer to read with their sugar? Comics? Ads for winterwear?

I'm careful not to let them see any Union Organizer materials.