A Monster March Hive (And how to keep it from swarming)

[@madisonbarnhart3421]

Just what I was facing yesterday!

[@thebeesupply]

That's a good problem!

[@suzannecheverie]

I thought you would always add the empty box on top to prevent swarming as bees move up in the spring - ? Should we add the empty box below instead?

[@RyanFerreri]

Think of the brood nest as a balloon being blown up, and stored honey as an immovable wall. You can add a box on top as long as there is a path to that box that does not cross a mass of stored Honey. Alternatively, you can add a box below or add a couple drawn comb at the edges of the brood to act as a path to the upper box. The balloon will expand into the space given. In early spring adding a box below is often better because adding a box above changes the whole thermal situation in the hive, which is not good.

[@jamesbarron1202]

Why do they make drone comb on the bottom of a small frame? Is it because of no foundation?

[@thebeesupply]

Right! Usually free form comb in a standard hive is drone comb.

[@spiritoftoad]

This first frame would go very well with our next club lesson. Is it okay to share the 2 screenshots with our club?

[@thebeesupply]

Sure! Go ahead!