expanding brood

[Alfred]

I've got a maisemore poly-Nuc that's almost full.
Is it too early to put on a second brood chamber(one or two central frames of comb and backfilled with frames of kingspan)?

Record 11 degree temp today and busy bees but it's set to revert back for the forcastable future.

I really rather not break up the main nest by putting them into a full national just yet.
Also it would set things up nicely for a split later on....

I have to replenish the fondant soon so it seemed like a good opportunity
Y/n?

[Chrisbarlow]

If frames are drawn comb then yes but the box should really be crammed full

[NigelP]

Steady Tiger....most of your bees are currently winter bees that will die off shortly....there will be a population drop around March/April before all the new replacements kick in.
I'd say it's a call more based on numbers of frames of brood....which means a very quick inspection. 11c...do-able...we have not got above 8C for months.
Say you have 3 stores left remove one of those etc

[Alfred]

Got it thanks chaps.
If I'm feeding homebrew sugar cake and pollen sub fondant do they need their own stores?
So the ones swirling in front of the hives,this box had about 50 at lunchtime,what age would they be?

[MickBBKA]

OMG.... 5C daytime and -1C tonight, bonus is wind dropped below 25mph for the first time in 12 weeks.

[Alfred]

Yep
On my way up there today but expected rain 5c and 15 mph so plan b
Tea and choc hobnobs.

Acquired some secondhand 8x4 kingspan sheets so I might build myself a poly hive to hibernate in.

[Patrick]

Sounds the best plan Alfred.

A couple of bright days and flying bees gets us thinking about Spring and cracking on - then its back to cold and overcast. Will leave them to it a while yet.

Yesterday started with ice on the windscreen, then warm bright sunshine and light breezes at the a western tip of Cornwall, then freezing winds on the north coast and back down to 3.5 degrees arriving home in the evening. An inevitable lunchtime fresh hot pasty did help offset the chill however.

[NigelP]

Got it thanks chaps.
If I'm feeding homebrew sugar cake and pollen sub fondant do they need their own stores?
So the ones swirling in front of the hives,this box had about 50 at lunchtime,what age would they be?

Therein lies the rub. If they have sufficient stores and pollen left from the previous year then no need to feed. If they are empty of both then you need to feed.
It takes many years to get a feel for what is happening. Hefting hives gives you some idea. But nothing beats a quick inspection to see what is actually going on. Looks like we might see 10C + next week, will take opportunity to check one or two of mine....very quickly.

[thewoodgatherer]

Sounds the best plan Alfred.

A couple of bright days and flying bees gets us thinking about Spring and cracking on - then its back to cold and overcast. Will leave them to it a while yet.

Yesterday started with ice on the windscreen, then warm bright sunshine and light breezes at the a western tip of Cornwall, then freezing winds on the north coast and back down to 3.5 degrees arriving home in the evening. An inevitable lunchtime fresh hot pasty did help offset the chill however.

Lucky sod, love to live done that way

[Patrick]

. Always important to track down a proper pasty to keep your strength up