Embrace Early Checker Boarding for Happy Hives

Hey Bee Enthusiasts!✨

Ever wondered if you can checker board a hive too early? Let’s spill the honey on my recent experiment!

Diving into the Test

This year, I decided to shake things up and checker board my hives right as the bees were kicking off their first brood cycle. My Langstroth hives, boasting three deep hive bodies, had the top one sealed with honey, the bees cozily overwintering in the middle, and the bottom partially filled with frames of pollen and honey.

To checker board, I relocated the middle deep—bees and all—onto the bottom board. The bottom deep provided a mix of empty frames and feed frames from the top deep, resulting in two checker-boarded deep boxes neatly placed on top of the bottom box housing the bees and brood. You can catch more buzz about my checker boarding technique.

Buzzworthy Results

Guess what happened? All the hives orchestrated a brood symphony right through the center of the three deeps, with the queen taking residence in the top box. The smaller hives flaunted a two-frame wide broodnest towering three boxes high, while the larger ones boasted a more expansive three to four frames wide by three boxes high.

Here’s the real buzz—additional broodnest expansion was all about the top box. Why, you ask? I suspect it’s the warm, cozy vibes up there.

Impact on colony development? Well, that’s the million-dollar question. It might not be a game-changer, but one thing’s for sure—the broodnest will inevitably gravitate to the top box, leaving honey reserves down below.

Now, why does this matter? In my world, I prefer honey above the bees, where the warmth of the cluster can help them feast when the chilly weather hits. Springtime here is a bit of a rollercoaster. I vividly remember harvesting lilac blossoms during a wild, wet, cold snowstorm, except for that one exception.

So, how early is too early? I’ve got a hunch that any checker boarding done before the bees establish a clear broodnest boundary is a tad premature. That boundary, marked by a delicate rim of sealed honey above the broodnest, or maybe a touch of fresh nectar, seems to be the bee’s version of “home sweet home.” Several brood cycles might just be the magic touch. Without that boundary, it’s like a bee express elevator—straight to warmth and space, and they do it in a flash!

-Cheers to buzzing experiments and happy hives! ✨

-Bee-autifully Yours, D 🐝🤠