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Stage 1a. In
the very early spring the queen, the cluster, and the brood are
often contained in the upper box. I do this on a warm day in
late February |
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Stage 1b. Without
disturbing the cluster the empty lower box can be removed. Combs
on the edge of the cluster are replaced with full stores combs
from the discarded box. |
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Stage 1c. A
box of clean drawn comb is placed on top.
Foundation can be used if a contact feeder with thick
syrup is placed above. |
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Stage 2. Wait until the queen is found laying in drawn
comb in the upper chamber of clean comb, then insert a queen
excluder between boxes. Be sure the queen is above the excluder. |
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Stage 3. After
3 weeks all the brood in the old comb will have hatched out,
and the old box should be removed immediately. Be sure the colony
has enough stores. Feeding with a contact feeded may be needed. |
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Stage 4. The
colony has been transferred onto clean comb. A second box of
clean drawn comb or foundation may be added, if needed, as the
colony expands. |
