Reversing Hive Brood Boxes

Join me in my 2020 beekeeping season as I share how I maintain my beehives from winter through the following fall. In this video I go through my hives and do brood chamber rotations to get ready for my spring splits. My videos are not meant to be 'How To' videos, but simply me sharing my experiences in beekeeping as I learned it from my mentors, teachers, and studies.
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[@kathyhathaway8823]

Great information. Thanks

[@earlmoorman250]

Good information.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for watching! Works well here for sure.

[@randalljarnigan5897]

I rotated boxes this past Wednesday 2/2/22 Yeah I may split in couple of weeks.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I am not sure I'm going to rotate them this year. Maybe a few, but I need them to be slowed down just a little.

[@johncolson5705]

I thought bees went back down on their own when summer started.

[@MikeBarryBees]

They will, but reversing the boxes will afford that empty space above the nest that the bees look for as they grow. It lessons the pressure and seems to accelerate filling the entire area with brood. It’s not a necessity and you are correct, the queen will eventually move back down.

[@gileshoney5796]

Very nice job. Back when I did dual brood boxes I always struggled with whether or not to rotate boxes in the spring. I can definitely see the benefit of it now. thanks again.

[@JakeBeesos]

Nice tips, thanks. 🐝😄

[@lenoretalon9958]

Answered my question.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Awesome!! Thanks for watching...

[@georgebaumann1]

Nice job mike I enjoyed watching

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for watching!!

[@dlbraly]

Looks like you got a good process down pat.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yea, I've been doing it the same way for a while now. I just found what works most efficiently for me and what I expect from the hives each year. Thanks for the comment!!

[@user-hk7jz3ed6n]

At 13.27, the queen is visible closer to the lower left corner of the frame. And she is of excellent quality. The brood is dense, beautiful. Thank you for the video. Do you change the queen or do the bees do it yourself?

[@MikeBarryBees]

I allow them to re-queen. It's easier and cheaper for me in my size operation. I might graft one day, but later for sure.

[@henryrogers8173]

I'm a newb.what do you use in your smoker to keep it going so well..fuel ? Enjoy your videos..keep it up..thanks..

[@MikeBarryBees]

Just pine straw and wood pellets. Plenty of pine straw first, then few handfuls of wood pellets, and then a small wad of pin straw again to keep the pellets from rolling out of the spout when you tip it down toward the hive. Thanks for watching!!

[@BlueLineHoney]

Is there a particular temperature you look to do this at or are you consistent each year with this method. Kentucky bee keeper !!!

[@MikeBarryBees]

I like to be in the 50s or higher. I imagine you would want to wait until later in the winter due to you being further north.
Basically I do these rotations 6 to 8 weeks prior to when I would normally split. then find a day in the 50s. You don't want them to be tightly clustered.

[@privatebubba8876]

I mark my queens so I know if the queen has been replaced or not.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I used to mark queens, but I got away from it a few years ago. I might start again if I raise a queen or two in some mating NUCs.