[Anasazi]

Last year we started a colony in one of the new styrofoam boxes and then put a regular wooden box on top = ugggg! All season this was a problem. The styrofoam box is larger than the wooden one. Now that I am older and don't like lifting the weight - and to resolve the styrofoam problem - I have thought about converting the 2 9-inch hive boxes to 3 6-inch boxes. And, this would also make all our equipment the same. QUESTION: How do I easily get the bees to move out of the deep hive box now (in February) and into a couple of shallow boxes before the colony starts to expand? Would appreciate ALL possible answers.

 

[Anasazi]

Thanks, Bee Catcher. I think I will try your first suggestion and just place supers on the existing boxes (maybe with a few frames of drawn foundation - we don't have much) and see if the little buggers move up. If I ever can decide that the bottom box doesn't have the queen, I might blow any bees out and move that box before fall. We are new to it all and GREATLY appreciate your help.