transitioning from deeps to mediums cont....

[Zoot]

This recent topic never really got resolved; 2 nucs that I acquired last year arrived in single 8 frame deeps. I would like to transition them to mediums to be in sync with my other hives. Both nucs wintered with an additional 2 mediums on top. In both cases the bees, eggs, capped brood and queen are now in the mediums where there is also some capped honey in the end frames. The bottom deeps are mostly full of pollen and uncapped nectar. If I pull the deeps and place a new medium on top (probably with starter strips alternated with foundation) will it be advisable to feed syrup? I feel conflicted about removing such large volume of stores that now exist in the deeps. Also, would this be a good time to begin transitioning to small cell?

[Brian D. Bray]

Just work them up and off.  If they are mostly full of nectar and you don't want to steal it away let them cure it then harvest it later.  Put you new medium boxes between the bottom medium and the deep until the deep is far enough up the chain to allow harvesting--say a few weeks or until they have at least 2 mediums full of comb and brood.  If the deep is full of nectar the queen will lay in the new comb being created in the new medium and ignore the deep above.  Plus they won't swarm because they are building comb in the brood chamber. 

[Michael Bush]

Harvesting honey is normal for beekeepers.  As long as they have stores or it's warm enough you can feed them or there's a flow, then you're set.

[Bob Delp]

I'm just getting started again from a 20 year hiatus. My first package will be here in another week. I was going to go with the traditional double deep brood chambers with mediums on top. I'm thinking that I should go all mediums and be done with it. I have some mediums with drawn out comb which would give them a head start. They'd be starting out on standard foundation in the deeps. 
Bob

[Brian D. Bray]

I'm just getting started again from a 20 year hiatus. My first package will be here in another week. I was going to go with the traditional double deep brood chambers with mediums on top. I'm thinking that I should go all mediums and be done with it. I have some mediums with drawn out comb which would give them a head start. They'd be starting out on standard foundation in the deeps. 
Bob

Go with the mediums and either cut down or sell you deeps.  You will never regret the decission or the ease of worker lighter equipment.

[Michael Bush]

>I'm thinking that I should go all mediums and be done with it.

That's what I did.  Then I cut them down to eight frames:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeseightframemedium.htm

[Bob Delp]

W00t!  Post office called...they're in!
Going to put the package in a cool dark place andf feed a couple times till my kids get out of school/

Learned a valuable lesson last night.  Make sure ziplock bags are properly sealed in sink.....not on top of counter.  1:1 syrup is a pain to clean from counter, cabinets and floor.