Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

10 Common Questions About Adding a Second Brood Box In The Spring

1. When should I add the second brood box to my hive?

• When 7–8 out of 10 frames in the first brood box are drawn and occupied.
• When bees are visibly crowded and covering most frames throughout the day.
• When there’s consistent nectar flow and brood is expanding fast.

2. Do I add the second brood box on top or bottom?

• Place it on top of the first brood box – this is standard practice.
• Some beekeepers ‘bottom super’ (add below) to encourage brood expansion, but it’s less common.
• Always keep brood together—don’t separate brood nest between boxes.

3. What should be in the second brood box—foundation or drawn comb?

• Drawn comb is ideal—it lets the colony expand quickly.
• Foundation is fine but ensure bees are strong enough to build it.
• If using foundation, checkerboard drawn and undrawn frames to encourage use.

4. Why won’t my bees move into the second brood box?

• The bottom box isn’t fully drawn out yet—they don’t need more space.
• There may be a dearth—bees won’t expand without resources.
• You can bait them up by placing a drawn brood frame or syrup in the top box.

5. What does adding the second brood box do to the colony?

• Provides more space for brood and food storage.
• Reduces risk of swarming by relieving congestion.
• Supports the growth of a large foraging population for honey flow.

6. Should I feed bees when adding a second brood box?

• Yes, if there’s no nectar flow, feed 1:1 syrup to help them draw comb.
• Stop feeding if bees are bringing in ample nectar naturally.
• Always feed inside the hive to avoid robbing.

7. How long will it take bees to draw out the second brood box?

• In strong nectar flow, bees can draw it out in 2–3 weeks.
• With syrup feeding and warm weather, expect 3–4 weeks.
• During a dearth, progress will stall or slow dramatically.

8. What’s the risk of adding the second brood box too early?

• Bees will struggle to heat and defend excess space.
• Slower comb building and possible pest issues (wax moth, SHB).
• Queen may not expand brood nest if too spread out.

9. What happens if I wait too long to add the second brood box?

• Congestion can trigger swarming behavior.
• Queen may run out of space to lay eggs.
• Bees may backfill brood area with nectar.

10. How should I arrange frames in the second brood box?

• Center the frames with foundation or drawn comb over brood below.
• Checkerboarding drawn and undrawn frames speeds expansion.
• Avoid placing only undrawn foundation in the middle—queen may ignore it.