Just look up my video on the hurricane hive". The bottom box is one box, 17 frames. I first did it in deeps, then switched to medium frames. It "winters" on the bottom box, then add supers in the spring. Thought I was being original there, only to find out that was basically the design of the New Idea Hive of the early 20th century.

Thanks for the compliment. The "camera lady" rolls her eyes at my insistence on giving some historical context in these videos. Glad someone appreciates it. 😁

If you have unoccupied frames at one end, try mashing banana on a piece of parchment paper and laying across the bottom bars. If you have foundation in them, then lay it under them?? I just had a flash of inspiration, I have some full depth plastic honey frames that I don't use, and it occurs to me that I could smear banana into them, which leads to thinking you could drill holes in a follower board to do the same, which leads to putting a chicken wire pocket on an unused frame and shoving banana into it, and I think that could be a winner. Nope, even better, make a follower board and cut out a section in the middle, put a piece of thin plastic across the back and chicken wire across the front with a latch and put the banana in there. Or, chicken wire both sides and put the regular follower board behind it. Actually, go back to the follower with plastic behind it and just staple it permanently in place, and mash the banana through the chicken wire. It's not going to fall out. OK, stopping now.

@@southflbeekeepingwithrich love it , genius.. thank you . Wonderful study too!

Let me know what you decide to do? @@trevormcnutt9756

That's a funny story. It may take more than cinnamon powder for carpenter ants. I spread ant granules around the hives, and immediately wash them in so there is no dust around.

What is the reason for the corrugated metal sections on top of the hives?