Hi Jerry, Happy Veterans Day, and thank you for stepping up to serve when our country asked for your help. ![]()
I don’t see why it shouldn’t be totally possible, and his mathematics are very convincing. My major concern would be lack of food stores going into winter. You could always leave them a super of honey, but if you did, you would need to take off the queen excluder so that the cluster isn’t in danger of leaving the queen to chill. Then the queen may decide to move up into the super to lay in early spring. A bit tricky.
If you don’t put a honey super on, you will have to commit to assessing food stores all winter, and feeding as needed. I wouldn’t recommend that for a new beekeeper, as it is too easy to misjudge it. I totally understand for experienced or commercial beekeepers, it is absolutely possible, but I think there are just too many risks and difficulties for most hobbyists.
I will be very interested to hear Ed’s (@Anon) experience when next season gets started.