This will be my first spring with over-wintered, 8 frame medium only hives. In each of my hives the cluster is right up under the inner cover now and seemingly healthy though I am certain my stores sre low. I recently put fondant patties in each hive to help insure survival.
For the initial build-up - will the boxes below the cluster that are empty of bees now but full of drawn comb suffice? Is it likely that the bees will move downward as brood appears and they eventually start foraging?