What is a primary method for manipulating hive structure?

Switching the bottom two boxes in a hive is a primary method for manipulating hive structure known as "hive management." This technique is often used to manage the distribution of brood and honey stores within the hive. By swapping boxes, beekeepers can encourage better ventilation, control temperature, and facilitate the queen's access to various areas of the hive, which can enhance brood production and overall colony health.

In many cases, the bottom box may contain more mature brood that the queen is actively laying in, while the upper box may be filled with food stores or simply be less utilized. By switching them, beekeepers can help ensure that the queen has more room to lay eggs in the upper box, leading to a stronger and more productive colony. This method is especially effective during seasons of high nectar flow or when preparing the hive for winter.

The other methods listed serve different purposes. Adding more sustenance sources primarily addresses nutrition rather than structural manipulation, reducing hive entrance size focuses on security and ventilation but does not directly change hive structure, and removing frames before extraction pertains to honey harvesting rather than structural management of the hive itself.