Question the seller if supers are arranged differently. The condition of the equipment may reflect the care the bees have received, so be suspicious of colonies in rotten, unpainted wood. Once the colony is opened, the bees should be calm and numerous enough that they fill most of the spaces between combs. Be sure each super has at least nine frames of comb. Inspect combs in the deep supers for brood quality.
Capped brood is tan - brown in color.
A good queen will have at least five or six combs of brood, and she will lay eggs in a solid pattern so that there are few skipped cells. Bee hives are easiest to move during winter when they are lighter and populations are low. Moving hives is a two-man job. Tie the hives down tightly. Remember to open hive entrances after the hives are relocated.