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Author Topic: Honey Super Time?  (Read 3309 times)

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Offline tedh

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Honey Super Time?
« on: April 17, 2015, 07:17:35 pm »
Hi Everyone,
Walking around a bit I see that the pear trees are blooming, the apples are about to, the wild plums are in bloom as well as the Redbud trees.  I'm wondering if it would be a good thing to go ahead and put a medium honey super with undrawn plastic foundation on my hive.  I did just requeen this week.  I checked tonight and the queen has been released so I removed the queen cage and put the missing frame back in.  I didn't check any further than that so can't say if she has been accepted or not.  I also don't have any idea when our nectar flow starts, or stops for that matter.  What are your thoughts?  Thanks, Ted

I should add that I intend to move this hive next weekend.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2015, 07:19:26 pm by tedh »
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Offline Ray

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Re: Honey Super Time?
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2015, 08:19:21 pm »
Need more information. How long was the hive queenless? Is it a split? How many hive bodies? Generally if you have a hive 70% full it's time to add another box.
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Offline tedh

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Re: Honey Super Time?
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2015, 09:11:49 pm »
The hive in question is made up of two deeps that was started last spring and made it through the winter.  Last weekend I found 4 or 5 queen cells so I made a split, 2 frames of stores, 2 frames of brood, an extra shake of bees, 1 frame undrawn plastic foundation plus the original queen.  The next day (Sunday) I removed the queen cells from the over wintered hive.  The following day (Monday) I installed the new queen cage.  Tuesday I removed the cork.  Checked today and the queen is loose.    I believe you mean 70% full of bees?  If so, I'd say it's close.  Thanks Ray!  Ted
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Honey Super Time?
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2015, 09:17:24 pm »
Yep..  If you intend to move the hive I might wait until I had it where it was going to settle permanently then drop an undrawn super on it.  I already have production hives storing nectar in the supers..  three to four frames ready to cap in most of the stronger ones.
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Offline Ray

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Re: Honey Super Time?
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2015, 10:06:12 pm »
I'd go with LazyBkpr.
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Offline Colobee

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Re: Honey Super Time?
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2015, 10:26:31 am »
If they are running out of room, you could pull some drawn comb & give them  bare frames. The drawn comb would then make good "bait comb" for when you add another super/hive body after you have them moved.
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