bees won't clean out supers

[pistolpete]

I guess they didn't get the memo about seasonal house keeping.   I have an inner cover, then an empty box, then another inner cover and then three extracted supers on top of that.  It's been like that for a week and they still aren't clean.   In fact I think that the bees have added nectar to some.  I know there is not much of a flow on, it's down to freezing at night.  I'm a bit stumped, because last year this system worked fine.  My only guess is that the two brood chambers are so full of honey that there isn't any room to put anything else down there.   

I guess I'll have to go back to setting the supers out in the open and let the whole neighbourhood of insects in on the action.

[riverbee]

" I have an inner cover, then an empty box, then another inner cover and then three extracted supers on top of that"

pete, i would try moving the empty box off, then your supers.

[Barbarian]

To encourage the bees to remove residual honey from the wet supers, I like to use an inner cover between the brood boxes (and un-extracted super) and then the wet super(s).

The trick is to restrict the hole in inner cover to a size that will only allow a couple of bees through. I have even used thicker flexible plastic sheet with a small hole in the centre ----- omitting the lower inner cover.

[brooksbeefarm]

I like to set wet supers on the picnic table behind the house and watch the action . I also put my cappings in a hive lid and set it there, then after a day or two go set on the bench with my hive tool and kill every yellow jacket and red wasp that lands . Kind of brings back my childhood , my wife thinks i'm crazy. Jack

[Jen]

That's what I do Jack, I set the frames out if the farthest part of the yard, or to the side of the house and let the bees have it 

[Perry]

I have done the free for all by setting out a stacks of wet supers, but the resulting bloodbath can be unnerving. Shredded comb and scores of dead bees are common.
I prefer to try and place them on top of inner covers, and what Barbarian suggests makes a difference as to whether they empty them or start to fill them. Reduce the size of the inner cover hole.

[pistolpete]

I set out one of the wet supers last night.  Today it was black with bees: a total frenzy.  I'm not sure I'm ok with the resulting fighting and robbing.

[riverbee]

like perry said pete, and what you experienced,  i don't care for the 'free-for-all' that happens when setting the supers out away from the hives.  it is a total frenzy, and many bees lose their lives.  i just don't do it.  and most of the time this sets off and results in further robbing of all of the hives one has in a yard if done too near. it's not worth the risk.  in addition, i don't like to try and chase bees, wasps, hornets off to bring the supers in after being cleaned up.  also for me, the risk of a bear visit, is not worth it. 

[apisbees]

I don't bother with all that. store the wet supers with a sheet of news paper between each super with a good bottom and a bug proof top. when you put them back on in late spring early summer the bees take to them because of the honey still in them. To me it is just 2 more steps that are not necessary. putting them on and then removing them again.

[iddee]

That works in the frozen north, Apis, but don't try it down here. You won't even have usable woodenware come spring.   

[apisbees]

I totally agree with Iddee. Pete is north and in a colder climate than myself. Also a lot of beekeepers in the northern states are in harsher climates than myself. In the south where the weathers stays warmer longer into the fall the bees have longer to clean the supers. Put them on in a cool climate where the night temperatures cool the boxes and honey in them off and the bees will not move up to work then until they warm up. And with Pete having them in a closed shed and blocked from the heat of the sun by the time they get warm the day is over and it is cooling again and the bees are clustering.

[riverbee]

i am in the north frozen country and colder climate too apis, but i do as you do, minus the newspaper.... so when the supers come off, i spin them as dry as i can get them without blowing the wax out.  my supers are then stored stacked, with covers on the tops and bottoms in an outbuilding until they are ready to use for the next season. i have placed them on top the hives  for the bees to clean up, but just seems robbing always gets started with this.  i have, and don't like and can't chance placing them out a distance from the hives for them to clean up because of the bears and other critters. i still don't like the frenzied free for all.  if i had one hive i would consider placing the supers on above for the bees to clean up.  this year i have one hive left.....i am storing them......
i have feeder frames to give the bees.
we all have to figure out what works best for us, for our hives, the number of hives and our locations......

[barry42001]

I never had issues placing wet supers back on hives. I always put the inner cover on top close it up call it a day. Of course when working more than one hive you have to move with a purpose, or you will a lot of unwanted attention.

[pistolpete]

I'm always up for trying new things, so I went into the hives, closed the screened 4" ventilation hole on the inner cover and reduced the hole to about 1/2".   We'll see if that will get them to thinking that the supers are not part of their home. 

The reason I don't like the idea of storing wet supers is that I think it leads to faster crystallisation of the honey the following year.  If the bees don't clean out the old honey and start putting new stuff on top, then you have seed crystals in the honey right away.   My honey does not crystallise for a year or more and I like it that way. 

I paid the price for re-arranging the hives: two bees crawled up my pants and stung me in places one does not want to get stung

[brooksbeefarm]

I have problems with ants if i store wet supers in out buildings. Jack

[Jen]

I keep wet supers, or frames filled with extra honey in my freezer. I may have to buy one of those small chest freezers for certain bee stuff, because soon our freezer will be filled with venison... and venison will trump bee frames and boxes that are freezing for wax moth

[lazy shooter]

To start with, how did your supers get wet? 

[riverbee]

"The reason I don't like the idea of storing wet supers is that I think it leads to faster crystallisation of the honey the following year.  If the bees don't clean out the old honey and start putting new stuff on top, then you have seed crystals in the honey right away. "

i don't have this problem pete, (except for the honeys that do tend to crystalize) when they are placed back on the hive in the spring, the bees clean them up and spit shine the cells.
jack i do get some ant problems, but i fix their wagons. you have more equipment to store than i do.

lazy, frames from honey supers that have been extracted, when spun out will have a 'residue' of honey in them, therefore 'wet'.

[lazy shooter]

How do they get wet, was a tongue in cheek comment, and apparently, a not humorous one either.  I am going to spare you my "out of taste" comments today as I am off to see Texas A&M play football.  As we say, You-all have a nice day and weekend.

[Slowmodem]

It's my understanding that open feeding of honey is illegal in TN.