Author Topic: When do you add a Super? (Read 13547 times)

DonMcJr · « **on:** May 11, 2014, 12:44:39 pm »

I have heard all kinds of ideas of when to add Honey Supers and I want to hear more lol!

From what I have taken in from all the advice is Put 2 drawn supers on at Dandelion Flow here in Michigan.

Now I haven't done it yet but was going to in the next few days.

I wanted to hear what everyone here says. The past few years I have tried a few different ways and want to get it right eventually.

Most around here say when there is about 8 Frames Capped add another but I feel if you only add one over the brood chambers then they will use the top brood chamber to help store and dry the nectar and the Queen will have less room to lay...

Thoughts, Opinions...

By the way this is what my Dandelions look like yesterday...

Jen · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2014, 01:37:19 pm »

I copy that Don ~ I guess I'm ready to get more confused

iddee · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2014, 02:30:29 pm »

If foundation, add one only, then another when it is 80 to 90% drawn.

If drawn comb and no SHB problem, add as many as you want at the beginning of the flow.

Jen · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2014, 03:00:51 pm »

That sound easy enough~ Thanks Iddee

riverbee · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2014, 05:22:29 pm »

don, with all those dandelions in bloom and no supers on yet?..........

what iddee said basically, but leave it to me to veer from this, on real strong colonies, and a prolific dandelion flow, 2 supers of foundation have gone on, but typically one super of foundation, depends on the flow and the strength of the colony.

drawn comb, when i see the base of the dandelion popping out of the ground, a drawn super goes on, well before the bloom. you can put additional ones on, but i favor adding them one at a time, that's just my method, mainly because i usually have a frame or two in for comb honey, so like to keep track and pull the frames out.

blueblood · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2014, 08:53:09 pm »

Don, I put two completely drawn supers on each of my strongest hives when Dandys started and will add more this next week.

DLMKA · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2014, 12:12:04 am »

I put 2 supers of drawn comb on all my overwintered hives last weekend (May 3). Went and checked them May 10 and 3 hives had those supers well on their way to being filled. I'm going to start using some new supers with foundation and will put one on tomorrow (been busy all weekend installing wax, 15 supers down). Overwintered nucs have filled two mediums and are getting a third and a super of drawn comb tomorrow as well. If this keeps up we're in for a good honey crop this year

DonMcJr · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2014, 04:48:54 pm »

Ok that's what I thought I was going to hear on here...Around here nobody that I have known the past few years put them on for the dandelions. Mine are going on my 2 survivor Hives as soon as these storms stop...

My guess is most folks have been losing their hives every winter and installing new packages every year and I am hoping with our club we can change that...I know until last year I got caught up in losing all my hives in the winter thus never was in the spot to even think of Spring Supers and that's something I never heard discussed at the other bee club meeting I used to travel to before I started the club out here.

This year has been weird and we still have a chance of a low of 38 F this Friday night! $:-\$

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2014, 04:57:34 pm »

Getting them on early lets the bees start filling them early. In the event you just have foundation, the early flow will allow them to start building comb. I like to put the supers on a little earlier if they are empty, while I am still feeding so they can get a head start on building the comb. (If they so choose) Just have to make sure they don't start putting syrup in them.

crazy8days · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2014, 09:07:48 pm »

Dandelions this year are thick! If weather permits I need to check supers. I use deeps for supers but want to transition to med. But, really don't want to miss the flow by having med. foundations getting drawn out. what can I do?

crazy8days · « **Reply #10 on:** May 12, 2014, 09:22:10 pm »

I just read there is such thing as over-supering. It actually stimulates them when there is more space. Is the true?

riverbee · « **Reply #11 on:** May 12, 2014, 09:29:27 pm »

"Around here nobody that I have known the past few years put them on for the dandelions. Mine are going on my 2 survivor Hives as soon as these storms stop...
My guess is most folks have been losing their hives every winter and installing new packages every year and I am hoping with our club we can change that...I know until last year I got caught up in losing all my hives in the winter thus never was in the spot to even think of Spring Supers"

don, yes if you are starting with package bees, you want the package bees to build up into 2 deeps before putting any supers on up here in north country. package bees typically aren't honey makers the first year, so if a package is installed in a single deep, you wouldn't want to place supers on. if you have survivor hives in 2 deeps, by all means get a super or two on.

I use deeps for supers but want to transition to med. But, really don't want to miss the flow by having med. foundations getting drawn out. what can I do?

crazy, only you can decide what to do on this. not sure how many hives you have now, maybe select a hive or two to have them draw medium foundation. if they are strong hives, they will draw and fill it. or have time to fill it with additional flows. so you have both, some hives with deeps on for honey, and some hives with drawing foundation in medium supers. this really is the best time of the year for bees to draw foundation. hope this helps a little....?

Jen · « **Reply #12 on:** May 13, 2014, 02:04:26 am »

Scott - ""Just have to make sure they don't start putting syrup in them.""

How can we tell if that glisten in the combs is nectar or syrup?

Can bees get lazy and hang out at the syrup jar instead of foraging?

Zweefer · « **Reply #13 on:** May 13, 2014, 08:46:41 am »

[quote author=riverbee link=topic=1648.msg22049#msg22049 date=1399944567

don, yes if you are starting with package bees, you want the package bees to build up into 2 deeps before putting any supers on up here in north country. package bees typically aren't honey makers the first year, so if a package is installed in a single deep, you wouldn't want to place supers on. if you have survivor hives in 2 deeps, by all means get a super or two on.
[/quote]

...and for nucs that fall kinda in the middle?

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #14 on:** May 13, 2014, 09:33:44 am »

Quote from: Jen on May 13, 2014, 02:04:26 am

Scott - ""Just have to make sure they don't start putting syrup in them.""

How can we tell if that glisten in the combs is nectar or syrup?

Can bees get lazy and hang out at the syrup jar instead of foraging?

If they are storing ANYTHING in the supers, then feeding needs to stop, because the syrup WILL go there.

As far as filling out medium supers during the flow... Try to put them on next spring when your FEEDING, Before the flow.

2 days

5 days

10 days

All done during early spring feeding

riverbee · « **Reply #15 on:** May 13, 2014, 12:05:47 pm »

what scott said about feeding, if there is a flow on, there is no need to feed UNLESS you are establishing a package, a nuc, a recent divide, or you are wanting bees to draw foundation. as soon as the foundation is drawn, pull the feed, otherwise, like scott said they will store it in a super. you don't want syrup in your honey supers.

"...and for nucs that fall kinda in the middle?"

zweefer, a healthy nuc will surpass package bees, in general. you want to get the nuc built up in two deeps before putting any super on. if you have nothing but foundation, the likelihood of them producing any honey for you to take off, don't expect it, and even with drawn comb to give them. most packages and nucs will spend the season building up.

Beeboy · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2014, 12:56:36 pm »

I've been thinking about this the last couple of days.

I think I heard that it takes about 18 pounds of honey to make a pound of wax, & I also heard that a deep box of pulled frames has about 1-1/2 pounds of wax in it.

So my little theory is that if you feed no more than 27 pounds of syrup then that should be enough to draw out the frames, thus you won't get any syrup in the combs. I think I would rather stop short of 27 pounds, & let them finish it up with nectar.

Am I thinking this through correctly?

iddee · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2014, 01:50:54 pm »

Most estimates are from 6 to 8 lbs. of honey per pound of wax. It isn't the amount of honey used drawing comb, but rather 10,000 bees in the hive versus 50,000 in a strong overwintered hive.

Beeboy · « **Reply #18 on:** May 14, 2014, 07:06:23 pm »

So is the 1-1/2 pounds of wax in a deep super correct? Or is it more?

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iddee · « **Reply #19 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:42:27 pm »

Never thought about it. You could weigh a deep of drawn and a deep of foundation, to find the difference.