Supering

[alfredw]

So I was just reading another thread about how different people like to use supers. One question that came up for me is why stack supers up at all? Once the comb is capped there really isn't any reason to stack up on it. Why not just pull it as it is ready? I see pictures of hives with incredible stacks looks very cool, but it seems like it would be easier to work if it was not allowed to stack up so high. I know that I myself simply don't have the supers so when things get built up I am forced to pull a super here or there and process it so that I can put it back on empty.

Thoughts?

Alfred

[riverbee]

alfred, i extract once a season, and i rarely run out of supers (i think i have 40).   so better for me, the supers stay on, until extraction.   i rarely have 'incredible' stacks. for me to set up all of my equipment to extract a few supers is incredible work, and easier for me to do it all at once.

[tbonekel]

Alfred, if you are like me, you have just a few hives. I have 3 producing ones at this time. I will also pretty much pull frames as I have time. I don't have an extractor and most of my frames will be foundationless and I will do "crush and strain". If you know anything about C & S, it takes a while for the honey to drain from the crushed comb, so unless you have some really big buckets and tubs, you can only do so much at a time. Like Riv says, if you have more hives and an extractor, it can take some time to set it all up so once a season is probably better.

[Slowmodem]

To me, extracting isn't fun.  It's hot, sticky work.  And I really only want to do it once.  Plus, storage of filled supers if not extracting is an issue.  I have a freezer I could put three supers in, but it's just easier for me to leave them on the hive until I'm ready to extract.

[Garden Hive]

Many times I inspect and find that, although they are full of nectar, they are not even close to being capped. So in order to provide continued space for more to be stored, another goes on. The other aspect is that for a smaller hobbyist, is that it's just a lot of work and cleanup. So extracting once or maybe two times is all (I) want to do. Of course I do not have anywhere the volume that some others have so during very good flows, I get to the point that I get while the getting is good !
I have a small hand crank extractor so it's not an issue for me, but many either borrow from others or maybe even the local club that charges for the use(the county association i belong to does charge).


Tim

[iddee]

Along with all the above, you also need to consider it takes 4 frames, or supers, to spread and condense one frame, or super, of honey.
As Garden Hive said, they need much more room than just where the honey is going to be.

[minz]

I have 3 supers on a hive and one or two on everything else.  Although heavy almost nothing (except the deep frames) are capped.  I almost wonder if they do not move it down when it is ripe? Like said above I think they are laying it all out to ‘air dry’ before putting their laundry away. its kind of irritating because I am on my last pound of honey and they are simply not in a hurry to cap it for me!

[riverbee]

great replies here.
another reason not to take supers off, or all the supers off as they are filled and capped......a number of times, and recently about 2 seasons ago, i had 2 supers each on very strong colonies in a great early season flow. the third went on.  then the drought and nectar dearth hit.  i left the supers on all of my hives for the bees to sustain themselves through the nectar dearth.  if i had taken those off, i would have had to feed them.  i would rather leave honey on them than take it away when they need it the most. 

[mamapoppybee]

river i like the fact that you stated through droughts or dearths. Where im at can get dry in june and august months and i surly dont want to be taking away from them.

[CpnObvious]

I have a freezer I could put three supers in, but it's just easier for me to leave them on the hive until I'm ready to extract.

Why would you want to freeze them?  Does it get too hot in your neck of the woods and the wax would melt?

[Garden Hive]

Cpn.... I'm sure what is suggested is that we freeze some frames for storage. Many reasons to store. Sometimes I place the entire supers in the freezer. This protects them from so many (pests).

If you then allow to thaw, they can be extracted or placed back in for feed.

If you were to pull supers off of the hive and not protect them, they would be destroyed quickly. When they are still on the hive they have the protection of the bees.

[riverbee]

"If you were to pull supers off of the hive and not protect them, they would be destroyed quickly. When they are still on the hive they have the protection of the bees."

absolutely, what garden hive said. 

"river i like the fact that you stated through droughts or dearths. Where im at can get dry in june and august months and i surly dont want to be taking away from them."

you won't regret it, and it's the right thing to do.....
sometimes a honey harvest is abundant and sometimes we are lucky to harvest any honey, but we also need to remember that they need it more than we do, in the event of unforeseen weather circumstances and much more than we need to satisfy our 'need' for a prized honey crop.  they gave it to us, but for the bees we wouldn't have it and need to be mindful of not removing what they might or do need to sustain themselves.

[Slowmodem]

Those hive beetles are sneaky little devils and the freezer takes care of them so they don't harm the honey.