agree with riverrat as well, heavy nectar flow....and nectar flows, nectar flows, nectar flows. and also, bees can't draw comb and get it all done with nectar flows that don't last but a short period of time.
"I think my flow stopped about the second week in June. I just don't want them to be honeybound. They had some space in the super to place honey, but instead just backfilled as the brood hatched in the upper chamber. If I had an extractor, I would take a frame or two and give them back the empty but that's out. I may not even have to worry at this point. I think she has slowed down now that its the summer and if we are in a dearth, they may use some of those stores up and create their own empty comb"
i think you answered your own question tbone....flow stopped, and more importantly "I think she has slowed down now that its the summer and if we are in a dearth, they may use some of those stores up and create their own empty comb"
not sure what type of queen you have tbone but carnis and russians will do this, no nectar or pollen coming in....store and conserve.
bees will always store honey over the broodnest. this does not always mean they are 'honey bound'. the bees sometimes seem to or may get content with the size of the broodnest, (for various reasons) and the honey gets stored overhead. if you are in a dearth, it's a good thing they have this honey overhead to sustain them, otherwise you will be feeding them. they prepare. is this a first year colony or second year?
if i started a colony in a single deep and needed to add a second deep, i add a second deep with DRAWN COMB to the bottom, not on top. if i only have foundation,FOUNDATION GOES ON TOP, and when those frames are drawn, it is reversed to the bottom, to circumvent the bees from filling it with honey, but sooner or later, that second deep will consist of honey stores.
i would not place a foundationless frame in there, unless you have a good nectar flow going.
tbone, is this second deep nectar/honey or syrup? or a combination?
