Full super in a month?

[ledifni]

So I just had an odd experience. I had extracted a single super (leaving one full super) from my hive, and got 12 jars of excellent honey from it. I put that super back on the hive to get cleaned, left it for a few days, then removed it.

At that point I had a bright idea. I had bought a package of bees last spring that absconded only a few weeks after I got them. They left behind a full super of foundation that was only slightly drawn. My idea was, what if I put this super on top of my main hive so they can draw it and I'll have more drawn comb next spring?

So, I did. I left it on for a little under a month, and today I went out to remove my "drawn comb". Only, instead it was honeycomb absolutely packed, every single cell, with capped honey. I didn't know that was possible? How long does it usually take a hive to fill a super?

[ledifni]

The plus side is, I don't have any worries about the queen not keeping the population up

[iddee]

First, bees will NEVER draw comb and leave it empty. They only draw what they need to store what they have coming in.

Second, I have had a deep super filled and capped after extracting and putting the drawn comb back, in 10 days during a good flow. If they have the bloom and the work force, they can really surprise you.

[apisbees]

It depends on the flow. A strong hive with an nectar source that far exceeds their needs with a high sugar content, and in mid summer with warm temperatures and long flying time. The bees are capable of filling a super in a weeks time. it will take them another week to fully cap it over. It isn't to common for it to happen this quick but it can so knowing the area your bees are kept in and checking on them is important. with the super being completely packed and capped, You probably mist out on some additional flow. But the whole super of honey is a bonus so in the end Congratulations!