Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Pond Creek Farm on May 20, 2009, 11:14:54 PM

Title: Foundationless super question
Post by: Pond Creek Farm on May 20, 2009, 11:14:54 PM
I put a super on last week full of frames with starter strips.  Nothing happening this week.  I have a frame of pf-120 in the middle as a ladder, but very few bees are in the upper super.  I was considering swapping a frame of honey below with a blank frame above.  Will this get them started on the next box?
Title: Re: Foundationless super question
Post by: Kathyp on May 20, 2009, 11:19:14 PM
is this another brood box, or honey super.  if honey super they will start on it when they need it.  you do want them to store around the brood so that they go into winter with full stores.  i would not go swapping out frames just yet unless you feel the brood boxes are getting honey bound.  if it's for brood and you feel that they are getting crowded, try putting the new box under.
Title: Re: Foundationless super question
Post by: Pond Creek Farm on May 20, 2009, 11:25:41 PM
It is a honey super.  They are a package installed April 1 but on fully drawn comb.  I put a second box of fully drawn comb on and they have filled all but two frames.  Then I put on the honey super with blank frames.   Waiting is fine, I just wanted to be sure I should.
Title: Re: Foundationless super question
Post by: iddee on May 20, 2009, 11:36:36 PM
They will start working it when the lower ones are full, unless you are using a queen excluder. If so, remove it until they have one or two frames drawn, then put it back on.
Title: Re: Foundationless super question
Post by: Michael Bush on May 24, 2009, 11:55:43 PM
Yes a ladder is helpful.  A drawn comb in the super helps a lot.