I added a second med. super about two and a half weeks ago, when the first one was about 2/3 full. The bees are all over it, but have barely drawn out the foundation. They have been working hard on the liatris and buckwheat, so I'm surprised they haven't drawn it out yet. When do you think they will start and how long will it take to draw it out?
Thanks,
Alan
Two many variations to guess :?
Strength of hive , How heavy flow, Weather etc.. I suppose you added foundation. I don't have luck trying to bait them up using some of the lower frames.
I get in trouble mixing foundation and the already capped frames. Maybe someone else can tell you the best way to try and accomplish this. I am all ears :-D! I figure when they need it they will draw it if a flow is on.
A beekeeper in your area should be able to tell you if the bees are in the winter prep mode yet in your area. If so they may just be happy preparing the space they have.
Winter prep mode? Does anyone in Michigan know when this begins, seems aweful early?
Winter prep may have been a poor choice of words --- maybe fall prep :-D?
My bees have plenty of space but have already begun backfilling the brood chambers. It's not due to weather temps by no means. 94 today --- but we are in a dearth. No way my bees would draw comb without heavy feeding.
I had a similar issue too. I got mine to start by pulling a frame or two from the super below that was filled, but not yet capped. I put one on each end. Seemed to do the trick. Otherwise, the bees seemed to be bringing in necter & were clogging up the brood nest. Too early for that, as goldenrod has not even started. Also, spraying alittle sugar water mixed with honey b healthy works well too. I make my own similar version of it with lemon grass oil, thyme oil, wintergreen oil & eucalyptus oil. 1 drop of each in a VERY thin sugar syrup in a large spray bottle. Also works great for installing packages, drawing foundation, & requeening. Seems to mask any scents & gets the bees moving. Good luck!
P.S. In a good - heavy flow mine seem to have a medium super 2/3 drawn & filled in about 3 weeks. Another week or so before they start capping it. Also- I don't know about MI, but here in WI, I wait until the goldenrod is blooming for about 2 weeks, then pull all the supers. You will get some goldenrod honey, if you want it. Then, Let the bees backfill the hive for winter off the remaining goldenrod which will bloom for about 3 more weeks. If your hive is weak, or light, I pull the supers when the goldenrod starts, so they have more time to backfill. Or if you don't like the taste of goldenrod honey, pull them before. I judge my "winterizing" by goldenrod bloom. (But we have LOTS of it here)
Label says not to use HBH when supers are on. Can't see the harm myself, but try to stick to the labels. There-for I use 1:1 sugar water only to lure them up to the next super. Seems to do OK. Just my 2 cents!