After inspecting my hives for the first time this year I found that they have survived the Winter. The number of bees was truly amazing to me. This is my second year and I was wondering if I should just go ahead and add the supers or am I supposed to wait awhile. Anything I should be looking for?
Thanks for the help!!
Im a good bit further south of you and I added supers to most of my hives about two weeks ago. We are in a good flow right now with blackberry clovers and willow blooming. If your hive has a strong population and starting to bring in nectar than it is time for a super.
Quote from: keito on March 17, 2013, 05:53:31 AM
Anything I should be looking for?
It depends, how the colony grows and how it needs new room.
It it has too much room, it is difficult to defend the hive.
.
Quote from: Finski on March 17, 2013, 08:58:21 AM
It depends, how the colony grows and how it needs new room.
It it has too much room, it is difficult to defend the hive.
Finski,
I realize there are many potential problems with adding supers too quickly and reasons one wants to avoid doing so. However, I'm not sure I understand how adding a Super makes the hive more difficult to defend. I thought that would be something determined exclusively, or should I say, mostly by the size of your hive entrance.
What am I missing? :?
How full are the frames with honey and brood and how much room does the bees have. Are they in 8 or 10 frame boxes, single or double, deep or mediums. If they are anywhere close to to being full, then add a super.
Joe
If there aren't enough bees to effectively cover the majority of the comb you provide, SHB can sometimes take hold?
The easy answer? When you start to see white wax.
Scott