Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: labradorfarms on September 18, 2014, 09:54:36 PM

Title: Wintering question... How many supers to leave on.
Post by: labradorfarms on September 18, 2014, 09:54:36 PM
Ok I hate to ask but, I need some advise on wintering... Id ask a local Bee Keeper but there are none within a 100 miles I know of....
I am a newbee flying solo!!!!!!!

Ok I have two hives one has two deeps that are pretty heavy  filled with pollen and honey. then they also have a med super with a super  full of capped honey.  I recently added one more which the bees are slowly drawing out...

How should I prepare it for winter? Should I remove the undrawn med super and winter it with two deeps and the capped and filled honey super? Or should I winter it as is with 2 deeps and two med supers?


Ok the next hive has 2 deeps the bottom deep is very light  almost empty.the 2nd deep is heavy. They have one med super filled with capped honey. They are also drawing out the comb on a 2nd med super. I assume the reason the bottom deep is empty is they moved up to avoid a draft.. This hive is know where near as big as the first one I mentioned....
How should I store this one??  As far as deeps and supers?
Title: Re: Wintering question... How many supers to leave on.
Post by: labradorfarms on September 18, 2014, 09:57:15 PM
I purchased some paramoth to store supers if need be.......
Title: Re: Wintering question... How many supers to leave on.
Post by: JackM on September 19, 2014, 08:32:57 AM
two heavy deeps I would winter as is, take off the supers, one deep one med super.  That is what I would do if it were my setup
Title: Re: Wintering question... How many supers to leave on.
Post by: Kathyp on September 19, 2014, 01:58:30 PM
get some advice from someone close to you.  you probably don't have a complete brood break in winter and your food needs might be different. 
Title: Re: Wintering question... How many supers to leave on.
Post by: sc-bee on September 19, 2014, 03:13:11 PM
If you are in Northern Mississippi you should be in about the same locale as Walt Wright in Elkton Tn, geographically speaking. Actually he is probably a little more north. I know from reading his manuscripts he winters with a deep and two shallows. So the equivalent should be fine.