Newbee in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

[Gridly]

I am new to the hobby and to the forum.  Got 2 nucs of Russian hybrids here in Ontario, and they are doing well.  3-4 weeks now, and they have drawn out 70% of the foundation in the first box (can you still call it a super if it is supering nothing?).  I added another super with 10 frames of foundation yesterday, and did a full inspection.  Saw the queen in one hive, but not in the other hive.  However, I saw lots of eggs, and larvae at various stages of development.  I think I am ok.  I had to shave 1/4" off the underside of my inner covers (off the underside of the surrounding frame).  They were too high, so the bees bridged everything!  Had to scrape off bridge comb with honey (yummy!) and larvae too.  Don't want to do that again.

Fun!!!

So my main concern at this point is the Canadian Winter.  How many supers to leave the bees for an Ottawa winter?  Will a double brood chamber be enough, or should I add another super before the fall for them, without an excluder?  Anyone?

Cheers.
Gridly

[JP]

You may have your inner cover on reversed, hence the 1/4" of comb there.

Not sure how much you need to leave there in your climate but others will chime on soon.

Welcome!


...JP

[Gridly]

The inner covers had 3/8" lip on both sides of the surrounding frame when I bought them.  I remember thinking it didn't look right, I guess I was right.  Thanks to my table saw, the underside now has 1/8" lip, and the top still has 3/8" with a notch at the front.  I measured 1/4" from the top of the frames to the top of the super, so I think I should be ok now.  I'm sure the bees will let me know!  So much to learn, so little time before winter.  This first year, that is my goal - both hives survive to next spring (he-said-hopefully)!   :)

Gridly

[Cindi]

Gridly, welcome to our forum, I am a Canadian too, on the other side of the country, as you will see in my avitar.  You have found the place that will provide you a wealth of information and comradery, you will make new forum friends, a place to tell your experiences and stories, we are all very interested in what each of us is doing, welcome, and have that great and wonderful day, Cindi

[GaryMinckler]

I live in New York state not far from the Canadien border.  Just across the St. Lawrence river from Ontario so I think our weather patterns are similar.  Last year, my first year of beekeeping, I wintered bees with one brood chamber and two medium supers of brood and honey and there was honey left this spring.