removing supers

[C. hickson]

I have checked my hives weekly. The (2) supers on each hive are full but not totally capped. I just check the hives this week and it appears there is less honey in the supers than last week. I think they are either moving the honey down or are they concuming it?  Should I pull the supers before they move all the honey to the main hive bodies? My concern is the fact all of the frames are not capped if I remove the supers.  :?

[Kathyp]

i think i would pull the capped frames and try to consolidate the uncapped into one box.  see if they'll cap it, and if they don't and they use it, they must need the food. 

it's not much good to you uncapped.

[Storm]

I agree with Kathy.  If they are using it, they need it, and until they cap it, it's not any good to you anyway.  Once you've consolidated the uncapped frames, you might try feeding them to encourage them to cap what's left.

[Kathyp]

but don't feed if you plan to harvest it for yourself.  it won't be any good. 

[AllenF]

One thing to remember is when they bring nectar in, they dry it out to get the water to 18 % or so.  If they are no bringing in new to pack in with whats already been collected, you would see the cells shrink in collected volume.   Depending on where you are located, there may not be any more coming in until fall.