Adding new supers . . . with mostly nectar?

[ScoobyDoBee]

I think I'm blurring my concepts. I know in early spring I want the girls to have lots of room to add nectar. Capped honey isn't important so much at that point. Then I guess at some point we get more concerned about having capped honey BEFORE adding more supers? I think I've been in SPRING mode and see the girls filling up frames with nectar, so when it gets close to being filled, I've just added another super.  I am now 6 8-frame medium supers high (no deeps). Most is still nectar. Capping of  honey starting.  Can someone help me with the guidelines and timing of adding supers? It is a strong hive with lots of bees. (I wanted a split so I did take out the queen and left eggs for them to build a new queen and to help with mite control. Not sure if that plays into any of this, but my readings seem to advocate this for a honey crop AND a new hive.) Thanks!

[mikecva]

You did not say if you had an established hive or a new (this year) hive. During the heavy pollen time, which is now, the bees will build comb and enlarge the colony (I have colonies of three mediums). During the nectar flow is when I put on the honey supers. This normally starts about June 1st, but this year maybe May 15th. In late July early Sept. I remove all honey supers so the bees will work on their winter stores. But as you know the bees will do what they want when they want to do it, so I just need to pay attention to how I can help and not harm them.  -Mike

[ScoobyDoBee]

Thanks for the response, Mike. This is an established hive. Maybe my thinking is wrong, but I'm trying not to attach DATES to what is going on. I'm hoping to visually learn how the bees work the hive - like by the amount of nectar compared to capped honey, or what? As you already mentioned, dates don't even apply this year. We are a month ahead of what is typical.

Obviously, I'm not going to put honey supers on in January. No flow. But is there something to relate putting additional supers on. When growing a hive they told me 70-80% covered with bees. I can figure that out pretty easy. But do I actually wait till they have capped most of the honey in the existing frames, or just when there are lots of cells filled - either with pollen, nectar, or honey? Feels like to me if they have all the cells occupied, even if not with honey, they need more room, so add another super. Ya think???

[hardwood]

Treat nectar filled cells as you would honey. Once the are in use for nectar they aren't available for anything else until the bees empty them. Make sure they have room.

Scott

[ScoobyDoBee]

That's what I'm thinking, Scott, but the locals I have asked keep saying "consolidate." But if all cells are occupied - how does one consolodate??

[Finski]

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You  must expand the hive according what the colony grows.
Bees get nectar if they get. You cannot order what they do.

Colony my get half box honey but next week they eate it all when wethers are bad.
Normally growing hive is not able to store honey because it consumes it in brood rearing.

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