How many supers to add?

[BurleyBee]

I run all deeps.  Last year I didn?t have any drawn comb.  This year I have 2 deeps worth of drawn honey supers.  Last year I check my main hive on May 3rd when privet was busting open and I had slap full supers.  Is adding those 2 deeps at once too much? Or should I add 1 and then the other a week or so later?

I just feel if I time it right, that I may be able to capitalize on that drawn comb.

[Ben Framed]

Timing is the right idea. I would wait a week or two and check of the progress of the first supper. Then go from there.

Adding, when there is a heavy flow on they can fillip a box pretty quick. 

[iddee]

Pretty quick means 1 deep frame per day in a good flow. I would check the first box in a week and add the second when 8 are being worked, but not filled.

[Oldbeavo]

It depends a bit on whether you are going to harvest honey or stack it.
If you want to harvest it  soon then let them almost fill the super before you add the next one, under the full super.
If you want to stack it then what Iddee says will work.

[TheHoneyPump]

The bees need 1.5 boxes of space to work the nectar for each box of ripened honey that is made. If you want 2 boxes of honey give them 3 boxes.
As for how much to give them for how long, that depends entirely on the type of crop that is yielding and the strength of the foraging force of the hive. My mid summer flows on any decent hive is capable of filling a 10 frame deep in 4 days.  I take 2 boxes of honey off and give them 3 completely empty ones all at once.  7 to 10 days later two boxes are full ready to harvest and the third is mostly full but not quite yet ready.
The point is they need extra space to work and if you do not give it to them you are losing out on honey-money production capacity.
So, you see we really cannot properly answer your question because we do not know the strength of your hive(s) nor do we know your forage and flow conditions.
Location matters on this topic and the best place and persons to ask about seasonal flows and box fill rates are members of your local beekeeping club.

[Ben Framed]

The bees need 1.5 boxes of space to work the nectar for each box of ripened honey that is made. If you want 2 boxes of honey give them 3 boxes.
As for how much to give them for how long, that depends entirely on the type of crop that is yielding and the strength of the foraging force of the hive. My mid summer flows on any decent hive is capable of filling a 10 frame deep in 4 days.  I take 2 boxes of honey off and give them 3 completely empty ones all at once.  7 to 10 days later two boxes are full ready to harvest and the third is mostly full but not quite yet ready.
The point is they need extra space to work and if you do not give it to them you are losing out on honey-money production capacity.
So, you see we really cannot properly answer your question because we do not know the strength of your hive(s) nor do we know your forage and flow conditions.
Location matters on this topic and the best place and persons to ask about seasonal flows and box fill rates are members of your local beekeeping club.

Awesome answer.

[mark]

http://pinkpages.chrisbacherconsulting.com/2002_Apr_-_Supering_Swarming_and_Splitting.html

[Ben Framed]

http://pinkpages.chrisbacherconsulting.com/2002_Apr_-_Supering_Swarming_and_Splitting.html

Mark that was a very informative article. I printed it for the files! Thanks!

I do have one question though to you well seasoned beekeepers.  I was under the impression we move the original queen to the new set up and place the new mated queen in the old box and its location. Leading the colony to think the Original Hive has swarmed. I think this fellow is suggestion just the opposite unless I am not understanding. Does it make a difference?

[Brian MCquilkin]

The point is they need extra space to work and if you do not give it to them you are losing out on honey-money production capacity.
So, you see we really cannot properly answer your question because we do not know the strength of your hive(s) nor do we know your forage and flow conditions.
Location matters on this topic and the best place and persons to ask about seasonal flows and box fill rates are members of your local beekeeping club.

HP good answer, It is all local and you need to stay ahead of the honey flow, or you miss out on some of the crop. If I check colonies and its super are full I know that I have missed out on some of the flow. The other thing If you don't keep ahead and the supers they will start backfilling the brood nest and could possibly swarm. Setting up a regular inspection schedule helps and I normally keep at least a box ahead of the bees at all times.

[BeeMaster2]

HP,
Thanks.  I never realized that they need the extra space. I will have to start doing that.
Jim Altmiller