to soon for honey super?

Kathyp · June 13, 2006, 10:14:34 PM

i took this bee keeping class, and things are not going according to script :-) . my bees have almost filled the second deep box. in the class they said i'd probably not get any honey the first year, but i bought the shallow super anyway.

i'm thinking i'd better put it on? things are getting crowded in there. is that right, or should i leave them be?

thanks in advance for answering questions for which the answers probably seem self evident...... :?

Hi-Tech · June 14, 2006, 12:02:31 AM

If they have almost filled the second deep, I would put on the super. I would do it without a queen excluder but that is up to you. All of the books say that you will not get honey your first year but very few of the bees read those books...

Michael Bush · June 14, 2006, 12:06:17 AM

Yes. Put the super on and order another two and put them together. You may need even more than that depending on your flow.

Kathyp · June 14, 2006, 12:44:26 PM

thanks to both of you. i am learning so much from all the old posts and info.

Chad S · June 14, 2006, 12:49:20 PM

I got 350lb. of honey my first year starting on foundation.

Chad

Hi-Tech · June 14, 2006, 01:37:07 PM

Kathy,

I just noticed where you were from and while I would never make fun of anyones name or hometown, Boring Oregon made me chuckle...

Kathyp · June 14, 2006, 02:38:31 PM

Quote from: Hi-TechKathy,

I just noticed where you were from and while I would never make fun of anyones name or hometown, Boring Oregon made me chuckle...

try ordering something on the phone! i'd almost rather use an automated system than wait for people to stop laughing about "boring" oregon....."how boring is it?" :o

chad: 350 lbs? i don't even know what i'd do with that much....

i have ordered both of the recommended magazines. i hope i will get smarter faster and at least ask more challenging questions.

Chad S · June 14, 2006, 03:00:42 PM

Bottle it and sell it to friends and family. How else are you going to pay for your bee habit?

By the way I took the honey from one strong hive and two mediocre hives. I had five at the time so it's not like I hit the mother load with one hive in my first year.

Chad

thomashton · June 14, 2006, 05:10:42 PM

I started two new hives from packages on foundation this April. One mediocre hive has two mediums of bees, but my stronger hive (likely due to drift when first hived), has three fully drawn mediums for the brood chamber and more then half of a medium super fully drawn and filled with honey. I am expecting honey in my first year with these bees. The strong hive has also been able to give up two full frames of capped brood to the weak hive.

Brian D. Bray · June 14, 2006, 06:06:08 PM

Books always procede with caution. I never expect honey the 1st year of a hives development because there are so many variables. That said it is not uncommon to reap several supers of honey from a 3 lb package or a June swarm starting with nothing but foundation in the 1st year.
Be prepared for the worst and rejoyce at the serendippity.

amymcg · June 15, 2006, 11:35:24 AM

I started a nuc last year, except for the four frames that came with it, they got foundation. I was able to take 60lbs of honey and they stored and entire deep for the winter.

It just depends on your climate and weather at the time. You shouldn't expect to get honey, but be pleasantly surprised and prepared if you do.