honey clogged

[T.Smith]

I live in north Louisiana and have 8 colonies that I started late last summer. I fed these late swarms all winter until now. The problem is that even though they have made comb they have filled it up with sugar water. The queen has no room to lay eggs. What can I do to correct this.  Thanks Tracy

[trapperbob]

First of all stop feeding and if you have some empty frames of comb take some full ones out and insert the empty ones if not extract some frames. Also look to see if there are any swarm cells being made they may be getting ready to leave.

[T.Smith]

I did quit feeding immediately but only have foundation to add. I guess my only choice is to  pull some of the frames and extract then put back on.  Thanks

[Michael Bush]

I wouldn't take any out.  The bees will move it around as it dries and make room for the queen and then they will burn it up quickly feeding the larvae (a frame of honey for every frame of brood).  You might add another box for them to start drawing more comb.

[Brian D. Bray]

Put on a the new super and remove the center 4 frames and replace them with 3 frames from the super, the bees will then build a brood chamber on those 3 frames.  If you put 2 drawn/filled frames on each of the outsides of the new super with the undrawn foundation in between the bees will also draw new comb with a brood chamber in the center.  If your hive has been honey bound to the point they have no brood the queen will probably start laying eggs on the foundation while the workers drawn the comb. 

Feeding beyond just enough to get the bees established can cause them to  quickly become honey bound.  Pulling frames and putting in new ones, even if only foundatiion, is the quickest way to remedy this problem.  I only feed packages 1 or 2 gallons of syrup if I'm putting them on foundation or foundationless frames, if I am putting them on drawn comb I only feed 1/1-1 gallon and then let them be bees. 

You will probably miss your major honey flow due to the induced honey bound condition.  Buy the time the bees build new combs and hatch new workers you are looking at 4-5 weeks before new brood hatches even if the queen starts laying on the foundation.  Your hive will dwindle in size like a package would. 

This should demonstrate how over feeding can kill your bees just as assuradly as starvation.  No room the lay eggs and the hive dwindles away because there are no replacement of work force. 

Feed only enough to aid in getting them established and then let them forage.  1-2 gallons is all that is necessary unless you are in a dearth or drought or both.