Adding Super...Tie Break goes to?

Moots · June 10, 2013, 08:55:22 AM

OK,
Not sure what to do here, All 8 frame medium equipment and have/had a really strong hive that's 5 boxes tall. I'm afraid this hive has swarmed on me because it's obvious that it's bee population is way down.
However, the top box in fully drawn out and has plenty of honey stored...it's well past the point of needing another Super added. EXCEPT, now when I check it, bee population in the top box is fairly week, they're there....just not in very strong numbers.

So, on one hand, I think they need another box....On the other, I don't know that they have the population to handle it now.

What should I do?

Thanks!

iddee · June 10, 2013, 10:22:13 AM

Check for queen, brood, capped honey, ETC. Then decide to harvest, add, or leave alone.

Jackam · June 10, 2013, 10:24:33 AM

At 5 boxes tall, did you plan on harvesting any honey?

Moots · June 10, 2013, 10:30:44 AM

Quote from: Jackam on June 10, 2013, 10:24:33 AM
At 5 boxes tall, did you plan on harvesting any honey?

Jack,
Again, I'm new to all this, so I really don't have any hard and fast plans at all....sort of on the job training. :)

However, I was thinking I would do a single harvest, either early or late July. Because I'm running all 8 frame medium equipment, I don't think 5 boxes in nearly as impressive as it may sound. Don't remember exactly, but 2 to 2 1/2 of that is brood nest, and I know the top box hasn't been caped yet, So....best case scenario, I have one box ready for harvest at this time.

johng · June 12, 2013, 04:29:26 PM

Do you have any other hives? The other hives will tell you how strong the flow is still going? This will help you decide if another box is needed right away or not. If you think it has swarmed you need to get into the brood nest and see what stage their in? I like to know so I can check there progress and know when I should see new eggs. If no new eggs in three weeks I will add a queen cell or a frame of eggs. I have a couple hives just like you describe except the swarming part. But, our flow is winding down so I'm going to pull the supers instead of adding new ones. Ask Bailey how much longer you can expect the flow to last. If he says a couple more weeks I would add another box.

Kathyp · June 12, 2013, 04:47:53 PM

follow iddees advice. you really need to know what's going on in the brood area. if the hive did swarm, you need to verify that you got a new queen mated and laying. if she's not yet, you need to know to keep an eye on them. when do you think they swarmed?

blanc · June 12, 2013, 06:02:49 PM

I would harvest some frames that are ready and place them back in. This would give them some working space while not having to add a super yet but when chinese tallow hits you will have to start adding.
Blanc

Nature Coast Beek · June 13, 2013, 09:11:33 AM

Quote from: Moots on June 10, 2013, 10:30:44 AM
Quote from: Jackam on June 10, 2013, 10:24:33 AM
At 5 boxes tall, did you plan on harvesting any honey?

Jack,
Again, I'm new to all this, so I really don't have any hard and fast plans at all....sort of on the job training. :)

OJT per the bees. Yep, dem B's will lern ya pritty kwik.

Been fighting swarming all June thus far. Finding that by the time you think they may swarm.....they're already preppin'. Dem B's not much fer checkerz. More of the chess type.

L Daxon · June 13, 2013, 11:44:37 AM

All 8 frame medium equipment here. I run at least a 4 box brood chamber (equals two 10-frame deep brood nest). I have 6 boxes on two of my 3 hives now. I have taken at least a super of honey off the two big hives so far. I usually go in and pull fully capped frames and replace with new foundation or foundationless frames, whatever I have on hand. I try to make sure the girls have plenty of frames to work on so they don't swarm.

If you think the hive has swarmed, yes to need to make sure you still have a laying queen. Assuming all is OK in that dept. I would add another super. If they don't need it, they won't use it. If they need it and you don't have it on there, you lose honey and/or they will backfill the brood nest..

Linda D.

Finski · June 13, 2013, 06:15:48 PM

.
If swarm has gone, the hive cannot make surplus for a long timer because it has lost half of bees.
It has lost laying too.

5 boxes is normal good hive and strong hives use two swarm first.
A swarm which goes from that kind of hive is perhaps 3-4 kg. It fills two brood boxes.

If you get a swarm or two, you may unite the colonies and it is back again.
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