Add a super or not?

[dpround]

I am a rookie, so don't have many opinions of my own yet. I have one colony in a poly langstroth jumbo which was hived from a swarm about a fortnight ago. The bees have drawn all the frames and seem well set. I have made up a super which I was going to put on. I'm not really expecting much, but perhaps the bees will draw our the foundation a bit ready for next year if I keep feeding them. I wouldn't want them to get bored. Is there any reason why I should not put the super on?

All the best

David

 

[dpround]

I should ahve said that I am going away for three weeks from the middle of next week.

David

 

[Grub]

Yes put on

It will keep them busy and with you going way you have given them room to expand and can relax.

Grub

 

[greatbritishhoney]

I'd get it on asap, especially if you are going away.
I hived a swarm 3 weeks ago - they just swarmed again (and I lost them this time) because they'd filled the entire brood box with honey. If I'd put a super on a week ago they'd still be there.

 

[Skyhook]

It sounds very quick to be adding a super. One option would be to add it, but with a sheet of newspaper over the queen excluder. they can break in if they need the space, but won't have a big empty void over their heads if they don't.

 

[greatbritishhoney]

It sounds very quick to be adding a super. One option would be to add it, but with a sheet of newspaper over the queen excluder. they can break in if they need the space, but won't have a big empty void over their heads if they don't.

All the frames drawn out, main honey flow on and going away for three weeks in a few days. I'd say it couldn't be soon enough.

 

[snoop]

I am a rookie, so don't have many opinions of my own yet. I have one colony in a poly langstroth jumbo which was hived from a swarm about a fortnight ago. The bees have drawn all the frames and seem well set. I have made up a super which I was going to put on. I'm not really expecting much, but perhaps the bees will draw our the foundation a bit ready for next year if I keep feeding them. I wouldn't want them to get bored. Is there any reason why I should not put the super on?

All the best

David

I use poly langstroth boxes , the flow is not over here yet , plenty of blackberry still to flower, the clover hasn't even started on top of that the ivy will come & they will pack it in . I would give them another brood box & leave the queen excluder off. They will draw it if they want it. I have also found last winter that all my colonies were on double brood boxes ( 10 langstroth frames) & by the time the spring inspection was done in March they had 10 - 12 fames cleaned out completely. They needed every bit of that storage over the winter.

 

[dpround]

Thanks for all the responses. I think on balance I'll put the super on. I made up the frames with foundation earlier as the bees were going so fast I was sure they would need it and now the foundation will go stale if I don't do something with it.

All the best

David

 

[fincaazul]

Thanks for all the responses. I think on balance I'll put the super on. I made up the frames with foundation earlier as the bees were going so fast I was sure they would need it and now the foundation will go stale if I don't do something with it.

All the best

David

It's a bit like when you get your first colony, euophoria! The you find that you need a second hive NOW. Was up 'til 3 am yesterday waxing frames for a newbee friend who was in a panic as bees had drawn out filled and capped a super in a week. Has found Q cells. Hope to save situation. If in doubt put supers on before you think you NEED to.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

As you're going away for 3 weeks, then yes the super can go on. if you come back and it's empty then no real harm done.
Swarms are very good at drawing foundation - as you have discovered! If you have brood int there you have a viable colony for the winter

 

[dpround]

Well I put the super on and the contact feeder on top, to get them started. The bees seem to be ignoring the super, which I am not too worried about, but they are also not going to the feeder any more at all. Should I take the queen excluder off to encourage them to have a look upstairs. If I do, how do I ensure I get the queen out of the super? Can I encourage them to explore by painting a few frames in golden syrop or something?

 

[Beeline]

I'm in a similar position to you in that my swarm is only a week in the hive. Being a large'ish swarm I added a super, without a QE, just to give them additional space. My intention is more to get them ready for winter than extracting honey. They've already drawn more than half the super frames in 3-4 days and filled with the syrup.
I'd suggest removing the QE and dribble some syrup down from the feeder. They should be up in a flash.

My mentor also sprinkled icing sugar over the new arrivals, as a verroa treatment, as they haven't any sealed brood so their cleaning off activity should be alot more effective than applying icing sugar to an established colony.
BL