Advice - Feed with super on - colony weak

[Alabamaeee]

One of my hives has swarmed but still has plenty of bees as it was a very strong one. Without going into all the details I ended up with two supers of granulated honey.

I am removing them tomorrow weather permitting. and giving them a new super with foundation. Problem is I think the hive is short of food, as It felt very light on last inspection.

Should I add a feeder above the super? I know it is not a good idea if you have drawn comb, but I'm thinking that they will get fed, and with any luck begin to draw comb. If I do that should I start with a small amount of syrup and monitor it, in case they have too much and end up storing some in the new super?

Hoping for help as this bee keeping lark is so confusing at times

 

[Vergilius]

Why the new super?

Presumably, if your bees have just swarmed, and your hive is "very light", then you should have a brood box with lots of cells free (as there will be little brood yet and, by the sounds of it, few stores)...

Just shove your feeder over the brood box and that will be fine. Or, alternatively, leave a super on and let the bees process the granulated honey themselves...

Ben P

 

[Poly Hive]

Bruise the cappings on one of your supers and put it under the brood box.

PH

 

[Hebeegeebee]

As you can't get the granulated honey out by the usual extraction method, then leave it on the hive for the bees. As they have swarmed we can assume they have space, no?

 

[Tom Bick]

If you have to remove one super and leave one for the bees you can then add the empty super.

 

[Alabamaeee]

Maybe I have the wrong idea but I thought that granulated OSR can not be processed by the bees, therefore my idea to feed them and leave a super on with new foundation.

I thought it might be a good idea just in case they decide to draw comb in preparation for any flow that may start soon.

 

[Alabamaeee]

Bruise the cappings on one of your supers and put it under the brood box.

PH

Poly,

Why under the brood box, not doubting your advice just wanting to know why

 

[oliver90owner]

The bees can easily use the granulated stores. They can get out for extra water, open brood is diminishing. Putting a super below the brood will result in them moving it, or using it - probably slowly, but will leave you with an in-tact super eventually.

They don't need any more space as yet and you can monitor progress over the next three weeks....You don't need to give them all the granulated frames at once...They will not particularly draw comb if there is space in the brood box....

You have a mess. Start clearing it up now.

Do as PH says, 'cos that is what I would be doing.

RAB

 

[Poly Hive]

Rab has it neatly.

PH

 

[Alabamaeee]

OK, that plan would be great, because it will mean I don't lose my drawn comb in that super.

So, Super below brood box, but QE between them to stop Q laying in Super?

Once it's empty, maybe replace with second granulated super, or do I just melt it down and be happy with recovering one of them?

Thanks for advice, I gad visions of being left with no drawn comb at all.

Agreed that it is a bit of a mess, but only three months into beekeeping = lots to learn yet

 

[Tom Bick]

If your hive just recently swarmed and you have no new laying queen in the hive then don’t fit the queen excluder under the bb.

Just to add I don’t see this as a mess or have I missed something?

 

[chickendave]

I thought it might be a good idea just in case they decide to draw comb in preparation for any flow that may start soon.[/QUOTE]

Depending on what part of Wiltshire you live in I am not to far from you and there has been a major flow over the last ten days or so which accounts for so many swarms at the moment

 

[oliver90owner]

The only mess is the two supers of granulated honey which will need cleaning up. Better to start sooner than later.

If they can be got partly into a super above, it can then be extracted (fairly promptly, I would suggest) and the problem has been solved with little trouble (OK some loss of honey, but a better crop made possible and a box or two of drawn wax cleaned up, maybe).

I think the poster may agree, those two supers are somewhat less than a 'tidy' item at the present time. Sorry if I use a slightly different meaning than some, but my vocabulary has been expanded over the years and not all words used have only the one simple, or common, meaning, as understood by the majority. Sorry again for any confusion at the other end (certainly none at mine).

RAB

 

[Alabamaeee]

If your hive just recently swarmed and you have no new laying queen in the hive then don’t fit the queen excluder under the bb.

Just to add I don’t see this as a mess or have I missed something?

Tom, fully understand that, penny drops etc. QE under brood box means Virgin queen imprisoned and unable to have a mating flight.

I think based on the info thus far my plan will be to first establish what is going on in the BB before I do anything else.

 

[fredbloggs]

Agreed that it is a bit of a mess, but only three months into beekeeping = lots to learn yet

Well you just keep asking away Alabamaeee because 10/20/30 years into bee keeping = lots to learn??

There are plenty out there who do not ask the "simple" questions as that situation has not occurred to them, they maybe had not thought about it being an issue (but will check next time they open up - having been prompted by someone elses post) or maybe they are afraid to ask for fear of sounding a pillock?

If what you have constitutes a "mess", if only all your future bee-keeping issues prove to be as insignificant ?

Regards

FB

 

[Tom Bick]

Tom, fully understand that, penny drops etc. QE under brood box means Virgin queen imprisoned and unable to have a mating flight.

I think based on the info thus far my plan will be to first establish what is going on in the BB before I do anything else.

Yes thats it trapping the queen is not a good thing if she needs to fly, also you will also be trapping drones.

I think you are right get the colony right with laying queen first then think about your supers.

I assume it will be your first crop but two granulated supers are not the worst that can happen its still honey and you may still get some lovely runny honey off the hive.

 

[Skyhook]

Not the answer to your question, but you can have some of the honey yourself if you want- cut the comb out and melt it in a roasting dish in a just-warm oven. The honey will un-granulate, and as it's new comb, you'll have a sheet of lovely clean wax on top. Not ideal, but not a bad solution in your position.

 

[Alabamaeee]

Thanks everyone for advice.

FredB, as for asking simple questions I don't care whether it sounds daft or not, if it helps me and someone else I am sure that some members of the forum will always respond. I generally put on my suit and leather gauntlets before asking any basic questions though


I have been fortunate with my first crop, as I had 45 lbs of OSR off two hives before the ganulated "mess" happened. Made a mental note never to go on holiday May/June again

My main concern now is keeping the bees from starving. Anything else is a bonus this year.

In the next couple of days I hope to have another look if the weather is kind.