Drawing super QX or no QX

[MrTrueman]

Hi All,

Just a quickie I have had a undrawn super on for a week now and can see they have not drawn any of the foundation out. I have one of the slotted steel QX on and have a replacement wire type to go on when I next open up.

I have read that you can leave the QX off to encourage them to go up and draw the super foundation out. So my question is do I put the wire QX on for a week in the hope they like this more and go up, or go for no QX for a while?

What do you folks favour?

 

[VEG]

Leave the excluder off for a few days have a look to see if they have started to draw it out if yes then put excluder back on.

 

[Poly Hive]

What you haven't said is how strong are the bees?

Can you tell us how many frames of brood there are?

PH

 

[MrTrueman]

PH,

It's a week tomorrow since I put the super on. Last week there was 6 sealed frames and one frame with eggs/larvae.

RE: http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=976

I haven't been in them since, but guess they would have progressed but time will tell.

 

[user 382]

Hi MrT,

There's another option If you don't fancy leaving the QX off for a while. Just replace a frame of stores in the brood box with one of the frames of super foundation. Give it a day or two for them to draw it out and then place it back in the super.

 

[Poly Hive]

6+ 1 is possibly just early enough. I super on 7+1 or 8.

If your weather hasn't been that great then I suspect that things are just a bit cool for the girls.

PH

 

[MrTrueman]

Thank you all for the replies.

My gut feeling is that I supered about one week too early, but I was of course very keen to push for progress and more importantly didn't want to make a mistake and take them down the lack of space route.

The weather has turned a bit so I guess that hasn't helped their progress either

I think I will make my mind up when I open them up next. I just need a bit sun so I can have a poke about in the box

 

[BKF Admin]

They need a good flow or a feed to draw comb,with better weather they will sort it out.