Full Brood box - not moving into super

[SteveG]

Hi, Purchased overwintered NUC, arrived 4 weeks ago. moved into National, fed until frames all drawn. Week ago all frames covered with bees with plenty of brood. Added queen excluder and super with new frames. 8 days later no bees in super, not started to draw wax. Brood box full of bees, even last frame 2 sides of brood, ready to explode with bees. what to do??

Make into double brood by adding new brood under existing brood box and feed to help draw new brood frames.

Remove QE and make into brood and half.

leave with one brood box, QE, Super and let the bees deal with it

Other?

Thanks

 

[bingevader]

It's only been just over a week.
I'm assuming it was a 6 frame nuc?
Then they've filled (are they completely full?) the remaining 5 brood frames in 4 weeks.
Added to which, here, the weather hasn't been too brilliant.
We haven't used QEs for a few years now, so can't help you there.

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

It's only been just over a week.
I'm assuming it was a 6 frame nuc?
Then they've filled (are they completely full?) the remaining 5 brood frames in 4 weeks.
Added to which, here, the weather hasn't been too brilliant.
We haven't used QEs for a few years now, so can't help you there.

What (s)he said. Patience young Padawan.

 

[Anduril]

8 frames of brood add super.

 

[Welshboyarchrr]

8 frames of brood add super.

Err. It feels as if actually reading the OP may have produced a slightly more helpful answer?

 

[Anduril]

Err. It feels as if actually reading the OP may have produced a slightly more helpful answer?

Brood box full of bees, not brood box, all frames full of brood. There is a difference.

 

[For want of a better word]

Leave the excluder off.... can always be put back on once the bees start drawing out the comb... if q is very fucund and starts to lay into the super, leave it in place.... add another super and the qx atop the now brood + 1/2... move drawn frames without brood up into new super.

My Grandfather used to do that... called "working the hives for honey" !!

 

[Welshboyarchrr]

Quote "Added queen excluder and super with new frames. 8 days later no bees in super, not started to draw wax.-"End Quote
Apologies Anduril. I failed to understand that adding another super on top of one that hasn't yet been drawn would help answer the OP's question. Obviously my mistake.

 

[Ian123]

I would of added another brood but if you are determined for a super just leave the excluder off as mentioned above

 

[drex]

Bees only build comb when they need it.

 

[SteveG]

Hi Drex, your suggestion is to let the bees decide, leave as?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

they obviously don't need to go up into the super - no big deal, they will go through the queen excluder when the want to...... unless it's one of them awful plastic things

 

[Millet]

..

 

[Newbeeneil]

If any of my colonies are reluctant to cross a QX I take it off for a few days until they start to draw at least a couple of frames then I make sure HM is not in the super and replace the QX. They seem to have no problem once they start drawing the super frames.
If you have a problem finding the queen just shake all bees into the BB off the super frames before replacing the QX.

 

[drex]

I would. You can only encourage them to go in the direction you want ( a snug properly spaced super etc) but they decide if and when.

 

[beeno]

If any of my colonies are reluctant to cross a QX I take it off for a few days until they start to draw at least a couple of frames then I make sure HM is not in the super and replace the QX. They seem to have no problem once they start drawing the super frames.
If you have a problem finding the queen just shake all bees into the BB off the super frames before replacing the QX.

+1

 

[Swarm]

they obviously don't need to go up into the super - no big deal, they will go through the queen excluder when the want to...... unless it's one of them awful plastic things

I'm with JBM on this, never had bees reluctant to pass through an excluder.

 

[beeno]

I'm with JBM on this, never had bees reluctant to pass through an excluder.

Well, he has but not bothered.

 

[Swarm]

You missed the part that says they will move up when they need to?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Well, he has but not bothered.

Is tah sentence supposed to mean something#
Or did she just do the electronic equivalent of spilling a bag of scrabble tiles on the table?