Honey Supers

[nantmoel]

Just a post to find out how many of you beeks put honey supers after extracting back on the bees for them to clean them or do you store them wet. Simple poll YES if you put them back on for the bees to clean or NO if you don't.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

pointless putting them back to clean really - storing them wet is much better - flat board top and bottom of a stack of supers cinched up tight with a couple of hive straps then leave them outside with a roof on or in an open sided shelter. If you only have a few supers just wrap them up tightly in a large strong plastic bag

 

[Erichalfbee]

Wet except the unextractable frames which you can usefully nadir so that the bees move the honey up into the brood box

 

[Hawklord]

I store mine wet, but this year I think they'll be dry before I extract them.

 

[Obee1]

Why do you store them wet - is it less work for the beek than giving then retrieving from the bees or is there some advantage to wet storage?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

a) why bother going through all the faffing around of putting them on, hoping the bees will get up there and clean them out quickly, also hoping the bees won't start using them as storage again thus having a stack of part filled supers to deal with in the autumn.
b) less chance of drawing attention from wax moth.
c) when you put them back on in spring - bees are up there like a shot.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes all that
I will add that this year I still had wet supers fairly late on and the shed smelt like a brewery. The bees didn't seem to mind the fermented honey

 

[Ely]

a) why bother going through all the faffing around of putting them on, hoping the bees will get up there and clean them out quickly, also hoping the bees won't start using them as storage again thus having a stack of part filled supers to deal with in the autumn.
b) less chance of drawing attention from wax moth.
c) when you put them back on in spring - bees are up there like a shot.

Also makes your shed smell nice!

 

[YorkshireBees]

All of the above.

Some wet are put back on hives for cleaning and then stored dry.
Any containing granulated stores will be sprayed with water and nadir'ed.
The last one's to come off and be extracted will probably be stored wet depending on the status of colonies / time / weather.

I have stored both wet and dry supers in the past and not seen a big difference. I have even stored part filled supers with no problems.

 

[For want of a better word]

I store mine wet, but this year I think they'll be dry before I extract them.

Yep... Italians already started to eat their stores.... bless!

Yeghes da

 

[Tremyfro]

Yep... Italians already started to eat their stores.... bless!

Yeghes da

Thought you were on big flows down there?
I think most of mine will be dry this year too.
Last year ......
I stored some in the freezers...big mistake as I ran out of room at Xmas.
Stored some dry after spraying with Certan.
Stored some wet in plastic bags.
They were all fine.
This year I hVe the use of a separate freezer...so any half filled ones will go in there...instead of nadiring...which was a right nuisance in the spring!

 

[For want of a better word]

Thought you were on big flows down there?

The HB is in full bloom in the Lhyner... masses of fire weed... but seems to be little nectar in any of it this year...
The GGGGreatgreygreenmightytamarriverallsetaboutwithsociallhousing,,, has been cleared at massive expence of HB by the EA.... pity they did nothing about the Japanesee knot weed!

Cornwall Council... or someone??? has also being pulling ragwort... pity they just leave it on the roadside to dry and die!

Dyffen da

 

[YorkshireBees]

Thought you were on big flows down there?
I think most of mine will be dry this year too.
Last year ......
I stored some in the freezers...big mistake as I ran out of room at Xmas.
Stored some dry after spraying with Certan.
Stored some wet in plastic bags.
They were all fine.
This year I hVe the use of a separate freezer...so any half filled ones will go in there...instead of nadiring...which was a right nuisance in the spring!

What makes you say that?
Stick a full / part full / chrystalised super under a BB in Autumn. Take it out empty at the 1st inspection in Spring. I found it very easy and it saves space in the bee shed!
Also it means the cluster is higher up away from the OMF during Winter.

 

[Erichalfbee]

What makes you say that?
Stick a full / part full / chrystalised super under a BB in Autumn. Take it out empty at the 1st inspection in Spring. I found it very easy and it saves space in the bee shed!
Also it means the cluster is higher up away from the OMF during Winter.

Yes it works a treat

 

[Jeff Buzz]

Yes it works a treat

I agree

 

[REDWOOD]

Yes & no answer.
Yes I put them back on but no not for cleaning only to be reused

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

I stored them as wet supers last winter.

The bees really moved into them when they were put back on this summer.

I'll not go back to getting the bees to clear them, then having the hassle of storing them as dry supers, fumigating them against wax moth.
It's unnecessary and adds additional chemicals to the supers.

Dusty

 

[BeeJayBee]

I store them wet.

I followed local instructions when I started out and gave them to the bees to clean, but it's a lot of hassle because they sometimes try to start using them again even though there's plenty of space in the brood box.

Any shallow frames that contain stores, once extracting is over and done with, are put into one or two boxes which are put beneath the colonies I think might benefit from the extra food and/or the space during autumn and early spring.