How soon do you add a Super ?

[BeeGees]

Hi Guys, im loving the forum thanks.

How soon after starting a new colony ( from a swarm about 10 days ago )
should i look to add a super ?

BG

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

when the colony is on six or seven frames full of brood

 

[monarda]

when the colony is on six or seven frames full of brood

When do you add your second super? Do you place on top or beneath first? Is any great harm done by plonking 2 or 3 supers on at once ? Just wondering....

 

[Ian123]

You can put it anywhere but personally I add under those already there. I just figure particularly with foundation more heat bees closer to the brood area.

 

[Poly Hive]

It being further north in our location I advise and practice supering on 8 frames of brood.

Adding lots of supers at once is up here a bad idea as each super is adding 50% of the value of the BB which is a chunk of space let alone times three or more.

PH

 

[monarda]

You can put it anywhere but personally I add under those already there. I just figure particularly with foundation more heat bees closer to the brood area.

Thanks Ian, do you suggest swapping capped frames with those from the ends of the box ?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I second super when the first is full of bees.
It doesn’t matter where it goes except foundation will be drawn faster above the brood.
I have lots of drawn supers so If I have a stack on the newest goes on top. It saves having to take the lot off to check if they need more.

 

[Ian123]

Yes will often move outer frames into the middle. Sometimes particularly on a decent flow the bees will often work the full box but just look and judge for yourself.

 

[monarda]

Thanks for your thoughts Dani & Ian, one last question , is it Beer O'Clock yet ?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

When do you add your second super? Do you place on top or beneath first? Is any great harm done by plonking 2 or 3 supers on at once ? Just wondering....

I add the next super when the present one is full of bees (not honey) doesn't matter whether you put the next one on top or nearest the brood - it's a personal thing. Putting a load of supers on, apart from giving the nees loads of space to heat will result in the bees 'chimneying' ie using all supers at the same time and filling a narrow column of honey up the centre of the stack whci, if the flow ends they may never work outwards.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks for your thoughts Dani & Ian, one last question , is it Beer O'Clock yet ?

It is but Stan is on metronidazole for a poorly tooth so I have to wait till he’s better.
Went through the bees today so could actually do with a beer

 

[monarda]

I add the next super when the present one is full of bees (not honey) doesn't matter whether you put the next one on top or nearest the brood - it's a personal thing. Putting a load of supers on, apart from giving the nees loads of space to heat will result in the bees 'chimneying' ie using all supers at the same time and filling a narrow column of honey up the centre of the stack whci, if the flow ends they may never work outwards.

I hadn't come across "chimneying " before - thank you so much for replying and adding to my very limited but slowly expanding knowledge.
Dave

 

[monarda]

It is but Stan is on metronidazole for a poorly tooth so I have to wait till he’s better.
Went through the bees today so could actually do with a beer

Oh dear, I can only suggest that , as an act of unselfish generosity , I will have one for you ! Hope tooth problem soon resolves.
Dave

 

[Curly green finger's]

I wanted to add that no-one had said it's a good idea when putting the first super on to leave the exclude out for a couple of days maybe even a day then put it on

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I wanted to add that no-one had said it's a good idea when putting the first super on to leave the exclude out for a couple of days maybe even a day then put it on

Because it may be an idea, but far, far from a good one, bees will move up into the super when the want/need to, not before.
If you have a super and they won't go up, it's because they don't have a need to. Simple as that, no amount of hocus pocus and (which I heard lately) 'the queen needs to walk over the foundation before they will use it' will change that.

 

[Erichalfbee]

You beat me to it

 

[Curly green finger's]

Well I only put supers on when they need them not before.
You both can't say to me that they won't go above if they don't need to they will store honey above even when there Q-
Or if there's not the recommended what ever amount of brood.
Queens walking on super frames what's that all about?
Perhaps I should be recommending folk leave them out completely? as they are a bugger really and stop the Queen having freedom to lay where ever she likes which in turn helps with swarming colonys.

I know numerous beeks who don't have swarms year in year out mainly because they don't use them that and 14x12 boxes.


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[Erichalfbee]

I know numerous beeks who don't have swarms year in year out mainly because they don't use them that and 14x12 boxes.


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Slightly changing tack
I'm probably tempting fate here but I've never had a Demaree swarm.
What I wanted to start this year is to Demaree the same queen every year till she was superseded rather than swarm to see how long that would take but the one colony I chose this year has become too defensive and rolling the frames has become unpleasant
Back to the drawing board next year

PS. Some beekeepers say that having a queen stroll about in a super gets the bees drawing it.

 

[Ian123]

“I know numerous beeks who don't have swarms year in year out mainly because they don't use them that and 14x12 boxes.”......................yes there are plenty of beekeepers who don’t loose swarms, they are a bit like fishermen. I happen to be both!

 

[BeeGees]

Great info guys thanks


BG