Moving stores.

[Excession]

I have two deeps, both filled with stores, pollen and uncapped honey.

I want the bees to take the stores out an leave me two deeps with empty drawn frames.

I am thinking of putting them above the crownboard, with a little hole for access...

How long do you think it will take to clear down? Or is there a better way?

 

[thebhoy]

I tried that with a 14 x 12 bb and scored the frames to get them to take it down.... they didn't, they repaired them and continued to fill it it is on top of 3 supers and another 14 x12 bb
I removed the crown board today with the thought that they can fill it and I will take it away anyway.

 

[MandF]

Could be because it still smells of home.

Try leaving it off for a day, or maybe smoking then airing it for a bit first.

Dont know if that will work, but there is more chance they will see it as 'outside' forage if you do that. By the same token, leave only a small hole so less pheromones get up there.

 

[Finman]

I have two deeps, both filled with stores, pollen and uncapped honey.

I want the bees to take the stores out an leave me two deeps with empty drawn frames.

I am thinking of putting them above the crownboard, with a little hole for access...

How long do you think it will take to clear down? Or is there a better way?

Bees will not make that what you want.
They concentrate to carry nectar from flowers and they will not do that job.

Bees move stores only when they arrange laying area to queen. That is their instinct.

Where are your brood and laying queen in your system?
It is not even midd summer and bees will forage more honey. Use those brood boxes as super, bees fill them and cap and then extract the honey.

If you need the boxes to another hive, put there half foundations and bees will handle the rest.

My hives are full of half filled combs and that belongs to bees' system. And if they does not have, bees will swarm.

 

[Excession]

Thanks Finman, sound advice, makes sense to just let them use it as a super and extract it.

One question, will they move the pollen down and leave just honey?

 

[Finman]

Thanks Finman, sound advice, makes sense to just let them use it as a super and extract it.

One question, will they move the pollen down and leave just honey?

They will move the pollen only when frames are used for brood. They eate pollen when they make larva juice.