Nadiring with a 14x12 Brood Box

Swift Nick · Jul 22, 2018

I am extracting my 2nd lot of honey next weekend, I then intend to treat with Apiguard through August and then feed late August early September.
I am tempted to put a super back on the hive after the Apiguard when I feed, we get a big Ivy flow here during mid September and last year my bees put on 10 to 12 kg per hive from the Ivy after syrup feeding was completed. I would then nadir that super.
My reason for putting the super on is so that the brood box could become too full from feeding syrup & Ivy and restrict laying space.
The downside I found from last year was the nadir ended up full of drone brood.
The upside was they had plenty of stores.
I have Buckfast bees that are big colony’s, I am interested if it is thought that nadiring is necessary with 14x12 brood boxes.
Thanks Nick

Dadnlad · Jul 22, 2018

In my experience a 14x12 bb with 7-8 frames of stores is ample, there's usually at least 2-3 untouched come spring that we remove later on once the Q gets going and needs the space

jenkinsbrynmair · Jul 22, 2018

Dadnlad said:
In my experience a 14x12 bb with 7-8 frames of stores is ample, there's usually at least 2-3 untouched come spring that we remove later on once the Q gets going and needs the space

the bees will backfill as the brood reduces, you won't need a super wherever you put it. Also, nadiring a super after it has been filled and no doubt capped especially that late in the season is bad beekeeping IMHO. Bees like to have their winter stores above the brood, so the last thing they need late autumn is someone rearranging the whole thing so they then get stressed out putting things right.

Swift Nick · Jul 22, 2018

Thank you both for the advice, it’s my second year, first full year, so I am still working it out.
I am happy not to nadir, as it Keeps things more straightforward and if it stresses the bees less that’s good. I will get a box of fondant in just in case.
Cheers Nick

Millet · Jul 22, 2018

ShinySideUp · Jul 22, 2018

I have 14 x 12's (and I like them). Last year I messed up and treated with Apiguard before removing the super therefore I couldn't take the honey. I nadir'd it last September and took it out in April -- it was completely cleaned of honey and in pristine condition, no eggs, no drone brood; I intend to do the same thing this year (but not the Apiguard bit). I think the secret to not getting drones is to keep it back until you are sure no drones will be produced and then put it under.

If a colony is not too big then 14 x 12 frames should supply them with enough food for the winter (so I'm led to believe) but IMHO it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I might add that I fed no fondant to my full-sized hives at all last winter and I didn't lose a colony so right or wrong with 14 x 12's, nadirs, etc., etc. it worked for me.

PS I bought a 12.5 kg box of fondant last summer, I have 12 kg left as my wife iced a cake with the other bit.