Newbie question on storing supers beneath brood box

[benaghbees]

Hi all,

I will have extracted 3 supers of 1 hive by the weekend. Is it best to put these all back under the brood box for the entire winter? Does the entrance remain at the bottom of the hive meaning the bees would have to come up/down through 3 supers to leave/return to the brood box? This is my first winter so hopefully this is not a silly question. Thanks

 

[Davelin]

No I wouldn't put three under.

If you want the bees to clean them you can put them over a crown board with the feed hole open. They will clean all the honey off the frames in a few days. You can then take them off and store them over winter.

The only supers I put under the brood are ones that are part filled/unsealed when I take my harvest off. I sometimes leave one super under the brood box with the entrance below this, but never more than one. You are going to make your space too big for winter.

 

[Swarm]

Store them wet.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Store them wet.

piece of plywood or a crown board top and bottom cinched tight with a hive strap ans left in a cold place over winter (alternatively put each in a strong plastic bag and seal up

 

[angeJ]

The only supers I put under the brood are ones that are part filled/unsealed when I take my harvest off. I sometimes leave one super under the brood box with the entrance below this, but never more than one. You are going to make your space too big for winter.

So will they not use capped honey? Most of the frames in the super I had saved for them will be sealed.

 

[Davelin]

Yes they will.

I extract capped supers and only leave partly filled ones, it's all a matter of choice.

 

[angeJ]

I see - the penny has dropped! I've seen that comment a few times but hadn't understood why