Over winter hive set up

[Graeme6]

Hi all, after some advice about how to set up my hives for over wintering. At the moment I have all my hive condensed down to one brood box whilst treating with apivar strips. I have kept back one full super from each hive with a view to putting it back for the bees to use the stores over the winter period. Is this a good idea and if so should the supers be put on above or below the brood box. Thanks in advance for any helpfull info.

Graeme

 

[ericbeaumont]

should

No 'should' about it, Graeme, because depending on variable factors, either will work:

1 What is your instinctive reaction to the weight when you heft at the back with one hand?
2 Is ivy flowering and are bees foraging?
3 How many frames of brood does each colony have?
4 Did you run them on double brood during the season?
5 If so, why did you condense them?

One factor may help you decide: a nadired full super is a lot to clear upstairs unless the colony is strong and there's space to put the extra stores.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

if you feed/manage the colony properly, there should be no reason to have a full super of stores as well

 

[Erichalfbee]

One factor may help you decide: a nadired full super is a lot to clear upstairs unless the colony is strong and there's space to put it.

@Graeme6
This is important. If you can’t answer Eric’s questions and you must give them a super then put it on top. All you have to do in the spring is chase the queen down and put in a QX. When the brood emerges the bees will fill it with honey for you.

 

[enrico]

@Graeme6
This is important. If you can’t answer Eric’s questions and you must give them a super then put it on top. All you have to do in the spring is chase the queen down and put in a QX. When the brood emerges the bees will fill it with honey for you.

The only problem you may come across with that is if you have put in the QX and then get a really cold spell they have a large area to heat with a barrier in between.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The only problem you may come across with that is if you have put in the QX and then get a really cold spell they have a large area to heat with a barrier in between.

Well yes. A manoeuvre to be done when conditions are right.

 

[ericbeaumont]

put in the QX and then get a really cold spell they have a large area to heat with a barrier in between

manoeuvre to be done when conditions are right.

Yes, but early spring conditions are unpredictable. Could put a sheet of newspaper under the box, an old trick to retain heat below yet allow bees to go through when they need the space.

 

[WoodenBeam]

Ask a simple question & get an array of answers……….
For my pennies worth stick your super on the floor & brood box over then crown board/quilt. Queen X can then go on the top of all this under the roof for storage over Winter. Come Spring queen & brood should be in B/Box where it belongs & an empty cleaned out super underneath ready to go straight back on top.

We use open mesh floors & put entrance blocks in - I don’t bother with mouse guards, have only had a couple of issues over a number of years with a reasonable amount of colonies. I feel with the super under the brood box this gives a bit of a buffer between the floor and brood nest………that’s only a feeling & it seems to work for me. An additional bonus is not having to store these supers as they’re all on the colonies.

 

[ericbeaumont]

get an array of answers

So far the voting is even: no super, nadired super and top super score one vote each.

That is not much use for a beekeeper who wants to be told what to do, but Graeme strikes me as a beekeeper interested in exploring the reasons behind the options.

What are your thoughts so far, Graeme?

 

[Graeme6]

I was leaning to put the super on under the brood box and thought i might get a straight forward answer here. Obviously nothing is straight forward when it comes to beekeeping.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I was leaning to put the super on under the brood box and thought i might get a straight forward answer here. Obviously nothing is straight forward when it comes to beekeeping.

I have one of each at the moment. One on top and one under.
I also have a colony on double 14x12
This year has been a bit of a **** up…. But the bees still thrive.

 

[drex]

Bees cannot adjust the size of a cavity in a tree, so why so much worry? I let the bees tell me what to do. I have no problem overwintering on double brood, if the colony is strong. Stores always go on top, so that is where I would place a full super. A super with bits and pieces of stores goes underneath , for the bees to move stores up around the brood. Think like a bee.