Overfed bees, should I remove surplus stores?

[Benodale]

I completed the first inspection of the year today and I have one hive which would appear to have surplus stores of syrup. I left on a super in the autumn as it had a little honey and I wanted to leave the bees with healthy stocks. Unfortunately I think I may have given them too much syrup as the super is still full and the brood box is well stocked. Should I remove the super and would it be best to dispose of the syrup?

I know it's early to inspect, but we had a nice warm day here today and I don't want to be caught out like last year, when my bees swarmed at the start of April!

 

[VEG]

I would leave them alone until the weather gets a lot warmer.

 

[Redcap]

...and also think its a good sign that they still have stores...I also left a super on my strongest colony, and added fondant in January, just in case, a few weeks ago they hadnt touched the fondant ...by today it was all gone, so added some more. Hopefully the warmer weather will soon be here !

 

[Easy Beesy]

Too early for full inspection - peeking only!
If you know they're going to swarm just be prepared for it. You should pick it up during your inspections anyway and work with it not against it. Leave them alone and leave the super on, who knows, with our weather, they may need it in March/April.

 

[clv101]

... added fondant in January, just in case, a few weeks ago they hadnt touched the fondant ...by today it was all gone, so added some more. Hopefully the warmer weather will soon be here !

How much did the take in a few months? What's the shortest a 2.5kg slab might last a colony during a cold February?

 

[itma]

Yes, you probably should remove some, but NOT YET. Unless you have other healthy but hungry colonies that would benefit from some immediate redistribution. Otherwise, worry about that in a few weeks time.

Should I remove the super and would it be best to dispose of the syrup?

Frames of sealed stores (even syrup) are useful for feeding swarms - natural, artificial or shaken.
The drawn comb is valuable to the beekeeper (for the bees), probably even more so than the stores.
Hence, I'd look to using the stores and then safely hoarding the comb, rather than destroying the frames.

 

[peteinwilts]

What's the shortest a 2.5kg slab might last a colony during a cold February?

wheres theres that longest\shortest piece of string gone?

Depends how much syrup they have left from the autumn, and the size of the colony.
Rather than analysing every aspect regarding temperature, size etc, the method I use is 'if' they need fondant in January (many took sufficiant syrup in Autumn), I give them 1Kg fondant per frames of bees. Worst case scenario... I take it back off when the weather is warmer.

it means no regular hefting, messing with the bees and no sleepless nights.

 

[Benodale]

Thanks for your advice everyone. You have put my mind at rest - I will leave them well alone now for a while!