Overwintered Stores

[Beemanbunty]

Hi Beeks, do I leave on the supers that are still full with overwintered stores (sugar syrup) in April? will the bees use them? As I do not want to extract sugar syrup. I was concerned about space for them to store nectar for honey, so that I can harvest honey at the end of the season. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I wouldn’t. The syrup will end up in your honey
You can always keep the frames for feeding in a dearth.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Take them all off and store them - a salutary lesson on whether a well fed colony also needs supers packed full of stores

 

[Beemanbunty]

I wouldn’t. The syrup will end up in your honey
You can always keep the frames for feeding in a dearth.

Ok thanks for the advice.

 

[Beemanbunty]

Take them all off and store them - a salutary lesson on whether a well fed colony also needs supers packed full of stores

Cheers will do.

 

[Beemanbunty]

Yes, but if I leave them on won't the bees use the stores to feed on? Will it not be beneficial for them? as I only harvest honey in September.

 

[jeff33]

The spring flow will start over the next 2-3 weeks and if you leave these supers on bees will store nectar in the brood nest or wherever they can increasing swarming potential. They will also prefer feeding on honey than sugar syrup and you will end-up mixing both, especially if you plan to leave them until September! I would remove the super and store as suggested for dearth.

 

[Beemanbunty]

The spring flow will start over the next 2-3 weeks and if you leave these supers on bees will store nectar in the brood nest or wherever they can increasing swarming potential. They will also prefer feeding on honey than sugar syrup and you will end-up mixing both, especially if you plan to leave them until September! I would remove the super and store as suggested for dearth.

Fair enough..makes sense, cheers!

 

[Beemanbunty]

Do I store them in a fridge or in a resealable bag? Sorry still in the learning process.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Yes, but if I leave them on won't the bees use the stores to feed on

As they used to say in the RN - stores are meant for storing, not using - If there is fresh food out there, they will use that in preference to the stores already in the hive, and just add the surplus coming in to it. you always need to get the levels of sugar feeding stores down to the bare minimum in time for the nectar flow.

 

[Beemanbunty]

Understood, but these stores are from winter so do I store them in a fridge at home or in bags? Thanks.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Understood, but these stores are from winter so do I store them in a fridge at home or in bags? Thanks.

how much is there?

 

[Beemanbunty]

15 frames of sealed stores

 

[jeff33]

Understood, but these stores are from winter so do I store them in a fridge at home or in bags? Thanks.

If it's capped I would leave them in a sealed super so ants and others won't get to it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If it's capped I would leave them in a sealed super so ants and others won't get to it

take both supers off, cap them top and bottom with a blank board, cinch them up with two ratchet straps and put them in a shelter somewhere until needed

 

[Beemanbunty]

If it's capped I would leave them in a sealed super so ants and others won't get to it.

Thanks @ jeff33 and jenkinsbrynmair(y)

 

[Finman]

As they used to say in the RN - stores are meant for storing, not using

A mad idea.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

A mad idea.

And why Britannia ruled the waves

 

[Finman]

And why Britannia ruled the waves

It is fun to wave

 

[CaptainCymru]

It is fun to wave

Not at the Russians