relative newbie - moving to OSR

[beesleybees]

Hi guys,

I been up to see the farmer today regarding putting my hives on his OSR

I have been give the OK

Now i only started beekeeping last year and have heard how quickly a colony can grow when put on OSR.

so im just looking for general advice and anything thats going to help me. I believe OSR is a bit of a hurdle for a newbie but im sure with the help from people on this forum, i will be ok

now ive started making up more supers and more frames with foundation.
Ive got a new honey extractor on order.

now my hives have around 6 frames of brood at the minute. I have not got any of the supered for this reason but if i take the hives tomorrow, im thinking im best putting a super on each of them. I dont want then filling the brood space up!! I was going to put a queen excluder on top of the brood box then a crown board with the super on top of this. my reason is that the temperature has dropped quite a bit the last few days so they will still be able to reach the super but the crownboard will make it easier for them to keep warm, do you agree or am i totally wrong??

 

[Drinkstone]

No idea! But can't wait to read replies as my first bees arrived today and I have placed them within ten feet of the OSR next to my property. Just on one brood box no super yet and I have not opened up completely as prefer to let them settle for a few days, if the weather is right we (my mentor and I) will inspect on Monday.

 

[Poly Hive]

FWIW I super on no less than 8 frames of brood.

OSR is infamous for setting in the comb and is often extracted uncapped for this reason.

Good luck.

PH

 

[FreeFall]

I started same time as you, so am no expert.

From what I understand, if you put the crownboard below a super, the bees will look at that as being 'outside' of the hive. I think it is one way to get bees to bring down stores - as they are, in effect, 'robbing'.

I had a similar dilemma last weekend and ended up adding the QE and super, but laying down a couple of sheets of newspaper instead of the feeder board. I figure that will keep the warmth in and allow expansion if needed. Prick a few holes in the paper with a nail or something.

Nick

 

[enrico]

It is so dependant on weather. Personally, if the hive is medium to strong, I would just add a super on the first day that I saw the bees were flying properly and the general weather was better than snow or rain.
Once the weather bucks up you will need to work on at least the three super principal, one full and ready for off, one being filled and one extracted and ready to go on! Use the shake test on the nectar .
However.... Paper idea is good one that I have never tried. I usually use crown board between supers if I think they may need more space never needed it above brood. If they need the space they will use it.
Hope this makes sense
E

 

[Adie]

Depends on how often you can get to manage the colony eg in the event of good weather and rapid built up of the colony. If you go for brood box, excluder, super, crown board (allowing access to another super above), second super and final crown board with vent closed (piece of glass). This will keep brood a little warmer and it is very easy to put the top super and roof etc. to one side whilst you remove the crown board between the two supers without disturbing the colony unduly if it is a bit frisky ... and they often are in mono cropping situation! Good luck - don't give too much space to weak colony if you suspect cold, dank windy weather is on the way. Mzee Nyuki

 

[bobandbec]

Mine that are on the OSR are all supered up ready to go. They really need empty drawn comb ready for immediate storage.
As PH says watch that the honey is taken off ASAP when it is ready. My advice is don't wait until the flowers die off go through on a weekly basis removing suitable frames. Once removed extract the honey the same day and get into buckets or jars.
Also be ready with your swarming preparations. If and when the flow gets going the bees will almost certainly set up queen cells so be ready to take action.
And good luck with it all.

Peter