Removing a super

[Crazyhorse]

Ok folks, I’ve stopped with the feeding and checked my Bees and all is looking good, although I’ve not been in the box to inspect just through the polycarbonate crown board . I placed a super underneath during winter but when should I look to move this on top and go to a brood and half?
Or is it best to leave underneath??

 

[Erichalfbee]

I didn’t nadir any this winter but in the past when I did they came off at first inspection ( which is a quick look) usually in the last week of March.

 

[enrico]

You have several options. You can remove it at any time if it is empty. That is likely to be in March. Or you can leave it until there is a flow on and put it over a queen excluder making sure you have the queen under it and any brood will emerge and the cells will be filled with nectar. Do this before any drones are laid or you will end up with drones above the excluder. Or you can leave it as it is. If I leave a super on the bottom as half a brood box I never bother inspecting it, 95% of the time any queen cells will be in the top box or between the two but that is a risk I am prepared to take.

 

[elainemary]

Ok folks, I’ve stopped with the feeding and checked my Bees and all is looking good, although I’ve not been in the box to inspect just through the polycarbonate crown board . I placed a super underneath during winter but when should I look to move this on top and go to a brood and half?
Or is it best to leave underneath??

Took mine off 3rd week in March, nice sunny day. Of the 10 colonies I’d nadired all empty and cleaned of stores and no brood in, except one which had a small patch. Did something similar the previous year and I removed first week April. Depends on weather and was v quick, plus did quick check of stores in brood box.

I left further couple of weeks til weather good enough for first spring inspection (to quickly check brood was worker and looking healthy)

 

[Antipodes]

Took mine off 3rd week in March, nice sunny day. Of the 10 colonies I’d nadired all empty and cleaned of stores and no brood in, except one which had a small patch. Did something similar the previous year and I removed first week April. Depends on weather and was v quick, plus did quick check of stores in brood box.

I left further couple of weeks til weather good enough for first spring inspection (to quickly check brood was worker and looking healthy)

Did you find the combs in the nadired supers had any damp or mould on them at all?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Did you find the combs in the nadired supers had any damp or mould on them at all?

I do quite often which why I try not to do it any more.

 

[Boston Bees]

Did you find the combs in the nadired supers had any damp or mould on them at all?

I do quite often which why I try not to do it any more.

Interesting. Do you think this is because the super frames were full of honey/pollen at the start of the winter? Or just because the super comb has been empty for a couple of months, and any comb would go damp and mouldy in that circumstance?

 

[enrico]

Interesting. Do you think this is because the super frames were full of honey/pollen at the start of the winter? Or just because the super comb has been empty for a couple of months, and any comb would go damp and mouldy in that circumstance?

The latter

 

[Erichalfbee]

As enrico

 

[Boston Bees]

Interesting. So presumably people running double brood overwinter find the bottom box wet and mouldy in spring?

I haven't noticed this in the past, but all mine are double or (mostly) triple stacked this winter so it will be interesting to see what state the bottom box (now empty in most of them) is in come first inspection.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Interesting. So presumably people running double brood overwinter find the bottom box wet and mouldy in spring?

Only two at most four outside frames. Perfectly dry but mouldy

 

[elainemary]

Did you find the combs in the nadired supers had any damp or mould on them at all?

No I didn’t find that, seemed dry and clean

 

[enrico]

Interesting. So presumably people running double brood overwinter find the bottom box wet and mouldy in spring?

I haven't noticed this in the past, but all mine are double or (mostly) triple stacked this winter so it will be interesting to see what state the bottom box (now empty in most of them) is in come first inspection.

Not quite what I said. IF THEY ARE MOULDY then it is down to moist air!!!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I sometimes find the end frames a bit mouldy (but still perfectly usable - the bees soon clean them up) but on the whole they are fine. Never damp though.

 

[Finman]

Ok folks, I’ve stopped with the feeding and checked my Bees and all is looking good, although I’ve not been in the box to inspect just through the polycarbonate crown board . I placed a super underneath during winter but when should I look to move this on top and go to a brood and half?
Or is it best to leave underneath??

Take it away now. Bees do not need it.

 

[Crazyhorse]

Cheers all, I’m thinking should I leave it for a brood and half?
Also when is a good time to remove the insulation I placed inside the brood chamber to dummy down?

 

[drex]

Easy- when there is little available space left in it.

 

[Crazyhorse]

Thanks, took the insulation board out today and popped two new frames in.. the little darlings are building wax!! Couldn’t see any brood laid yet though but 6 frames of stores at least..

the other hive is 8 frames of bees, I wasn’t suited and the second hive can be naughty but they looked lethargic but full… so I’m hoping to leave the nadir in place to
Make the half brood and half and avoid swarming or splitting them.. thinking I may put the supers on In the next couple of weeks..

 

[enrico]

Thanks, took the insulation board out today and popped two new frames in.. the little darlings are building wax!! Couldn’t see any brood laid yet though but 6 frames of stores at least..

the other hive is 8 frames of bees, I wasn’t suited and the second hive can be naughty but they looked lethargic but full… so I’m hoping to leave the nadir in place to
Make the half brood and half and avoid swarming or splitting them.. thinking I may put the supers on In the next couple of weeks..

Putting supers on? Then you truly are a crazy horse! Where are you based?

 

[Martimart]

Thanks, took the insulation board out today and popped two new frames in.. the little darlings are building wax!! Couldn’t see any brood laid yet though but 6 frames of stores at least..

the other hive is 8 frames of bees, I wasn’t suited and the second hive can be naughty but they looked lethargic but full… so I’m hoping to leave the nadir in place to
Make the half brood and half and avoid swarming or splitting them.. thinking I may put the supers on In the next couple of weeks..

No supers yet, hold your Horses.