Space in super?

[Erichalfbee]

Right ok, so in the winter would I not remove the QX? I read that the Queen might need to move up into the super for warmth? Or am I getting this wrong?

No you take the super off for winter. A standard national box has enough room for winter stores without leaving a super on.
Winter time the excluder is off in your workshop getting cleaned

 

[MonicaB]

I’ve received a lot of criticism on Facebook for my ply wood hive with people saying it’ll fall apart with bees still in it! Perhaps I should source a better hive?

 

[drdrday]

Right ok, so in the winter would I not remove the QX? I read that the Queen might need to move up into the super for warmth? Or am I getting this wrong?

QX should ALWAYS be taken off over the winter. If you leave a super on for the winter all of the bees, including the queen, need to be able to move up into it. They won't leave the queen behind! So if they ran out of food in the brood box they'd all starve rather than move up to stores in the super without the queen.

Of course you probably won't need to leave a super of stores on for the winter anyway. It depends, but if you've made sure the bees have been well fed they'll likely have enough stored in the brood box to see them through the winter. Need to know your bees and how much they need in the way of stores to see them through winter really.

 

[user 819]

Is the whole hive like it ?
If so yes after a year or two it will start looking the worse for wear.
Best stay of FB from what I hear, have never yet had the need to even try it.

 

[MonicaB]

No you take the super off for winter. A standard national box has enough room for winter stores without leaving a super on.
Winter time the excluder is off in your workshop getting cleaned

Oh wow! Ok I had no idea this was the case. I thought you didn’t remove honey for the first year so they don’t starve in the winter, but if I’m removing the super wouldn’t I be taking their winter stores?

 

[MonicaB]

QX should ALWAYS be taken off over the winter. If you leave a super on for the winter all of the bees, including the queen, need to be able to move up into it. They won't leave the queen behind! So if they ran out of food in the brood box they'd all starve rather than move up to stores in the super without the queen.

Of course you probably won't need to leave a super of stores on for the winter anyway. It depends, but if you've made sure the bees have been well fed they'll likely have enough stored in the brood box to see them through the winter. Need to know your bees and how much they need in the way of stores to see them through winter really.

Ah ok thank you, I think I need help to make that decision. Either leave the super on or not but either way no QX over winter got it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I’m still feeding them, I was wondering if they will run out of space because they are filling up with honey and then I won’t get to seven to eight walk to walk brood frames?

if they have plenty of stores and have drawn out most of the frames, stop feeding

Right ok, so in the winter would I not remove the QX? I read that the Queen might need to move up into the super for warmth? Or am I getting this wrong?

If you are going to leave a super (filled with stores) on all winter then you have to remove the Queen excluder - not because the queen wants to move up for warmth but the bees won't move up into the stores without the queen if they have used all the stores in the brood box, so what usually happens, the bees will just sit there with the queen and starve within inches of stores

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Oh wow! Ok I had no idea this was the case. I thought you didn’t remove honey for the first year so they don’t starve in the winter

That's the mantra you usually hear from those who have no idea

if I’m removing the super wouldn’t I be taking their winter stores?

You remove the super and extract the honey (after all, that is the reason for keeping bees) you then feed the bees with sugar syrup which they will store in the brood box - nice and handy for the winter.

 

[MonicaB]

Is the whole hive like it ?
If so yes after a year or two it will start looking the worse for wear.
Best stay of FB from what I hear, have never yet had the need to even try it.

Yep! I plan to, honestly the advice on this forum is calm and experienced and reassuring. So no more FB with regards bees questions.

 

[MonicaB]

Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to answer my questions. I am doing a lot of reading but the options confuse me. One question leads to another so thanks for your patience

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Yep! I plan to, honestly the advice on this forum is calm and experienced and reassuring. So no more FB with regards bees questions.

facebook - where common sense goes to die

 

[drdrday]

If I’m removing the super wouldn’t I be taking their winter stores?

At the end of the season (around end of August/beginning of September, but depending on your location) you leave the bees to keep whatever they can forage (ivy makes a good late crop), and most beeks feed with sugar syrup (or fondant), until the hive is a good weight and the bees stop taking down feed. This way they'll have a brood box nicely filling with stores as the queen's laying starts to slow down, and should have enough to get through winter. Also means you get to keep any precious honey they produced, supplementing them with cheaper sugar syrup instead.

Of course you need to monitor them over winter (by hefting the hive regularly to judge the weight) and be ready to supplement them with fondant if they're getting too light - although that's more likely to happen in early spring as they need more food for the growing brood nest.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I’ve received a lot of criticism on Facebook for my ply wood hive with people saying it’ll fall apart with bees still in it! Perhaps I should source a better hive?

Better advice here than FB....believe me

 

[Swarm]

Hi everyone, I’m just going to do another hive inspection and add a super if needed. I placed 11 Hoffman foundation frames in the super box but there is a lot of space at both ends. This is bee space and I’m thinking it’ll become a free for all so should I add another frame? Or is it ok? Thanks in advance

Looking at the photo it looks like the shelf that the frames rest on does not extend to the walls of the hive so nothing for further frames to rest on. You could fill this void with an inner wall, piece of celotex or similar, far easier would be to get a proper super.

 

[MonicaB]

Better advice here than FB....believe me

“Abandon all hope....”

 

[MonicaB]

Looking at the photo it looks like the shelf that the frames rest on does not extend to the walls of the hive so nothing for further frames to rest on. You could fill this void with an inner wall, piece of celotex or similar, far easier would be to get a proper super.

Yep that’s what I was thinking. A better super

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Yep that’s what I was thinking. A better super

Saturday 26th of June, three day Maisemore's online sale

 

[MonicaB]

Saturday 26th of June, three day Maisemore's online sale

Thanks so much, I’ll take a look

 

[pargyle]

Right ok, so in the winter would I not remove the QX? I read that the Queen might need to move up into the super for warmth? Or am I getting this wrong?

No - you remove the queen excluder if you leave a super on the hive over winter - some people feel that a standard national hive needs a super of honey as well as the brood box - but I don't know if this is fact or myth as I run 14 x 12 boxes and a well filled 14 x 12 will see them well through winter usually.

If you leave the queen excluder in place then the colony can move up to the food in the super and leave the queen behind - although more usually they refuse to leave the queen and starve when there is honey above the queen excluder. In addition - ihe colony prefers to be at the top of the hive in winter where it is warmest so any obstruction to their movement in the hive in winter is not in their interest.

In terms of feeding - they really should not need feeding now - the weather is conducive in the main to them foraging and there is plenty about for them to forage on.

 

[StephenT]

I’ve received a lot of criticism on Facebook for my ply wood hive with people saying it’ll fall apart with bees still in it! Perhaps I should source a better hive?

If you want to get a cedar wood hive, best get seconds in the sales from places like Maisemores. They’ve got more knots and rough patches than the 1st grade boxes but are perfectly fine. And if you do, buy more than you think you'll need.