Stores

[Erichalfbee]

I checked a couple of large colonies today. A week ago both had two nearly full supers with some frames capped. After five days of rain and no foraging both are now down to a couple of frames.
So check your stores if you've had similar weather

 

[Fritillary]

Thanks for the warning!

 

[Levitt53]

This has prompted me to ask a question. Weather here has been nice recently although raining today. I have OSR honey, nearly a super full. What happens once I extract this as this is obviously 90% of their stores.

Edit: I guess I should feed them if the weather after is bad but as the BB is pretty full I don't want it stored in the supers.

 

[mjt68]

This has prompted me to ask a question. Weather here has been nice recently although raining today. I have OSR honey, nearly a super full. What happens once I extract this as this is obviously 90% of their stores.

Edit: I guess I should feed them if the weather after is bad but as the BB is pretty full I don't want it stored in the supers.

If there's enough stores in the BB they don't need feeding. If there aren't stores in the BB then they might if the forecast looks poor. They only need a couple of nice days with forage to build up stores again.

EDIT: notice you're in the same part of the world. I'm planning on pulling 3 supers tomorrow as hives have another super with something plus BB stores. Forecast looks ok tomorrow and from Sunday into next week - the bees should get out a bit even if there's a few showers.

 

[Levitt53]

If there's enough stores in the BB they don't need feeding. If there aren't stores in the BB then they might if the forecast looks poor. They only need a couple of nice days with forage to build up stores again.

EDIT: notice you're in the same part of the world. I'm planning on pulling 3 supers tomorrow as hives have another super with something plus BB stores. Forecast looks ok tomorrow and from Sunday into next week - the bees should get out a bit even if there's a few showers.

I think that's the next thing I need to get my head around. How quickly stores go up and down. Yes that's the forecast I've seen. I'm planning to extract my super on Sunday as the OSR is definitely on the turn.

 

[drex]

Yes, the OSR is going over here too, so I am thinking of extracting this weekend too. However there is loads of wet nectar in the hive too, so it will be a lot of shuffling of frames. I think they are now bringing in hawthorn by the bucket. Running out of supers and they are filling the BBs

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Yes, the OSR is going over here too, so I am thinking of extracting this weekend too. However there is loads of wet nectar in the hive too, so it will be a lot of shuffling of frames. I think they are now bringing in hawthorn by the bucket. Running out of supers and they are filling the BBs

Stay ahead and make sure they don't congest the brood box or you're heading for swarm preparations.