Super required?

[BernardBlack]

Super full of capped honey (bar 2 frames), Top Brood box the same (bar 3/4 frames).

Thinking of harvesting the super now, and leaving the honey in top BB for winter stores.

Just wondered if the bees would require a new super from now? I'd imagine there would be room in bottom BB when laying slows though?

Hive quite well established.

 

[JWF]

I'd take the super off and extract, then replace it underneath the brood box.

If there is still a flow on where you are then there's a risk that the laying area will get constrained too much and you'll end up with a tiny colony trying to overwinter surrounded by enough stores to feed an army. The super will give them the extra space if they need it.

You don't mention how big the colony is, but the super will also give the bees some room if they need it. You also don't mention what brood box your using - I've based the advice above on the assumption that you've got standard Nationals, if you're using a bigger format you might not need to put the super back on.

 

[enrico]

Blimey! Plenty of room with two brood box's, they won't need a super as well! If the brood box is full of honey I would consider extracting that and leave them with the super.
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[BernardBlack]

I'd take the super off and extract, then replace it underneath the brood box.

If there is still a flow on where you are then there's a risk that the laying area will get constrained too much and you'll end up with a tiny colony trying to overwinter surrounded by enough stores to feed an army. The super will give them the extra space if they need it.

You don't mention how big the colony is, but the super will also give the bees some room if they need it. You also don't mention what brood box your using - I've based the advice above on the assumption that you've got standard Nationals, if you're using a bigger format you might not need to put the super back on.

Yeah I have a standard National. Colony has 2 BB and 1 super. No idea about numbers though.

I thought maybe it might be unnecessary to have a big hive in winter, when numbers are fewer and it's harder to keep warm. A smaller hive is easier when it comes to heat and no need to travel far to reach the stores? That's why I wasn't sure to replace the full super (or BB) with an empty one, after harvest.

 

[enrico]

No, no need to replace at this time of the year. Just make sure the queen excluder is removed and leave the brood box with the super over the top. If the super is not full then think about adding more feed or have some fondant ready in case stores get low in late winter.
A hive of bees can survive on a brood box alone as long as it is full of stores but lately people seem to like to leave a super on too..... Just in case.
Do not add empty box's and if you do then add them at the bottom.
As the queen goes off lay the stores will start to be consumed from the bottom and in early winter the queen will start to lay from the bottom of the remains stores. You may end up with brood in the super but that is easily sorted in spring time
Hope this helps make things clearer
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