Supers over winter

[Parsonage Bees]

I put two mostly filled frames above in an empty super with small hole in crown board for the bee's to take down 2 weeks ago and they still haven't cleared them out and I can see some capped untouched.

I need to get them out soon loads of empty space in there with only the two frames and I can't fit my insulation in with the frames there I don't want bee's up there running around the super when feeding either.

If they don't take it down soon what's best to do?

In a friend's apiary I'm supposed to be the mentor and I've got a similar problem.

2 colonies, 4 incomplete supers, 1/2 full of mostly uncapped cells. (Added supers too soon). I know this is late but last weekend we started Apiguard treatment and we nadired a super. So, one super under the brood box, eke with Apiguard tray on top of the BB, crownboard and then other super on top of the crownboard with holes reduced.
And they haven't touched the open nectar in the top in the last week. Thinking the thymol is putting them off venturing up into the top super.
Supers now tainted so thinking if when the treatment is over in 3 weeks I'll spin out the supers and feed it back to them in a rapid feeder.

Sound like a plan?

 

[Madge]

I’d just nadir the top super as well, and when you remove the Apiguard in three weeks’ time have a quick look through the two nadirs, and reduce to one nadir - that is, if the weather allows you to have a look. If not, just leave both boxes until spring - but make sure the hive is properly tied down as it may become top-heavy.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I’d just nadir the top super as well, and when you remove the Apiguard in three weeks’ time have a quick look through the two nadirs, and reduce to one nadir - that is, if the weather allows you to have a look. If not, just leave both boxes until spring - but make sure the hive is properly tied down as it may become top-heavy.

Yes, that would be easier. At some point we'll need to check the amount of stores they have.

 

[enrico]

Yes, that would be easier. At some point we'll need to check the amount of stores they have.

Heft or weigh
E

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Heft or weigh
E

That would need greater experience than I currently possess. Think we'll do all three; inspect, heft and weigh. Will be useful for both of us.

 

[enrico]

Hefting is really easy. Just lift the back of the hive as you close it up for winter. It should feel really really heavy. By spring it will begin to feel really light. That is when most of us panic and put some fondant on. It is of course all so dependant on weather over winter. To weigh.... Buy a set of luggage scales for a few quid. Put a screw at each side of the floor at the back. Buy a cheap bit of chain. Weigh every week. If you multiply by two then you will be quite close to the weight. Others do it from both sides and add together but I don't bother. Keep a record for future years. The ideal is for them to run out of sugar just as the spring flow starts! If you have spare kit then weight it all empty for a guide!
Hope this helps a bit!
E

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I've been using a set of luggage scales for a couple of years. Estimating the weight of stores at the start by inspection (2 1/2 - 3lb/super frame) and, by lifting one side and doubling it, calculating the amount used and remaining. Usually every month to a fortnight. No clue what an empty box and frames and bees and brood weighs.

Last year was easy as it was so mild they went through on their own stores but just seen a prediction that this winter will be a bad one.

First year I've tried this nadiring lark.

 

[Erichalfbee]

No clue what an empty box and frames and bees and brood weighs.

A winter project
Weigh your empty kit and a super of drawn comb
There are some weights as a “sticky”
I work on around 5lb for bees over winter

 

[Parsonage Bees]

A winter project
Weigh your empty kit and a super of drawn comb
There are some weights as a “sticky”
I work on around 5lb for bees over winter

Just seen the Sticky thread on weights. Problem is between us we have 5 different configurations. Three years in and it's the first winter I've had to worry about storing drawn comb.

 

[Madge]

Hefting is really easy. Just lift the back of the hive as you close it up for winter. ...

Not if the hive has two shallows as nadirs! My colonies often end up like that - so, I’ve never ever hefted my hives.

 

[Mandeville]

Put a crown board with a small hole. Then a gap with a totally empty super or a couple of eeks on top of each other and then put a couple of the frames in a super above that. They will rob the frames out in a couple of days.
E

I've tried exactly this setup with two hives - it didn't work! One of the supers got a handful of bees in it, but they were just wandering about. The other one didn't have any bees.
I tried making the empty space bigger, and I tried making it smaller.
I tried bruising the capped honey, they cleared the drips off the crown board but still wouldn't go up.
I tried making the hole in the crown board bigger.

I've given up and nadired them instead!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I've tried exactly this setup with two hives - it didn't work! One of the supers got a handful of bees in it, but they were just wandering about. The other one didn't have any bees.
I tried making the empty space bigger, and I tried making it smaller.
I tried bruising the capped honey, they cleared the drips off the crown board but still wouldn't go up.
I tried making the hole in the crown board bigger.

I've given up and nadired them instead!

Ditto
Leaving them on top never works for me

 

[Millet]

Ditto
Leaving them on top never works for me

I have also tried it two years in a row both times it never worked..the bees totally ignored the supers..under the brood box they went and the wax cappings on the inspection tray let me know what the bees where doing rather quickly..

 

[Parsonage Bees]

My lot do clean up extracted supers when put back on the top (though this was earlier in the year).

Thanks all, warm and sunny tomorrow, I'm going to nadir this part-filled super.

. . .. Ben

 

[enrico]

Nadir is best. On top you have to put only a couple of frames. They need to think they are robbing something not having an extension of their hive. Even laying the frame on its side in the crown board helps, but definitely Nadir a whole box.
E

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I have the same thing as rooster but in a paynes poly hive. I was going to move the top super to below the brood box but the paynes poly hive is made so the brood box is locked onto the floor and the super will not go under the brood box because it dose not lock onto the floor.

When I got an early Paynes hive, I saw the posts sticking out of the floor and cut them off before painting it as I knew they would be trouble. So I would be able to put a super underneath the brood box - if I kept the hive, that is.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I know this is late but last weekend we started Apiguard treatment

You can say that again!
Apiguard won't work well in these temperatures.

 

[Erichalfbee]

You can say that again!
Apiguard won't work well in these temperatures.

It might according to Vita but I wouldn’t count on it
Off to the shops for some Apivar

 

[Millet]

It might according to Vita but I wouldn’t count on it
Off to the shops for some Apivar

Save your dosh pet..amitraz and vaping seem to do the job in a sublime way..

 

[Curly green finger's]

Save your dosh pet..amitraz and vaping seem to do the job in a sublime way..

Isn't apivar amitraz ? Apilife- var is thymol based .