To add super or to feed?

[Andy Duff]

there are 2 brood cycles still. No one can now say what the hive nees at the end of September.

 

[SenatorMagenut]

Yes, but I have to consider what I am going to do in some of the likely outcomes. There is still one last point I NEED answered. Do I use a queen excluder between the BB and the super when they are overwintering on the stores in the super? Or does the cluster move over the frames and the queen need up?

 

[VEG]

Do NOT leave a queen excluder on over winter. The bees can move up into the top box and leave the queen below the excluder and she can die if the weather is very cold.

 

[REDWOOD]

No QE if you plan on a brood and a half going into winter as the queen could become isolated

 

[Finman]

Thinking ahead.... Finman....

a beginner who do not understand this day, how can he....

And that excluder everywhere....

 

[VEG]

better that the question is asked than to learn from the mistake

 

[Andy Duff]

better that the question is asked than to learn from the mistake

But a little reading goes a long way.

 

[VEG]

But a little reading goes a long way.

I dont doubt that but does that apply to every question asked on here then?

 

[Hombre]

If the bees have good stores in the brood box and are the weather is not going to prevent the bees from flying, then they seem unlikely to starve in the next ten days, so don't feed, but give them the super.

Make up feed and have it ready in case the situation demands it on your next inspection. Ask yourself then, do the bees have sufficient stores to safely last until the next inspection.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I dont doubt that but does that apply to every question asked on here then?

Otherwise just close the forun down and refer everyone to an on line library!
Its good to discuss things even though sometimes the question may seem a bit basic - it's how everyone learns

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Otherwise just close the forun down and refer everyone to an on line library!
Its good to discuss things even though sometimes the question may seem a bit basic - it's how everyone learns

When I was a total newbie, I learned by asking the stupid questions.

Now I've got a whole 3 months experience(!) and 2 hives, I still learn that way - but also by trying to work out how i would answer simple questions - and why?

Dusty

 

[Finman]

.
Asking is ok but the reading that carbage heap what is so called "answers of forum".
It is clearer to read one book than than this mesh.

.

 

[jackbee]

like people have said - forum, not library.

Most answers could prob be found in search but i think people like to know an answer is tailored to their particular situation and people like to take part in discussions, bit more social.

And if you browse the forum using the New Posts function then you can learn something every day as new questions are posted.

I just don't get the 'use the search' brigade - if you don't want to answer then don't!!

 

[Drew]

like people have said - forum, not library.

Most answers could prob be found in search but i think people like to know an answer is tailored to their particular situation and people like to take part in discussions, bit more social.

And if you browse the forum using the New Posts function then you can learn something every day as new questions are posted.

I just don't get the 'use the search' brigade - if you don't want to answer then don't!!

Well said!

 

[Finman]

.
However, it is good to bye a book like beekeeping for dummies.

When to add more space to the colony when it grows, it is basics.
To add super! Wow. Actually it is only more space.

What excluder makes in a one box or two box hive. Nothing.
One box hive is not able to gather surpluss honey.

First you must get a hive to 4 boxes. Then you have hope to get honey to be extracted.

Douple brood hive means that you put an excluder into a certain place. That is not a miraracle.
A little hive in this weather and with mesh floor is an catastrophe.

These discussions are really missleaded if silly questions are on the base of marvellous discussions.
Essentials of beekeepins are somewhere, but where . But a site of excluder is not essenntial in beekeeping.


When you start beekeeping, you have only foundations. That is not a miracle.
When a wild swarm starts a hive, it has nothing and it makes combs. That is not a miracle.
It does not even get "encouragement" like hair dryer pushing to arse.

 

[Luminos]

like people have said - forum, not library.

Most answers could prob be found in search but i think people like to know an answer is tailored to their particular situation and people like to take part in discussions, bit more social.

And if you browse the forum using the New Posts function then you can learn something every day as new questions are posted.

I just don't get the 'use the search' brigade - if you don't want to answer then don't!!

As a newbie, you might not know what you're searching for.
And you can post a photo of a problem here, you can't do that with books.

 

[tonybloke]

.

What excluder makes in a one box or two box hive. Nothing.
One box hive is not able to gather surpluss honey.

First you must get a hive to 4 boxes. Then you have hope to get honey to be extracted.

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=7140&stc=1&d=1344675696


well, maybe in Finland it's that way, but her in England, my colonies gather plenty of surplus honey with just one Brood Box (16 x 10) and a queen excluder in place.

 

[SenatorMagenut]

Nice colonies tonybloke I should probably take out the entrance reducer now because they are starting to que up to get in. I'll give them the super and if they fill it enough i'll take out the excluder and give it to them over winter.

I use this forum to tell more experienced beeks my plans and get their feedback and suggestions. I ask stupid questions in case I am making stupid mistakes which is common for newbies. Books can only cover a limited amount of stuff. Your situation is never exactly the same as the "textbook" version.

 

[tonybloke]

senator, at this time of year I'd leave your entrance block in, in case of wasp attack.
with un-drawn wax in your super, I'd put the super underneath your brood box, with no queen excluder, if the bees need the space, they'll use it! you are planning on leaving any surplus for the bees, and underneath is as good a place as any at this time.
In the spring, you can swap the boxes round, and add a queen excluder, after making sure the queen is in the brood box.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=7140&stc=1&d=1344675696


well, maybe in Finland it's that way, but her in England, my colonies gather plenty of surplus honey with just one Brood Box (16 x 10) and a queen excluder in place.

Thanks tonybloke for reminding me I don't live in Finland but in Wales - small country with a province called England strapped on the side (I almost forgot) my setup looks almost identical (but with a standard national broodbox)