Top or bottom?

[ShinySideUp]

I have some supers that I took off that weren't fully capped and I don't need the honey anyway. If it was October I would pick my weakest colonies and put them underneath for the winter but I'd quite like them to empty them into the brood box now. If I put them over the top with an eke will that do the trick or at this time of year put them underneath anyway? If I do the latter I'm a little worried about encouraging robbing by wasps. Suggestions?

FYI All my hives are 14 x 12's

 

[For want of a better word]

I have some supers that I took off that weren't fully capped and I don't need the honey anyway. If it was October I would pick my weakest colonies and put them underneath for the winter but I'd quite like them to empty them into the brood box now. If I put them over the top with an eke will that do the trick or at this time of year put them underneath anyway? If I do the latter I'm a little worried about encouraging robbing by wasps. Suggestions?

FYI All my hives are 14 x 12's

To save your back lifting those abomination of a brood frame format.. put your uncapped supers above the crownboard with the ventilation / feed hole fully open... bees will clear them eventually,.,

Chons da

 

[Finman]

7.
The brood frames should be lowest.

Then you feed sugar and bees fill the super combs and cap them.

 

[enrico]

As cheers. It takes about four days for them to clear it.
E

 

[Finman]

.
It depends, what idea is to put bees to move food from combs to another combs.

 

[ShinySideUp]

To save your back lifting those abomination of a brood frame format.. put your uncapped supers above the crownboard with the ventilation / feed hole fully open... bees will clear them eventually,.,

Chons da

Can't imagine using anything else. Loads of room for stores, brood nest fits fine, easily manipulated -- what's not to like?

Will do with the supers, certainly don't want them hanging around partially capped, trying to keep the scent from prying bees.

 

[enrico]

.
It depends, what idea is to put bees to move food from combs to another combs.

Because we like nice tidy hives with as few boxes as possible to overwinter. It's a British thing!
E

 

[Finman]

Because we like nice tidy hives with as few boxes as possible to overwinter. It's a British thing!
E

Amen

 

[Woodland bees]

7.
The brood frames should be lowest.

Then you feed sugar and bees fill the super combs and cap them.

What happens in spring if they don't use the sugary stores?

I have the same problem as Shiny, i.e. some super frames with uncapped stores. They have a double brood box which is filling with stores now, plus a load of ivy to follow so they should have enough stores to overwinter here.

They don't need the super on top and I don't wish to store it over winter uncapped.

My problem is that some colonies are a bit slow clearing out the supers I've placed on top of the crown board so may have to move the odd one underneath the brood box.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Because we like nice tidy hives with as few boxes as possible to overwinter. It's a British thing!
E

So true. A place for everything and everything in it's place.

 

[Finman]

.

If you like tiny hives you must like poorly laying queens too.


BIG colonies need BIG hives for winter.

To me a nice hive has 2 langstroth boxes in winter.

 

[ShinySideUp]

.

If you like tiny hives you must like poorly laying queens too.


BIG colonies need BIG hives for winter.

To me a nice hive has 2 langstroth boxes in winter.

14 x 12's are not tiny hives.

 

[Erichalfbee]

.

If you like tiny hives you must like poorly laying queens too.


BIG colonies need BIG hives for winter.

To me a nice hive has 2 langstroth boxes in winter.

How long are your bees actually foraging and how long are they confined to the hive ?
How long is winter?

 

[Finman]

How long are your bees actually foraging and how long are they confined to the hive ?
How long is winter?

Foraging period is from May to July, 3 months.

Bees live with sugar from September to half of May. 8.5 months.

August they live with summer honey and pollen.

Confined totally into hives from November to February(Marsh) 4- 5 months

 

[Erichalfbee]

Foraging period is from May to July, 3 months.

Bees live with sugar from September to half of May. 8.5 months.

August they live with summer honey and pollen.

Confined totally into hives from November to February(Marsh) 4- 5 months

No wonder you need big hives
They need lots of space for sugar

 

[Finman]

No wonder you need big hives
They need lots of space for sugar

On average 20 kg sugar during winter. It is bees which need the space. Winter Food is in same space.

20 kg sugar is one landstroth box.

 

[Finman]

Why our bees do not consume much sugar is, that they do not have brood from October to April. When brooding starts at the end of April, consumption is huge in hives..