Uncapped super

[Nubian]

My 'big' colony, which resides in a poly MD brood box, had their (only) super more or less filled about four weeks ago - I was primed to start swapping out capped frames for new frames of foundation ( this is my first hive and I own only one super at this stage) but now, four weeks later, still no capped frames (just a few cells along the top inch or so of the frame)
Weather here in NI has been exceptionally good for a long period and the hawthorn has just finished while the white clover is well underway.
The other salient point is that I lost a swarm from the colony about ten days ago, but the hive, although foul tempered while they re-queen, is still well populated. Foraging activity though did seem to decline markedly about three weeks ago, at a time when hawthorn was still plentiful. What is going on here ? Why have the supers not been matured, even if the rate of incoming nectar has decreased ?

 

[Jthebeek]

It may well be ready even if not capped. Usually after swarming the colony's priorities change to Queen production and they may not cap the ripened honey. Take a frame out and shake horizontally if no honey drips out its good to go. Obviously it's preferable to extract when capped as it's the best gauge of quality but it's not a rule more of a guide. Hope this helps

 

[Nubian]

I had planned to store the full frames and extract them all in one sitting, later in the season.
If my frames are indeed cured, but uncapped, will they keep until say, late august and if so, how should I store them ?

 

[Jthebeek]

Not sure how best to answer. I would never advise removing honey unless you are ready to extract as it will set in the comb and make it very difficult to remove. However as long as it is stored in a cool dry place it should store fine. Mainly the capping is to stop the honey absorbing moisture. If you are only changing the frames to give space I'd wait until the colony re establishes as they may use it to produce brood. And it will save feeding if there is a nectar dearth.

 

[Nubian]

Ok, understood.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Swarm]

Leave it where it is. Forget taking odd capped frames for one extraction at some point in time as well.
The best place to store honey combs is on the hive, with the bees. They will look after it better than anyone else. If it ain't capped leave it alone, they may well need it as food if the weather is bad. Your bees have swarmed so you have a reduction in foragers now and the colony won't pick up again for a few weeks so I'm afraid their need for their stores is far greater than yours, sorry.
Let them build back up and see how the honey front is in August, then decide if they've enough to share.

 

[enrico]

Definitely don't store uncapped honey in the comb. It will absorb moisture and begin to ferment. Ask for a refractometer for Christmas. Worth its £25.
E

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Leave it where it is. Forget taking odd capped frames for one extraction at some point in time as well.
The best place to store honey combs is on the hive, with the bees. They will look after it better than anyone else. If it ain't capped leave it alone, they may well need it as food if the weather is bad. Your bees have swarmed so you have a reduction in foragers now and the colony won't pick up again for a few weeks so I'm afraid their need for their stores is far greater than yours, sorry.
Let them build back up and see how the honey front is in August, then decide if they've enough to share.

Sound advice there

Definitely don't store uncapped honey in the comb. It will absorb moisture and begin to ferment. Ask for a refractometer for Christmas. Worth its £25.
E

Take it off and leave it lying around and the whole thing will ferment, honey is hygroscopic.

 

[chrisb]

and it attracts bees like mad.....lol

 

[pargyle]

The other thing to do is make an eke about 100mm deep to sit on top of the super and under the roof - fill it with insulation - the best thing is Kingspan/Celotex but anything will do. The additional insulation will warm the hive up and make it easier for the fewer bees you have in there to both cap off the honey and also rear their brood.

It will serve several other purposes - useful if you ever need to tip bees into a hive, if you want to put a rapid feeder on the hive to feed them you have somewhere to put it above the crown board. Come winter the bees willl appreciate the extra insulation above the hive ... so many pluses to it.

You could, also, just buy another super and use it in the same way - you will need more supers in due course but one isn't going to break the bank. Save up and buy more kit in the sales ...

 

[Nubian]

Eagerness to get my grubby hands on their honey isn't the issue - I'm just concerned that this super is essentially full and that the lack of available storage space for incoming nectar will lead to problems. I guess they could fill up brood comb below, but isn't it a bit early to start backfilling for winter stores ?

The real problem here is that I imported this poly hive from Germany ( Voigt & Warnholz ), because it really looked like quality kit ( which it is ) but now that I need extra bits, it seems that dispatching goods to some far-flung mad irishman is pretty low on their list of priorities, now that they are busy with their domestic summer demand.
Lesson learned - I've got some Swienty jumbo langs coming fom Paynes next week.....