When to add supers

[Charlie19]

All seems well with the bees at the moment. Both hives are very active. Bringing in loads of pollen. And as a precaution I added fondant to both hives. I've seen that quite a few trees have started to blossom here in South London so I was wandering when is it advised to remove the fondant and add a super to the hive.

 

[Erichalfbee]

A rule of thumb is when you have 7 frames of brood.....not, I would add, brood on 7 frames. They are not the same.
I doubt you would need one yet.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

A rule of thumb is when you have 7 frames of brood.....not, I would add, brood on 7 frames. They are not the same.
I doubt you would need one yet.

it's doubtful there's much (if any) nectar coming in at the moment so fondant may be needed (hefting will give you an idea of the stores situation) and with brooding probably picking up I can't see there being any surplus to store at the moment

 

[Madge]

A rule of thumb is when you have 7 frames of brood.....not, I would add, brood on 7 frames. They are not the same.
I doubt you would need one yet.

What is the difference, E?

 

[wessexmario]

What E means is if a frame is 100% covered by brood then that's "one frame of brood", two frames with 50% coverage is also "one frame of brood".

 

[REDWOOD]

Way to early here, we are still having cold days and nights, the last thing you want is to give them all that space to heat when they are building up nicely. As said above when you have seven frames in total go for it if the weather is warm enough and they have started storing honey

 

[Erichalfbee]

What E means is if a frame is 100% covered by brood then that's "one frame of brood", two frames with 50% coverage is also "one frame of brood".

Yes, a common beginners' mistake is to see brood on a frame and say, "Yes, that's a frame of brood" without actually seeing whether it's a whole frame's worth.

 

[Madge]

Thank you, E and Mario. I should have figured out what you meant!

 

[Charlie19]

Thanks for the advice. Is there generally a time of year when beekeepers add supers or is it down to the situation of each individual hive?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

April 28th - usually around 1530 hours, either that or when you have seven or more frames of brood

 

[Erichalfbee]

Excellent reply
Ignore it, though.

Is there generally a time of year when beekeepers add supers or is it down to the situation of each individual hive?

Charlie.....what do you think?

 

[Finman]

A rule of thumb is when you have 7 frames of brood.....not, I would add, brood on 7 frames. They are not the same.
I doubt you would need one yet.

What ever, but they should emerge first that bees are able to occupy the new box. To add 100% new space may lead to situation that colony must destroy 30% of its brood. Yes, I have seen it. That is why I add first box under the brood box.

Often it takes one week that colony is able to occupy a new super.
And nights may be near zero.

 

[Finman]

.
I look the need of expansion from the seams, how full they are bees. i do not look amount of brood.

If bees swell out of entrance, then it is hurry to give more space.... Super or second brood box or third brood box.

 

[For want of a better word]

April 28th - usually around 1530 hours, either that or when you have seven or more frames of brood

Is that brood filling every centimeter on both sides of seven frames or seven single sides... which is surely 3 /1/2 frames of brood.??????
Far safer to place a super under the maxed out brood box, and as it fills with bees and the draw it out ( if not drawn comb already) move it above the brood. As for adding a super for honey... wait until the blackthorne ( May?) is out and the bees have definitely got a nectar flow collecting frenzy underway!

Do not use a queen excluder as this will slow the bees down in filling the honey supers, and wear their wings out as they abraid on the sharp edges of the excluder!

Yeghes da


Must go lay down now.. 4 pints of Trelawny ( St Austell brewery Crafted Cornish Ale).. showing its effects!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Must go lay down now.. 4 pints of Trelawny ( St Austell brewery Crafted Cornish Ale).. showing its effects!

That's evident.

Nice to see Snozzle breweries promoting responsible drinking with their range of low alcohol beers - but Tazmanian hops!?
Rhag dy gywilydd di!!

 

[Finman]

Far safer to place a super under the maxed out brood box, and as it fills with bees and the draw it out ( if not drawn comb already) move it above the brood. As for adding a super for honey... wait until the blackthorne ( May?) is out and the bees have definitely got a nectar flow collecting frenzy underway!

:

That is good arvice to beginner and to others too. Couple of foundations take off swarming intentions.

In spring bees fill quickly brood combs with pollen when weathers are sunny. And then, how much there is winter food.

If the colony has 7 frames brood, there is not much room for honey and pollen. Proper honey store in spring is 2 combs.

 

[wessexmario]

April 28th - usually around 1530 hours, either that or when you have seven or more frames of brood

and exactly 4 weeks and 4 hours earlier if you're in the cornish peninsula