To Harvest or Not to Harvest...

[UtahBees]

Hi Friends -

I have a 4-box medium-super beehive. 4 medium supers stacked on top of each other. So far this year, in the last 2 months, I've harvested 2 supers full of honey. I feel like the luckiest man in Orem, Utah right now.

The 1st medium super and 2nd medium super has not been looked at in 3 months. Last I checked it was a mix of honey, pollen and brood.

The 3rd medium super has honey on 7-8 frames and 2-3 frames of honey and pollen mix. One side of a frame has new eggs (in the middle) (yeah!).

The 4th medium super on top is all honey. 10 frames, and almost all capped white. Maybe 3 weeks more and they'll all be capped, in my guess. Half of each side is currently capped on each frame, in other words.

I am wondering what to do for the winter. Do I harvest the 4th medium super? Do I leave it on for the bees? The general population tells me that if I take it off, the bees will not have a lot of room right now.

Your advice greatly appreciated. Orem, Utah is 75-80 degrees this week in daytime, and 40-45 at night.

Thank you very much!

UtahBees

[doak]

Is the 4 supers your complete hive? or do you have some deeps under them?
If it is only the 4 medium's, "do not" take any more.
It is said 3 mediums equal two deeps, then depending where you are and what kind of winter you have, would depend on whether you would have enough with that set up.
doak

[Michael Bush]

Four seems like a good number.  Three would be the minium I'd try to overwinter on for a strong cluster.

[UtahBees]

4 medium supers is my complete hive. No deeps.

I have photos here: http://flickr.com/photos/barl0w/sets/72157601666357754/

I will take your advice and keep 4 on then, not harvesting the 4th super. I also like the number 4, and I really want them to have enough food for the winter to become super-bees next Spring. This hive is my first (I'm brand new to beekeeping this year), and they are very strong at the moment.

Thank you for the assistance and advice. I greatly appreciate it. The honey that I was able to harvest this year is just incredible, and I'm having a great time. Even if I did get stung today ;)

UtahBees