Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: ziffabeek on September 16, 2013, 11:56:39 am

Title: Georgia Fall - did I do this ok?
Post by: ziffabeek on September 16, 2013, 11:56:39 am
So, I wanted to get some thoughts on getting my two little hives ready for fall/winter. 

We have two little hives from swarms caught in late spring.  These were both slow starters that we had to jump start with a few frames of eggs to get a laying queen.  They've been building over the summer and are now both filling their single brood boxes.

The eight frame (in just a medium) was all drawn out with packed frames of brood, larva and eggs.  really tight laying patterns surrounded by some open nectar and a couple of frames of pollen and nectar.  Bees covering every frame.

The ten frame (single deep) had some brood, but was starting to back fill with nectar. Bees covering every frame.

The bees are bringing something in, pollen and nectar, and the weather has been good.  Sunny and warm after a wet summer.  Word is that just north of Atlanta, they filled a super in a week.  All the hives I got into were sweet and calm, despite the weeding my husband was doing to the left and right of the hives while I inspected! :)

Here's what I did:

8 frame - added a medium super with 5 frames drawn combs in the center and 3 empty frames on the outsides (positions 1 and 9&10). I pulled one frame up from below to get them to move up.  put the empty drawn replacement frame on one side (position 10)

10 frame - added a medium super with 4 frames drawn comb in the center surrounded with 4 frames foundation (2 to either side of the drawn) and 2 empty frames on the edge. 

I'm thinking the brood in the 8 frame will hatch and fill up the medium and they should be ok, if the fall flow stays strong and I feed.  I can usually feed into October, although they aren't taking anything from the open feeder I have out. 

The 10 frame I'm a little worried about, as there were some hive beetles in the top of this one and less capped brood on the frames, though there was larva and eggs.  I think they need more room, but am worried about giving too much.  Do you think I did this one ok?

The other 3 big hives are booming and I'm wondering how to reduce them as they are packed with bees.  But that's another day. 

Thanks for your thoughts.

love,
ziffa
Title: Re: Georgia Fall - did I do this ok?
Post by: Joe D on September 16, 2013, 07:42:33 pm
OK, Ziffa, I like to pick on some people.  On the 8 frame, you add 5 drawn frames and 3 empty frames, I don't see how you got 2 of them in the 9, 10 positions.  I would put a drawn frame on the outsides with an empty in 2 and 7 positions and the other empty in between 2 drawn frames.   On the ten frame, with 4 drawn I don't know if putting 1 empty then a drawn frame then an empty then 2 drawn frames in the middle.
If they will take it sugar syrup might help them draw the empties before or as the flow starts.  Just my opinion.
Good luck to you and your bees Ziffa.



Joe
Title: Re: Georgia Fall - did I do this ok?
Post by: 10framer on September 17, 2013, 12:36:33 am
i'm south of you and i'm pulling supers of undrawn frames  of nine hives i only had one draw any foundation out after july first they are te only hive i pulled honey form (2 FRAMES).  if you get some drawn comb let me know.  i'm wondering what's missing in my program
Title: Re: Georgia Fall - did I do this ok?
Post by: ziffabeek on September 17, 2013, 09:45:37 am
Ha ha Joe!  Those are the magical frame spots outside the space-time continuum!  :p  Just goes to show, I have to type too fast, too much multi-tasking during the work day! 

Thanks for the input.  I can see how putting the empties would help them draw them faster and straighter.  my thought was that if they don't or can't draw them before cold sets in at least the drawn ones would be all together for the cluster.  I am torn because I think they need more room but I'm worried about too much space to defend and how much they can get done before winter.  : /  It feels like there is still a month of warm, but then it got to 59 last night . . .

10framer,  seems like GA is all over the place this year.  We seemed a little dearthy in August, but the bees were still flying heaps.  They are definitely bringing in nectar, not sure if it is enough to draw out though.  Wish I had more drawn frames to give them but we lost some to wax moths.  :(  Mikel said he read somebody in Habersham county had a super filled in a week, last week, so something is flowing somewhere.  Not sure what your micro-climate is.  Hopefully whatever it is is moving south?  (do flowers do that?)

I am going to check them this weekend and if they have started using the new supers, I'll move them as you suggested Joe.  I think i'll add some syrup under the cover as well.

Thanks very much for the responses!  It's always nice to bounce things out there and get feedback.  I appreciate it !

love,
ziffa
Title: Re: Georgia Fall - did I do this ok?
Post by: AllenF on September 18, 2013, 04:59:34 pm
The fall bloom is starting to open up here in north Ga.  Look at all the gold, yellow, and purple starting to bloom around us.   The bees will start to put on their winter weight.  I would not feed yet.  Too early.  Let the bees work it. 
Title: Re: Georgia Fall - did I do this ok?
Post by: ziffabeek on September 19, 2013, 02:01:53 pm
Thanks Allen. That is reassuring.  I do feel like there is a flow on, but then I start worrying about the temperature! lol.  I guess there is always something to worry about in bee keeping.

love,
ziffa