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Author Topic: Leaving Honey Supers on.  (Read 1671 times)

Offline RHBee

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Leaving Honey Supers on.
« on: November 20, 2012, 06:23:08 pm »
Does it cause any problems if honey supers are left on the hive over winter? I want to leave one on to make sure they have enough stores for winter. I am wintering my colonies in 2-8 Frame deeps and a medium honey super.
Later,
Ray

Offline Finski

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Re: Leaving Honey Supers on.
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2012, 07:09:26 pm »
.
It harms very much because bees must heat the vain room.

Heat rises up and bees are like without cavity shelter.

If you think youself in a smal room. You generate heat and the room is warm. But if you are in 100 persons room, your heat means nothing. It just escapes.

It means too that room is cool and the breathing water condensates inside the room.

So, keep wintering room tight, and if the food is near to finish, ad the super and bees have again a proper space where they have warm interior in top most box.

.yes, wintering hive is not right place to store extra boxes, are they full or empty.

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Offline BlueBee

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Re: Leaving Honey Supers on.
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2012, 07:27:28 pm »
Finski speaks the truth! 

I have observed what he is describing even in my foam nucs. 

I think leaving extra supers on in the north is a bad idea; however South Carolina is much different than Michigan.  You have a mild, or no, winter down there and that may change the equation a little.  If the bees are flying more, they’re going to be eating more and hence maybe the super would serve some positive effect.  It might also be warm enough down there in the winter for wax moths to reproduce and adding extra comb to a hive could be disastrous.  I would check with your local bee keepers and lacking any compelling reason otherwise, I would do as Finski says.

Offline RHBee

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Re: Leaving Honey Supers on.
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2012, 09:38:53 pm »
The supers are full. I will check with the local club. Thanks for the quick response. That is what I like about this forum. You guys don't mind giving of your time to help someone out.
Later,
Ray

Offline AllenF

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Re: Leaving Honey Supers on.
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2012, 09:49:25 pm »
Full super?   You may loose your hive to beetles.  Bees will be in and around the cluster.   A little warm weather and the beetles move up and open up a buffet.    Pull the super and freeze them if you don't want or need the honey.   

Offline RHBee

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Re: Leaving Honey Supers on.
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2012, 11:28:00 pm »
Ok I'll pull and freeze the frames.  Can I use them in the spring to feed the colonies for build up? Also I am wintering in 2 eight frame deep bodies. Are the SHB going to be a threat in that configuration?
Later,
Ray

 

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