Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: dfizer on September 18, 2012, 09:55:00 pm

Title: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: dfizer on September 18, 2012, 09:55:00 pm

quick question, what is the process for taking a super full of honey off of one hive and putting it on the weaker hive?  Won't the bees from one hive reject the bees from the other?  Should I try to get all of the bees out of the super before transplanting it?  If yes how do I do that?
Please advise...

I plan to transplant the full super Thursday so please tell me what to do...

Best regards -

David

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: JP on September 18, 2012, 09:57:23 pm

Describe the set up and how weak is this colony? That is my concern. Tell us the situation so we may better help you. There may be other options to ponder.


...JP

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: dfizer on September 18, 2012, 10:37:33 pm

Certainly... The "weak hive" is a one deep colony that was the offspring of a split late in the year.  Given the latitude (zone 5 - upstate ny) I was trying to build more brood and honey / sugar stores therefore I was going to take the full honey super off one of my string hives and supplement the hive that has only one deep.  Adding another deep this time of year will do little.... My primary objective into get these gives to survive the harsh northeast winter - then next spring we can take it from there.
Thoughts for getting a single deep growing colony to make it?
David

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: indypartridge on September 19, 2012, 07:23:23 am

While still on the 'donating' hive, I'd just smoke the super to drive most of the bees out and then move it.

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: D Semple on September 19, 2012, 09:25:33 am

Supposed to be 40 degrees where you are tonight.

Pull the supper late in the afternoon, set it on end next to the hive and as long as there is no brood in the supper, the bees will vacate the supper and fly back to their colony before dark.

Grab the supper after dark and put it out of reach of any critters for the night and put it on the other colony tomorrow.

Don

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: JP on September 19, 2012, 12:17:37 pm

How many frames are they covering?


...JP

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: Hethen57 on September 19, 2012, 05:26:56 pm

I did what you are talking about a few weeks ago.....just did a basic "newspaper combine" with a shallow honey super full of bees on top a deep hive body and it boosted the winter honey stores and the population of one of my single deep for going into winter.  The hive looks as strong as all of the others now.

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: dfizer on September 20, 2012, 07:39:15 pm

Thanks for the advice / information... i cannot really transport the bees since i have to travel over 20 miles to the other hive therefore i'd really like the supers to be free of bees.  I like the idea of removing the super and letting it set off the the side then once it gets dark and the bees have made it back to the hive then retrieve it and transport it then... 
Thanks for the info....
David

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: duck on September 22, 2012, 10:07:16 am

piece of plywood on bottom, and piece on top, ratchet strap together, make the 20 minute drive, newspaper combine = done.

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: hardwood on September 22, 2012, 10:14:47 am

Setting it off to the side will invite robbing.

Scott

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: bernsad on September 22, 2012, 07:50:25 pm

That's what I would have thought.

Title: Re: Putting a super from one hive on another?
Post by: dfizer on September 23, 2012, 11:13:21 pm

Got it done today... Thanks for the help!!!!