ok to place second super and honey super at the same time?

[Troutsqueezer]

I've had my bees now for slightly over 4 weeks and the deep brood box seems to be filling fast so I'm thinking now is a good time to add that second deep brood. Since this is new for me, I'm anxious to get some honey to impress the family with so I'm wondering if maybe it's too soon to also add a honey super at this point. Is it ok to add a brood box and a honey super simultaneously? There's still a good nectar flow in my neck of woods and I expect there to be one for some time. Thanks for any replies.

[mark williams]

I would guess you are using wax foundation & not drawn comb,right?,I add boxes when the lower box is about 80% full,some goes by the amount of frames which is O.K,But I just guess at the 80%,
I would not recommend adding 2 boxes of foundation at the same time,been there, done that They can make a mess out of it fast.
As far as your honey flow I'm in Al,& our's is about over with,But not knowing where Pilot Hill is I can't say about your's.If the flow is longer & maybe you feed after your flow,Then you may get some fall honey.>>>>Mark

[Michael Bush]

I try to control the space until they are really booming and then you can add all the boxes you want. If it will be a while before I can check on them, I'd rather err towards giving them too many supers. If can can check often I'd rather be more conservative until they are really booming.

[Troutsqueezer]

Pilot Hill is in Northern California near Sacramento. The reason I think the honey flow might last through the summer is because around here, we get a lot of star thistle as the summer progresses. I've read that bees really like star thistle blossoms and we certainly get a lot of those as the summer wears on. If that's true then I'm so glad that I've found a good use for a plant that is otherwise regarded as a nuisance in these parts. Am I right about bees and star thistle? Anyone else have experience with star thistle and bees?

[odfrank]

With the late rains we had the star thistle should last a long time this summer. Like they said, put on the 2nd brood, when it looks like its getting full see if they can still draw out a super.

[Flyer Jim]

star thistle is a terribly noxious, evasive nasty weed but its honey is 'like sunshine on your tongue'. It's very light in color but it tends to granulate quickly. Pilot Hill is that "Cool"? :cool:
Jim

[Troutsqueezer]

Cool is 3 miles up HWY 49 from Pilot Hill.

Yes, star thistle is much hated and I've been trying to keep it off my 10 acre poison oak farm but the neighbors haven't been so successful. Poison oak and star thistle, who'da thunk these two plants would work to my advantage? Bees are a wonderful thing...

OK, so it looks like it's best for me to add the second brood super now, wait until it's about 80% full, then add a honey super and with any luck there'll be at least a little honey to harvest. I think that answers my original question.

I'd be happy even with one pound of honey my first year. Let's see...that would be about a $300 pound of honey.