Moving the bees up to the honey supers

[naturegrl22]

I've posted on this before, but so far nothing has worked. I currently have two hives and in both, the second hive body is full of honey, but the bees have not started making any comb on the honey supers on top. I have tried creating a top entrance and removing any queen excluders. There appears to be a strong flow going on. We have quite a few wildflowers in bloom here. They are both very strong hives too. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[WayneW]

NOt sure if this is a great answer, or if you've tried it, but you could reverse the hive bodies and super the bottom. I remember reading that sometimes the bees will work downward.

[ScadsOBees]

Or even place the honey super between the two hive bodies for a few days till they get started on it, then move it to the top. Sure, you risk getting brood in there, but that sure beats swarming.

[walking bird]

Are there bees ambling around on the frames in the honey super? Or is it completely empty?

[Troy]

There is a big difference between flowers in bloom and a real nectar flow going on.

A lot of flowers provide only pollen or nothing at all to the bees. They will only draw comb if there is a flow going on.

Once you've seen them working a flow, you'll know by looking at the traffic at the entrance.

Are they on a flow, or just lazily working the flowers?

[hummingberd]

Here are a few ideas...

Spray the foundation with sugar syrup.

If you're working with medium equipment, place a few frames of brood and honey in the middle of the super to draw them up there. (never done this or heard of this, but just a thought)

put the super between boxes you use for the brood nest.

Give them sugar syrup, even if you think there is a flow. Perhaps there isn't enough nectar. They will use the syrup to draw out the foundation...

Good luck! :)

[Hillside]

Are these new hives or overwintered hives? If they're new hives, the bees will just have to work at their pace. You often won't get any honey the first year, although there's still time for them to build this out. Spraying with sugar syrup may help. You could also do a little feeding to get them to make wax. It's a lot less work for them to get light syrup from a feeder than to go foraging for it. This may free up some energy for them to make wax.

[naturegrl22]

Great suggestions! I think I'm going to try spraying the honey supers with the sugar water first and see what happens there. If that doesn't work, I will move the super in between the two hive bodies. I didn't even think of that.

There are quite a few bees up in the honey super, but they don't seem to really be doing much. They are new hive since both of mine died during the winter last year, but I figured they would have a head start since I left them with already made comb and some honey in the hive bodies.

When I went out a couple of days ago, the bees were just kind of milling around the entrance and I didn't see any bringing in pollen.

[Troy]

Maybe I'm overly sensitive, but I don't like the idea of putting sugar water in a honey super at all.

Even though it may only be a small amount to get them started, I will never know for sure if some of the honey isn't tainted with sugar.

Now if you will feed them to get them to draw it, then leave it for the winter food and make sure it is completely empty next spring before reusing as a honey super, then it is all fine.

The thing to watch for there is that they'll get brood up there or the spring honey will flow before you realize it and now you've got 20% sugar honey and 80% light spring honey and now way to separate them.

[J-Bees]

They are new hive since both of mine died during the winter last year, but I figured they would have a head start since I left them with already made comb and some honey in the hive bodies.

that might be part of the problem: what did the old one's die of? they may know something is wrong with what you have left them to work with.

I would try to coat a few frames with real honey using a brush.

JB:}

[naturebee]

There is a big difference between flowers in bloom and a real nectar flow going on.

Great Answer!

Bees will not move into supers when there is lacking a flow.
Keep them supered, and wait till September when goldenrod might get them to move up.

Joe
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles/

[Joseph Clemens]

You might also make it easier for them to access the honey supers than it is for them to access the brood nest, as I have done with excellent results.

Honey configuration:

http://www.wjclemens.com/cordovan-honeybee/images/Configuration for Honey/HoneyConfiguration.jpg (http://www.wjclemens.com/cordovan-honeybee/images/Configuration%20for%20Honey/HoneyConfiguration.jpg)

[Troutsqueezer]

If you are using a queen excluder, consider taking it out. Sometimes the bees are reluctant to cross it.

If there is a good flow on, the bees will likely fill the super as they need to.