Supering question

[Ky Troy]

This is my first year as a beek, and my girls have been in the hive since the end of April. The second deep is pretty well filled out (8 frames) and everything is looking good.

I have some supers, but none are drawn out, foundation only. I don’t really expect to get any honey this year, my main goal is just to establish the girls enough that they can winter over.

So my question is this; should I go ahead and put on a super, if only to get them to draw it out while I have the feeder on them?

If I do and they draw it out and fill it with whatever (sugar water, honey, nectar) should I just leave it on for the winter for their use? I know it’s not strictly necessary with two full deeps, but would it hurt?

[Cedar Hill]

If both deep supers are drawn and filled, then it's time to put on a honey super. I would stop feeding them, unless there is a dearth of nectar. Check to see what other long time beeks in your area leave on their eight frame hives for the winter. You might need that honey super for winter feed depending on which race you have. It is not unheard of that a first year hive will make a surplus. OMTCW

[Ky Troy]

Thanks.

I should have been more specific. It's a ten frame hive, with a full deep on the bottom and eight frames drawn out in the top deep, and my girls are Russians, in Eastern Kentucky.

[kenr]

Do you have sourwood trees up in Ky?If you do you should be able to get some this year.Blooms here in the next two to three weeks.

[Ky Troy]

Actually, my farm is littered with sourwood trees.

I guess I should get that super on so they can get it drawn out!

[iwombat]

Yep! What you can expect from first year hives varies vastly depending on where you are, weather, and a whole host of other variables. There are no rules, only guidelines.