When do I know to add the honey supers? Is it when the 2nd deep is 80% full?
when to add honey supers
When do I know to add the honey supers? Is it when the 2nd deep is 80% full?
Re: when to add honey supers
Seventy to eighty percent is a good rule. Glad your bees are working hard!
Re: when to add honey supers
How long does it take, in general terms, for a nuc hive to establish themselves enough to add a honey super?
We added the second deep a week ago, after bringing them home... they are working hard, but I don't want to push it!
A friend told me that I may get a little honey this year, but no to expect too much (I wasn't expecting them to work for me at all - thought their energy should be used to get ready for winter).
What should I expect?
Re: when to add honey supers
I agree with your friend - if you get any honey for you this year it will be little and most likely on the fall flow. I use slightly different criteria for adding the honey super compared to the 2nd deep. I want the top box to be crowded - bees in every seam - before the super goes on. This works with regular inspections - at my more remote yards they get supers a bit sooner so that they don't run out of room between inspections.
Re: when to add honey supers
Thanks folks
@Andrew - so you are saying you wait until both deeps are basically fully drawn and in use?
Re: when to add honey supers
Yes - swarming due to over crowding is a risk - but one I try to stay on top of with weekly visits.
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