I think I may have mention this in an earlier post but eventually I'm going to harvest and have some questions from my overactive mind. If, in the next week or so I harvest what appears to be 5 out of 6 medium honey supers from two hives and put a deep on with new, blank frames on while I'm extracting. Both hives have two deep brood and current stores and populations look good. My plan includes putting back the wet frames (and cappings) for the girls to clean (over the third deep) and then removing them to storage. Would the girls use them to build build new comb, even partially, this late in the year? I'm planning on storing the honey supers until spring and if they can build more comb on the deeps, eventually save them for splits or traps next spring. I am expecting a pretty good fall flow here with all the fall plants just weeks away from blooming. I keep hearing that comb is gold and as a first year beek-I only got what's currently on the hive. I know I can rotate out some of the original built up frames in the spring but I'd like to have more. If the fall flows are decent and they build at least some comb with some nectar or honey or pollen, I could have a safe reserve for late winter or use with new colonies. I could also start a 3 or 4 part OAV treatment with the temporary third deep in place as it would eventually revert to a brood box and the honey supers would remain clean in storage off the hive.
Am I over thinking this or is it at least, partially based in reality? Is it too late for the girls to build new comb?
Am I over thinking this or is it at least, partially based in reality? Is it too late for the girls to build new comb?