Because (I assume) the hive went so long without a queen the hive is really bogged with honey. The second chamber is pretty much just honey (70lbs?) and their even starting to cap.
I have no extractor and no way to get to one - I had planned to either crush and strain or just rig up a quick homemade extractor (for our own consumption). But I do not want to damage the brood frames.
I just did this - probably a bad idea?
I moved the honey super (which is basically empty) down over the first brood chamber with a queen excluder between. I then put the inner cover on and placed the brood chamber with honey on and a lid. I was hoping they would move it down to the super. Problem is also they are trying to swarm (AGAIN!).
I cut all the queen cells (I hope).
Will this work and how long dare I leave it like this (I mean it is sure to force a swarm).
...................
As a second note/question...
Another hive is backfilling (I have now pulled the feeder). But they have built a ton of drone cells all over (like half frames - both sides). There is probably 3 frames worth of drone cells.
Do I have to cut this off or will they eventually cut it down and rework it?
Thanks
Mike
I have no extractor and no way to get to one - I had planned to either crush and strain or just rig up a quick homemade extractor (for our own consumption). But I do not want to damage the brood frames.
I just did this - probably a bad idea?
I moved the honey super (which is basically empty) down over the first brood chamber with a queen excluder between. I then put the inner cover on and placed the brood chamber with honey on and a lid. I was hoping they would move it down to the super. Problem is also they are trying to swarm (AGAIN!).
I cut all the queen cells (I hope).
Will this work and how long dare I leave it like this (I mean it is sure to force a swarm).
...................
As a second note/question...
Another hive is backfilling (I have now pulled the feeder). But they have built a ton of drone cells all over (like half frames - both sides). There is probably 3 frames worth of drone cells.
Do I have to cut this off or will they eventually cut it down and rework it?
Thanks
Mike