I am in Ojai, have 13 hives.
Second year for me and first year for most queens. I split them in february an now they are filling up supers, at least 2 or 3. I only use supers.
They are in an avocado and citrus orchard with lots of residential around.
Checked them and most have 6-7 frames/box full of capped honey and the rest is brood. Did not see much pollen. I have a feeling that most of the nectar from the main flow was used up to expand and the honey is from the residential sources.
Should I start checker boarding them into other supers - I usually place the new box on the on the bottom. Will there be enough time and resources for them to draw the comb out or should I start taking some honey and give her more room to lay? I did not want to take the honey away from them for the first 2 years. The frames are foundation-less.
Please let me know what your experience is in S. Cal this time of the year.
Thank you for your time.
Second year for me and first year for most queens. I split them in february an now they are filling up supers, at least 2 or 3. I only use supers.
They are in an avocado and citrus orchard with lots of residential around.
Checked them and most have 6-7 frames/box full of capped honey and the rest is brood. Did not see much pollen. I have a feeling that most of the nectar from the main flow was used up to expand and the honey is from the residential sources.
Should I start checker boarding them into other supers - I usually place the new box on the on the bottom. Will there be enough time and resources for them to draw the comb out or should I start taking some honey and give her more room to lay? I did not want to take the honey away from them for the first 2 years. The frames are foundation-less.
Please let me know what your experience is in S. Cal this time of the year.
Thank you for your time.