[steve62]

I have two hives on the same pallet. Gave them both medium supers the same time, one has drawn it out and filled it with honey! The second one has not touched the super a few bees in the super but have not even started to draw it yet. Any suggestions?? Tomorrow the other hive will get a second medium super.
Should I put a frame of honey into the hive that has not started drawing their super yet??

Thanks Steve

 

[JakeDatc]

can't hurt to try. maybe a partially filled frame will attract them upward

 

[frazzledfozzle]

Yes that will help , but I would check first to make sure all is well with the hive, has it gone queenless, swarmed? Or is it just generally weaker than the other hive

 

[steve62]

Yes that will help , but I would check first to make sure all is well with the hive, has it gone queenless, swarmed? Or is it just generally weaker than the other hive

I took the medium super off and had a look, two large supers full of bees lots coming and going I am thinking that they just do not like the medium super I gave them.

 

[Pete O]

Are both supers using foundationless or foundationed? Of my measly three hives, one refused to build on foundation; I gave it foundationless frames with a starter strips cut from a foundation sheet, and now they are building very nicely. Each hive makes up its own rules and zoning ordinances. You often must just live with and come spring will probably become a spectacular hive!

 

[steve62]

Are both supers using foundationless or foundationed? Of my measly three hives, one refused to build on foundation; I gave it foundationless frames with a starter strips cut from a foundation sheet, and now they are building very nicely. Each hive makes up its own rules and zoning ordinances. You often must just live with and come spring will probably become a spectacular hive!

They both were given the exact same thing one is using it one is not..

 

[frazzledfozzle]

Did you check for a laying queen?

How about mites are the bees healthy?


If you have a laying queen and no mite problem thats good, they are just reluctant to move up. By bringing a frame of honey up into the middle of the new super it should also draw the bees up.

Often the bees can be working different nectar sources even though they are side by side. It could be that your hive thats bring in heaps of honey has come across a good nectar source or could even be robbing a collapsing hive.