[honeybeekeeper]

These 2 hives are 2 new packages that was installed back in the last week of april-Where i stand now is that I added my 2nd deep hive body exactly 20 days ago and i got into both Hives #1 & #2 today to inspect and Both 2nd deep hive bodies on both hives #1 & #2 are 80% full but i did not see no eggs or larva! Should i wait another week or add the 1st medium super on both hives and hope the queen moves up? Do you have to rotate the hive bodies around?? what do you do in a situation like this when i believe the queen decided not to leave the 1st deep hive body on both hives! Both hives were doing really good, really havent had any issues up until now. It just didnt seem right to me i guess, i was wanting to see eggs and larva but all i see is clear liquid. but before i done anything i wanted to get some advice and ideas on what to do! And before anyone asks yes i been feeding cause they are new packages in april and they are still taking the feed! Any ideas would be helpfull at this point. I will go by the best advice only, i dont go by what you might of read or heard or assume...hahaha :lpf:

 

[AmericasBeekeeper]

You can stop feeding now. If the lady is downstairs you can leave the second brood super as is, or make sure she is not in the upper super and put an excluder under it. The bees will then readily pass through the excluder to cap off the nearly full super. They are also more apt to start on the next super. Since you probably want a second brood box you can either add another for brood or put the super in question on the bottom after it is capped. The bees will take any future stores all the way to the top. This still does not answer the honey-bound brood section, but you could have your current brood, new brood supers and the syrup bound super for Winter feed.

 

[honeybeekeeper]

im lost on all of that to be honest with you! 2 hives both have 2 deep hive bodies and both 2nd deep hive body boxes are full of clear liquid! Both hives are suppose to have 2 deep hive bodies and 3 medium supers....Right now i have 2 hives that have the 2nd deep box full of clear liquid...So Your saying to stop feeding, put on the queen excluder and then put on my 1st medium super box on both hives????? Will the queen ever go up into the 2nd deep hive body??? Thanks for your help, i want to make sure its done right! Thats the main thing! Also Im not really looking for honey this year but it looks like im gonna have some any ways aint i??

 

[AmericasBeekeeper]

The queen will go up probably by Fall as you have them configured now. The suggestion of putting the honey bound, former brood supers, over the queen excluder is to encourage foragers to deposit their loads up top. It also provides opportunity to add a non-bound super for brood under the excluders. If the new brood supers are drawn comb they will probably fill them with syrup again. If the new brood supers are foundation, or foundationless, they will be discouraged from dropping their loads and the queen can wander up there if she needs a bigger nursery. Three medium supers of sugar syrup is a little too much. I could be wrong if you are moving near the polar regions.

 

[suttonbeeman]

In most of Ky we have had a great flow....nectar being put in brood box as its coming in fast, some of my hives which I was late getting back from Fl and missed a week or 10 days have 4 deeps and a med full of honey...working on deep number 5. I think you have alot of white clover in your area..if so you could have stopped feeding long ago. Have you fed in last two/three weeks? If not I would remove about 4-5 frames when capped and extract it and then put frames back in. Add super tomorrow! THe bees dont need a deep box fullof nectar..and I'll bet there is alot in bottom...like i said its been a great flow....we needed it after last 4-5 really bad years!

 

[honeybeekeeper]

So you saying you wouldnt like 3 medium supers full of good sugar syrup??..Come on now!!!,,hahaha Well tomorrow i will fill 2 medium super boxes up with waxed foundation, grab 2 queen excluders and go take care of that then...It took 20 days to fill up a big deep hive body....How long do you think it will take to fill up the 1st medium super im gonna add??? (approx) I say 2 weeks or less! Unless they go slower since im not gonna be feeding anymore! Im learning slowly!..hahaha

 

[suttonbeeman]

Its getting hot so flow could slow down quick depending on rainfall. Usually clover flow is over around July 10. Since they are drawing out the wax it takes twice as long. Probably about 10 days per super. If they were drawn comb and flow stays likeit is now about 5-7 days. Most good colonies have been filling a deep in 7 days.

 

[honeybeekeeper]

In most of Ky we have had a great flow....nectar being put in brood box as its coming in fast, some of my hives which I was late getting back from Fl and missed a week or 10 days have 4 deeps and a med full of honey...working on deep number 5. I think you have alot of white clover in your area..if so you could have stopped feeding long ago. Have you fed in last two/three weeks? If not I would remove about 4-5 frames when capped and extract it and then put frames back in. Add super tomorrow! THe bees dont need a deep box fullof nectar..and I'll bet there is alot in bottom...like i said its been a great flow....we needed it after last 4-5 really bad years!

I been feeding ever since i bought the bees in april...I only do what im told to do and 80% of the ppl say to feed new package bees until they stop taking it...I get on here to ask a question and then im asked why im feeding! I already have it written in the very first statement! They are new package bees and i planned on feeding until they didnt want it no more! but tomorrow im taking them off the feed cause both my hives have the 2nd deep hive body plum full in just 20 days!! I might start feeding later but for now they are coming off the feed! One thing about them feeding is that they started feeding 3x as much here in the last 2 weeks!

P.S.-Suttonbeeman are you a member of the ky bluegrass state beekeepers assoc social group here on beesource.com?? If not i will send you an invite if you like, let me know!

 

[tct1w]

Yeah you have gotten some good advice. I would add one thing. Take a look and check for brood in the bottom box. Just nice to know she is laying and has a good pattern,but yeah I sure wouldnt feed anymore. Peace Dave

 

[AmericasBeekeeper]

You were right to feed a new hive. They are not new after two months and two deep supers. They may still be your babies, but they are growing up fast. I disagree with one statement - you are learning fast not slow. You are raising twins and doing a fantastic job. So many hives died this year and yours are thriving.

 

[honeybeekeeper]

Thanks Americasbeekeeper, i been trying to do my best and i tried not to bother them all the time...Im just amazed of how fast it was, i remember the first 30 days was the longest. It felt like a yr and after that the time went by so fast. I believe when i put the 2nd deep on both hives i way under estimated them ladies. They are very hard workers! Thanks to everyone that gave me advice!

 

[Andrew Dewey]

The beekeepers in your area probably know best, but here in the north I've found that putting a queen excluder under a super of foundation results in the super never getting drawn out. Again, just my experience way to the north of you.

 

[honeybeekeeper]

Yeah Andrew Dewey i have heard about that happening as well but that all part of the chances we take and pretty much find out what works best in our yard! It can happen either way! Im not in too big of a hurry, im way behind and here i thought i was caught up! Yeah right!! :doh:

 

[Cessna180]

If I was one of yopur bees I would be fat and happy.
You feed new hives to draw out comb.
This is done on one deep then the other.
You check the hive once a week to make sure things are going along fine.
Filling out comb and brood beeing laid.
When the first boxs is filled out or almost then add the second box,they will drawn it out and then take them off the feed.
Does this make sence?
Still checking once a week...
When the flow comes on then you put the super on. If it isn't filled out with comb then don't put the excluder on until they move up and colonize it.
After they do that, then make sure the Queen is down in the deeps and then put the excluder on and they will store the honey or nectar up in the supers.
Still checking once a week....
Give them a way to get to the supers also withoout going all the way up through the hive. A hole just about the hand holds on the front and back will work, 3/4 inch, slight angle for no rain to get in.
You are looking for eggs, not nessary to "see" the Queen just where she has been. If yo see eggs in the deeps that's great. She is alive and doing well.
Hope this helps,
Get ahold of a old beek and they will help out and maybe inspect your hive with you and you will learn sooooo much.
Have fun.

Mike