Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[What Now?]

Hello Folks. I haven't been here for a year or so. Things seem to have trundled along ok for me and the bees.

However: I have 5 hives 3 all have 1 'super' on. I'm planning on leaving everything therein for the bees over winter.

1 only has the 'bottom' box and a fairly healthy looking crowd.

The final 1 has 4 'supers' on. I was going to steal a bit of honey for my toast during winter. Leave a load for them BUT, and this is where I want your advice please, I was wondering about emptying a 'super of honey' of its bees and then giving it to the first hive I mentioned, for winter. As I said, the 1 with only a bottom box.

Thanks.

[Barbara]

Are all four of the supers on that final hive full? If so then, yes giving one of them to the brood box only colony might not be a bad idea. You could still harvest one or two combs of capped honey for yourself. Enjoy!

[What Now?]

Barbara - thanks so so much for your quick reply. Yes, all the supers are full.

I'm going to do it. Can you suggest when is a good time to do it? Soon or wait until mid september when they've had more time to stock some winter food up for themselves. Thanks.

[Barbara]

I would probably do it now, but take a couple of combs out so they have a little room to build new comb which may enable them to move stores from the brood nest and produce a few extra bees before winter. I would arrange it so that the empty frames you replace are the outside ones and then if they don't manage to fill them it is not a big deal, but you don't really want empty spaceI(s) in the centre above the brood nest.