Ben Hanson wrote:
>
> I have a question:
>
> My very industrious bees have filled another super (10 frames x 6 & 5/8)  =
> full of capped honey.  My questions is whether or not to leave it for =
> them.  They have two large hive bodies, which I looked at closely in =
> September.  One is basically full of honey, and the other has some at the =
> top of frames above brood etc.  My guess is that's plenty in middle =
> Virginia for them to winter well, but I don't want to take the super if =
> they might need it.
 
Hi Ben,
 
        Its not the the height of the stack but the weight that counts. What
you describe would survive most winters here in NY, especially if they
happen to be carniolans. Many new beekeepers waste honey by leaving an
extra super or two in hopes that the result will be extra strong
colonies in the spring. You never want them to run out but keep in mind
that there is a limit to how much they can use.
        A good plan may be to remove that super of honey then just to make
sure, feed them a couple gallons of sugar syrup with fumigillin, see
rescent posts on that.
                                                        Vince