At 04:07 PM 7/21/97 -0500, you wrote:
>At 09:03 AM 7/21/97 -0400, you wrote:
>>I have a couple of questions about supering for honey extraction.  This
>>is
>>my first season, having installed bees in April.
>>
>>I only purchased and assembled 2 (medium) honey supers over 2 deep
>>bodies.  At this point, the bees have capped every frame in one of the
>>supers.  The second super seems to be about 1/3 capped but every
>>frame is fully drawn and has lots of nectar in it.
>>
>>I live in Central Massachusetts
>>
>>Questions:
>>
>>1.  Do the bees need an extra super?  If so, how soon?
>
>Yes I would put another on immeaditly.
>
>I'm not sure
>>when the peek
>>honey flow is here, and didn't know if the honey production will drop
>>off quickly soon
>>or if it will continue for a while longer.  Do the bees need more room?
>>The hive population
>>seems to be very high, each frame covered.
>
>They could probably use another brood chamber to keep swarming from happening.
>>
>>2. Can capped frames be removed and replaced with new foundation?
>
>Yes
>
>If
>>so, can the
>>capped frames be stored so that extraction can be done at a later time?
>
>I wouldn't store them moore than 4 or 5 days.
>>
>>3. How much honey should be left in the hive for the bees to overwinter?
>>
>
>That depends on how your winters are. I overwinter in 2 brood chambers due
>to some very cold wind chill temp, at times it gets 30 to 50 below 0.
>>
>>Thanks for the advice.
>>
>
>Yes, super again leave filled supers above new supers, In central Mass you
have a good flow of Purple Loosestrife on now until Mid to late august.
Remember to treat for Varroa by the first of September or when you see the
workers removing the Drome Pupas. You will see the outside you hive on the
ground.