In response to this interesting post...
 
> I don't trust my "hefting" of hives
> to determine how much they weigh going into winter.
 
> With my scale, I have a reference to determine if help
> is needed and enough time before serious winter to
> make necessary adjustments.
 
By testing against a scale, I've found that a person can tell -- by
hefting -- within 2 kg one way or the other, after some experience,
but without a scale for reference, it is just a matter of chance
whether the hives are heavy enough or not.
 
>    I have found that if a hive consisting of two deep boxes
> weight 100  pounds
 
I'm not sure where you are, but up here in the Great White North, 50
kg (110 pounds) is about the minimum for certain survival.  Hives
weighing as little as 42 kg sometimes make it, but the odds are
against them.
 
>    I never leave extra supers on a hive. To me that is a
> waste and complicates manipulations in the spring.
 
Up here, the bees would go up into them and starve.  It is essential
to take them off early, and restrict the hive to the brood boxes.
 
Good points -- and timely too!
 
Regards
 
Allen
 
W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper                                         VE6CFK
RR#1, Swalwell, Alberta  Canada T0M 1Y0
Internet:[log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask]
Honey. Bees, & Art <http://www.internode.net/~allend/>