It’s here and the bees are working hard. Bee terminology is still sometimes confusing to me. When I speak of “supers” I think honey supers. These are shallow boxes that get added on top of the deep brood boxes. I’ve read that “supers” can mean box. But in my head it works better to call the shallow boxes honey supers and the deep boxes brood boxes. Less confusion in my head when talking to myself. There might also be medium boxes out there – and I might be using mediums as my deeps…I can’t be certain. Ultimately, I think I have deep brood boxes and honey supers but as always I might not have that quite right…still lots to learn!
Now, as for my hives…after a spring full of drama and stress I think we are in pretty good shape. Remember, this was the first spring of swarm concern. I think we effectively kept the hives from swarming…even if one hive did end up queenless (such a bad feeling). Hive #1 was my queenless hive. My bee mentor successfully put together a nuc with a new queen, some of his bees and what was left of my hive #1 bees. Hive #1 seems to be thriving again. This hive is not as established as hive #2 but the number of bees are increasing…it’s so obvious through simple observation. There are more bees in hive #1 than there were a month ago. Good signs. Sadly, hive #1 is working in the brood boxes and not the honey super…at least not yet. There is a super on hive #1 but as of this week zero honey in that super. There’s still time for them to establish and work that super – I’m hoping the hive will be strong enough and I’ll at least get one super off that hive this season. If not, I’ll work and worry to maintain them through the fall and winter in hopes that they will be strong (and not queenless) come next spring. A lot of work, worry and patience for no honey…but I’m still optimistic honey will flow from that hive this year!
Remember hive #2 and all that drama?!?!? That was the hive that I was certain I had made a mistake on and removed the supersedure cell from…well, time has told me that something worked out alright in there. Despite my mistake the hive still appears strong with lots of honey. I try not to disturb/work the hives more than I need to. Hive #2 had its first super added in April and the second in early May. I went ahead and added a third super last week. That’s THREE supers on hive #2. It’s too tall for me to even peek into now!!! Makes me nervous that it’s getting stacked so high but hopefully all will be fine. I think I could take off the first super and extract. Maybe the second, too? I’m not sure what all the “rules” are for removing supers. I’d prefer to do all the honey extraction at once as it in and of itself is a process but I’m also anxious to increase my honey supply!!!! These are all questions I’ll have to ask my mentor. I’ll keep you posted!
All in all, the supers are being filled with honey and to see that honey being capped (finished off with the white wax covering that seals the honey in the comb) makes a beekeepers heart happy! When we remove supers later this summer, honey extraction begins with uncapping to expose that beautiful golden goodness that we’ll then spin out of the comb/frames to place in jars to enjoy. I can’t wait!!! 🍯
– Worker Bee 2021
Howards' Hives and Honey 