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Fall advice for new beekeeper w/hive w/no honey supers

2K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  roadkillbobb 
#1 ·
Hi. I'm a new beekeeper (or am trying to be) located in Golden, Colorado. I'm hoping from someone can provide a little advice on what I should be doing to prepare my bees for winter. I bought a nuc this spring and the queen laid very spotty. The bees requeened in early July and are doing much better. But they never built any comb in the first honey super (I started feeding them later than I should have). For the cold weather last month I removed the empty super and just left the brood box. As of a week ago, they still had one frame they needed to build comb on in the brood box and I've been feeding 1:1 syrup. Given the time of year (very end of September), I want to make sure I'm ok leaving them in the just the brood box through the winter. I'll feed them candy and pollen substitute. I do have syrup on now for them to fill the remaining frame. I don't want them to be squished in there but there's no way they'll build out comb and fill up a honey super. Any advice or confirmation (or negation) that I'm doing what I should be right now? Thanks for any help. Would love to get them through the fall and winter. Thank you.
 
#2 ·
I would go to 2:1 syrup, and start making fondant without pollen sub for early winter, with pollen sub after December 1st. I suggest because I do not live in colorado but I have heard things about it being cold that you put the super back on with a cotton cloth between it and the main box, and full of hay or sawdust or something to absorb moisture and insulate. Hoping a northern beekeeper will check in. Then you can use a spacer if needed and put thick fondant or on top of the brood box. We need a northern beekeeper now. @roadkillbobb Help
 
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