I took some honey from my TBHs around swarm time (3 completely filled combs
each I think). Since then their hives have not been hugely heavy, so I left
them, except for one bar I removed recently to check the new hive shape
matched. That bar was as you describe, a third or one half honey along the
top. They seemed to have spread the stores along the warmer upper parts of
combs rather than half as many full combs. So maybe it is an instinct to
use the warmest parts for wintering?
Paul
On Thu, 17 Sep 2020, 10:39 Gilliane Sills, <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I can't comment on the state of the combs - but you say that drones are
all gone from your hive. There are still a fair number of drones flying
in and out of my hive,with no challenge from the workers.
Gilliane
On 17/09/2020 10:04, Helen Nunn wrote:
In mid-July I had a look in my main hive (TBH modified) with a view to
removing a comb or two of honey. However, the combs which were
possibilities only had honey halfway down, and I left them in place,
thinking they would be full later in the year. This week I looked
again, and the situation was exactly the same. Capped honey in the top
half, some nectar below that, then empty cells at the bottom. I left
them all in place, not wanting to destroy a lot of wax for not very
much yield. There is plenty for the winter - 21 bars in all. There
were healthy larvae and capped worker brood further up the hive. Bees
looked fine, no deformed wings. Drones all gone. Any comments please?
Helen
