Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

10 Common Questions About Adding Honey Supers

1. When should I add the first honey super?

• When bees have filled 8–10 frames in both brood boxes.
• When the nectar flow begins in your region.
• Add before bees run out of space to store nectar.

2. What’s the difference between foundation and drawn comb in supers?

• Drawn comb can be filled immediately and increases honey yield.
• Foundation requires bees to build wax first—slower process.
• Drawn comb is highly valuable for efficient honey production.

3. Can I use a queen excluder under the honey super?

• Yes, it prevents the queen from laying eggs in the super.
• Bees sometimes hesitate to cross it, especially with foundation-only supers.
• Try adding a bait frame of drawn comb above the excluder to encourage traffic.

4. How do I know it’s time to add another honey super?

• When the first super is 75–80% full of nectar or capped honey.
• Watch for nectar being deposited on multiple frames.
• Better to add early—don’t wait until bees are crowded.

5. Should I feed bees when I want them to draw comb in supers?

• No, feeding sugar syrup contaminates honey intended for harvest.
• Only feed if drawing comb before nectar flow starts, and mark honey as non-harvestable.
• Use feeding only during comb-building, not during surplus collection.

6. How do I encourage bees to draw comb in foundation supers?

• Add the super during a heavy nectar flow.
• Use drawn comb bait frames in the center.
• Ensure the hive is crowded enough to motivate expansion.

7. Can I add multiple honey supers at once?

• Yes, if drawn comb is used – bees will fill what they need.
• With foundation, add one at a time to keep bees focused.
• Some beekeepers alternate super positions to encourage use of upper boxes.

8. What’s the risk of waiting too long to super?

• Bees will backfill the brood nest, limiting queen space.
• Increased swarm pressure due to congestion.
• You’ll miss nectar flow peak—reduced harvest.

9. Where do I place the honey super—top or between boxes?

• Place above all brood boxes and above the queen excluder.
• Some beekeepers alternate drawn comb between frames in supers to stimulate use.
• Do not place a super between brood boxes unless making a management split.

10. What’s the benefit of reusing drawn comb each year?

• Saves energy—bees skip wax building and go straight to storing honey.
• Maximizes nectar flow harvest and colony efficiency.
• Keep drawn comb in good condition—freeze to kill pests, store with ventilation.