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Dandelions, we love them. |
Dandelions are starting to pop across the metro area. This is the first major nectar flow of the year. If you have a strong overwintered colony, you need to put supers on now. A strong colony that has not been divided is packed with bees and brood. Failure to put supers on can lead to a hive that is honey bound. All available cells will be full of honey and the queen will have no place to lay. This will affect the hives population in a negative way.
It is not uncommon for a strong hive to fill two supers of honey from dandelions.
New supers without any drawn comb should be put on without a queen excluder. Check them every three days. Once the bees start making comb and putting in a little nectar on a couple frames, slip the queen excluder under the supers.