Should You Leave Supers On Your Beehives Over Winter?

Should I Leave Supers On Over Winter? Why You Should Remove Honey Supers Before Winter

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Preparing your bees for winter is one of the most critical aspects of beekeeping. If you’re wondering whether to leave honey supers on or take them off before winter, this video will help answer your questions. Leaving supers on through winter can seem like a convenient way to give your bees extra food, but in most cases, it’s best to remove them. Let’s dive into why it’s beneficial for both you and your bees to take those supers off before the cold months set in.

🐝 1. Winter Bee Management: Why Less is More
During the winter months, bees cluster together to keep warm, drastically reducing their activity and food consumption. The colony will primarily use the honey stores they collected in the brood boxes, and they won’t be moving as much as they do in warmer weather. Extra honey supers often become unnecessary weight in the hive, adding complexity and potential issues. Here’s why a simpler hive setup makes a difference in winter:

🐝 2. Preventing Excess Moisture Buildup
One of the biggest challenges bees face in winter is moisture buildup inside the hive. When bees generate warmth, condensation forms, and if it collects on cold surfaces, it can drip back down onto the cluster, which can be deadly in freezing temperatures. Removing supers helps reduce the overall space in the hive, making it easier to manage ventilation and prevent moisture buildup. Without the extra airspace from additional supers, you can maintain more consistent airflow that keeps the colony dry and warm.

🐝 3. Protecting Honey from Crystalizing and Spoilage
Cold weather and limited bee activity can lead to issues with honey inside the supers. Honey stored in unheated supers can crystalize, making it harder for the bees to consume even if they can reach it. In addition, leaving honey in supers over winter can attract pests and cause fermentation or spoilage if temperatures fluctuate.

🐝 4. Reducing the Chance of Pests
Winter brings pests like mice, which are attracted to warm, sheltered spaces with available food. Extra supers increase the hive's interior space, creating more potential hiding spots for unwanted guests. By removing the supers, you close off excess space, which helps keep pests out.

🐝 5. Harvesting Late-Season Honey for Yourself
Removing honey supers before winter allows you to harvest any extra honey your bees may have stored late in the season. While it’s essential to leave enough stores for the colony’s needs, taking off surplus honey lets you enjoy a fall harvest and avoid leaving too much food in the hive, which may go unused.

🐝 6. Easier Spring Hive Inspection and Cleanup
When spring arrives, inspecting a hive with minimal boxes is much simpler. Hives with extra wintered-over supers can make early inspections and maintenance more challenging. By limiting the hive to brood boxes over winter, you’ll start the spring season with a manageable setup, making it easier to check for health, clean up old frames, and get the colony ready for a productive year.