Hi,
I got my flow hive 2 summers ago. The nuc was added in early summer last year and they didn’t make any honey in the flow frames and I believe this is normal. This year there seems to be many more bees in the flow frames however I’ve heard some colonies fill theirs in just a few weeks! its not mid December and nowhere near being filled or capped… also there seems to be a few little bugs that keep getting into the flow frames that the bees kill. any ideas what I’m getting wrong?
You’re not necessarily doing anything wrong, Craig. There are so many variables in beekeeping, any of which can affect honey production.
Number one is colony strength. Only add the super when the brood box is brimming with bees, minimum 80% of the frames covered in bees and plenty of brood.
Next is whether or not there is a nectar flow. No or little nectar means no honey. You can tell if bees are bringing in nectar if they land heavy compared to bees with pollen…
Sometimes bees just don’t like the plastic. I’ve had two hives next to each other, one taking to the Flow frames immediately filling them in less than two weeks, while the other would not touch the frames. They made burr comb everywhere. I coated the frames with wax and then they took to them within days. Sometimes spraying the frames with sugar syrup can help.
Mike
Hi Craig, As Mike mentioned it can depend on many factors including hive strength, local climate, and available forage. It is not uncommon to have very different results from hives kept at the same location and even within the same hive annually compared to previous years. It sounds like you may have some hive beetle or another pest affecting your colony. I would suggest inspecting your brood to see how healthy your colony is. You may also have not much flowering near you to support your hive. Planting thyme, oregano, sage, lemon balm, basil, coriander, lavender, borage and rosemary are a good place to start. One of my favourite bee-attracting herbs is rocket – it goes to flower pretty quickly and when the seeds are ripe they fall and the next crop is underway.
And of course, native plants are a wonderful option – in Australia these are grevilleas, callistemon, scaevola, hakea, eucalypts, leptospermum, banksia, melaleucas, syzygiums and xanthostemon (Golden Penda).
There is a possibility some of these may be classed as weeds in your area, be sure to check before planting 
You can also email Flow hive support at info@honeyflow.com and they can help you troubleshoot