One more extraction before winter ? (Melbourne)

[damienpryan]

Hi All,

I've got 10 hives in the Melbourne suburbs.
After a late summer lull they about half of them seem a lot heavier (2 10 frame boxes).
And I can smell nectar.
Should I do one more extraction?
I'm afraid if I leave them with too much honey over winter they will swarm over Spring.

I've never had a hive die of starvation over winter in Melbourne so am tempted to pull some more honey out.

What do people think ?

Cheers

Damien

[BeeMaster2]

I usually do a fall extraction is there is a good late flow. I do it as part of my fall inspection. First I make sure there is enough honey left for each hive and then I remove the rest.
Jim Altmiller

[eltalia]

I'm afraid if I leave them with too much honey over winter they will swarm over Spring.

Swarming rightly should not impact on your wintering decisions Damien as it is a Spring
management issue. To handout advice now more info is needed, really.
Like, what is your config policy for stacks - 8frm/10frm..?... double or single BC..?.. mixed
frame style or all FD..?.. all factors in how stores will be consumed over winter.

Cheers.

Bill