I read alot about removing the supers and how heavy they are, I chose mediums, hoping to help my back a bit, its already a basket case. LOL But my question is this, I never see anyone asking about or suggesting that you remove the frames, replace with nice new ones. Is this ok to do, or does it take too much time for the bees, I figured I could make a nice little cart with frame hangers on it so I could hang frame , and replace with new frames in one fell swoop. Since I only have a couple hives this year, and probly only double next year, is this a viable option to the heavy supers, after you remove the frames the super is light again and you can go to the next one down. Just a thought?? I suppose if you had 50 hives that might not be the way to go , but then again just a bigger wagon with a racks for the frames. Any thoughts here?
Mustbeenuts, afterall
Can you outrun the bees? :lol: :lol:
Leaving the frames out in the open when you remove them from the hive is a sure way to invite a little company.Removing the whole super at once and getting away from the bee yard is best.You don't want to leave them exposed very long,the bees will want to rob their new found goldmine.
Just use an empty super with two covers. Turn one cover upside down, place the empty super on it and the second cover on top. Remove half the honey frames and put them in the new super/box. Now you have two supers at half the weight. If you have it on a cart, you could move all the frames.
Many people take one frame at a time, brush it off, put it in a different box and when that box is full take it to harvest it. If weight is an issue that box could be an eight frame box or even a five frame box (Brushy Mt. has five frame medium nuc boxes). Make sure, even if some are empty frames, that it has all five frames in it so they don't slide angled and fall out. You will need a lid and a closed up bottom to keep the bees out of the box.
I'm 60 years old but my legs are 98 years old.I use natural and small cell.I go up take a frame out brush of the bees take a knife cut the comb out letting it fall into a clean bucket put the lid on go get another till done take bucket or buckets.I leave about a inch or less so the bees can start another comb.I have a big patatoe masher I mash up with then strain.
kirko
Here's a picture of one way to do it:
http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2006/08/honey-harvest-begins.html
Linda T in Atlanta