I've been pulling out frames of every couple of weeks when I do my inspections and replacing the frames I pull w/new foundation.
Is this a bad idea?
I'm thinking ..... why not do that rather than adding many supers and having the hive's so large.
It's less equipment and you don't have to deal with supers full of heavy honey when doing an inspection.
When I pull the frames I wrap them in foil and put then in the freezer.
Your thoughts???
Thanks,
Paul
IMO YOu could do it but in some places the flow doesnt last very long. It will depend on how you process the honey do you crush and strain or extract. If you extract You would be better off the give them extra supers of drawn comb to keep them working thru the flow. If you are crush and strain it probably wouldnt matter as much.
I like your style.
...JP
I actually have been thinking along the same lines as you. Since that is how we harvest honey from the topbar anyway I was thinking of pulling frames of honey from the langs here and there and doing crush and strain on them along with my topbars.
For crush and strain I like the idea of some mini harvests rather than doing alot at once.
Quote from: hollybees on June 23, 2009, 09:30:14 AM
I've been pulling out frames of every couple of weeks when I do my inspections and replacing the frames I pull w/new foundation.
Is this a bad idea?
I'm thinking ..... why not do that rather than adding many supers and having the hive's so large.
It's less equipment and you don't have to deal with supers full of heavy honey when doing an inspection.
When I pull the frames I wrap them in foil and put then in the freezer.
Your thoughts???
Thanks,
Paul
Bee hives grow to 60 to 80 thousand bees strong. You need to have two lg. bodies and never touch the honey in them,bees need that for the winter.Add a super and take the honey as you like.
as long as you always leave the bees with enough honey for themselves it will prompt them to gather more. kinda like a tbh, harvesting through the year.
Quote from: riverrat on June 23, 2009, 09:44:02 AM
It will depend on how you process the honey do you crush and strain or extract. If you extract You would be better off the give them extra supers of drawn comb to keep them working thru the flow. If you are crush and strain it probably wouldn't matter as much.
I do crush and strain, but I agree with you.. it would be better to have drawn comb to replace the frames I rob.
I kind of enjoy doing the crush and strain, so I don't mind doing it more often and I get to taste the different flavors of the season.
Some of the honey goes in the freezer (frame and all) as backup food so I don't have to feed them sugar if their stores get to low or I was greedy and took too much.
I have 5 hives now so I may think about getting an extractor...still on the fence about that one.
Quote from: JP on June 23, 2009, 09:50:48 AM
I like your style.
...JP
Thanks, JP I like your style as well.....
Quote from: Natalie on June 23, 2009, 12:04:34 PM
I actually have been thinking along the same lines as you. Since that is how we harvest honey from the topbar anyway I was thinking of pulling frames of honey from the langs here and there and doing crush and strain on them along with my topbars.
For crush and strain I like the idea of some mini harvests rather than doing alot at once.
I never thought about how harvesting a top bar would work..yeah you can't stack supers on them.
That's something I would like to try someday
"mini harvest" ....I Like it 8-) very cool!
Quote from: Joelel on June 23, 2009, 12:54:22 PM
Bee hives grow to 60 to 80 thousand bees strong. You need to have two lg. bodies and never touch the honey in them,bees need that for the winter.Add a super and take the honey as you like.
Yes, I only take from the top honey super and leave the bottom ones to them.
I had 3 brood chambers but after I split them I cut it down to two. Great advice thanks.
Quote from: beedad on June 23, 2009, 07:13:52 PM
as long as you always leave the bees with enough honey for themselves it will prompt them to gather more. kinda like a tbh, harvesting through the year.
We've had lots of rain and everything is growing like crazy around here, so far they have plenty to gather....go Bees!
I use foundationless frames in my hives so I can go out and pull a frame or 2 as needed or wair and harvest in the late summer or early fall. When I do a large harvest I do cut and strain and use my cider press. A flour sack or pillow case placed in the hamper forces out the honey, strains it, and compresses the wax in one operation, I can also bottle it as it comes off the press. I then toss the press wax blocks into my wax solar wax melter and have candles to make soaps or candles with during the winter.
That works great for me because I crush and strain. Most frames of honey will have a different taste, and I bottle it that way. It works out almost perfect one frame can equal 1 quart jar (and a little more) of honey. You can even add some comb, if you like it.
patti