I have a question about uncapped honey. I have two hives that have done very well. I had two deep boxes and 9 medium supers on each hive. I took the honey today. I got 4 supers out of one hive and 5 out of the other. The question is, that I hhave 3 supers in each hive that is full of honey but it's not capped. Wondering what to do? I live in central Minnesota, so our season is coming to an end. I put the supers back on the hive for now, just looking for some advise. Thanks in advance for you time.
Quote from: leechmann on September 17, 2009, 11:30:37 PM
I have a question about uncapped honey. I have two hives that have done very well. I had two deep boxes and 9 medium supers on each hive. I took the honey today. I got 4 supers out of one hive and 5 out of the other. The question is, that I hhave 3 supers in each hive that is full of honey but it's not capped. Wondering what to do? I live in central Minnesota, so our season is coming to an end. I put the supers back on the hive for now, just looking for some advise. Thanks in advance for you time.
You can take the honey.
If I take the honey, wont the moisture content be too high?
Quote from: leechmann on September 17, 2009, 11:45:11 PM
If I take the honey, wont the moisture content be too high?
No,too high for who,what are you doing with your honey. They dry it as brought in. It should be dry enough.
I extracted some non-capped or barely capped frames (separate from my capped frames). Just to get the nectar out. It was 25% moisture content. I am going to feed it back to the bees. Would worry too much about fermentation. I knew it was unlikely going to be decent honey as I could shake some of it out of the frames.
So that is one option. Extract, feed back. (I will probably mix with first batches of sugar water).
>No,too high for who,what are you doing with your honey. They dry it as brought in. It should be dry enough.
>If I take the honey, wont the moisture content be too high?
You can do the shake test but a refractometer is the only correct way. Too much moisture and it will ferment at some point.
Three complete super from each hive seems like alot of uncapped to extract unless you have a way to dry it. I have extracted partially uncapped frames but not whole supers of uncapped honey. I await to hear others comments. Can you consolidate to less than three supers each?
Two deeps and three mediums each ---- are the brood chambers properly backfilled for winter yet. Probably not at this time but of course winter for you is earlier than for me. My understanding is they will move uncapped honey and store it where they need --- if they are so inclined to do so.
I wintered with a deep and a shallow of honey last year. They consumed it all and I had to feed. I am trying to move to a deep and two shallows. Alot depends on brood chamber prep.
A local could give you better requirements for your area.
I have 7 hiives in all. I am going to sell some of my honey and try to expand my little operation to 25 hives next year. I purchased a refractometer but haven't tried it yet. Would I be able to test the honey before I attempted to extract it. Wondering if it is dried while still in the frames or do people some how cook the moisture out after it's been extracted and is in a bucket?
Quote from: leechmann on September 18, 2009, 03:16:26 PM
I purchased a refractometer but haven't tried it yet. Would I be able to test the honey before I attempted to extract it. Wondering if it is dried while still in the frames or do people some how cook the moisture out after it's been extracted and is in a bucket?
Yes, test right out the supers.
Some folks run dehumidifiers in their honey houses. Some folks extract through flash pans etc.