My 1st year bees (June 6) have fully capped 4 of 8 deep frames in the honey super. They?re partially done another 2 and haven?t done much on the other 2. Would it be an idea to harvest the 4 full ones and put some empties back in to get them drawing out some more?
How do you plan to harvest? Extraction, crush and strain, other?
I have a 2 frame manual extractor.
Do your bees in your brood box have plenty of honey stores on the outer edges of your brood frames? Also, are the outside two frames, in your brood box loaded in honey? If so, it is my opinion that you can harvest your 4 frames if you wish. Are you in a flow in your area? A dearth? If in a dearth I would place the extracted combs back into the super using the checkerboard method, also adding a robbing screen, feeding your bees sugar syrup. You should be ok and the bees will soon fill the extracted combs with syrup. However, I would not extract any more from this hive after this extraction because you will only have sugar syrup honey , not real honey. Now, if you are in a flow, extract, feed nothing, let the bees work the nectar flow and refill with real honey. Affording you the opportunity to extract more at a later date. Of course it?s getting late and you will more than likely have to feed this fall, depending on your local area and fall flow. Best of luck to you .
Phillip
The brood box is as you describe. Most brood frames have honey on the corners and the outsides are all honey.
Inspected today, what I thought were fully capped frames are only 30-50%. I have view windows I can look in and the frames are capped down the edge so I thought they were full. 3 of the frames are full of honey, just not fully capped. So no harvest for sure. I put a medium brooder on the deep brood box I had as it was full and they were making queen cells. Now no more queen cells and there?s capped brood up in the medium super so I?m happy about that but the flow is slowing down here so maybe they?re using the honey to feed and build comb? I?ll keep monitoring but no harvest for me right now...
Quote from: Mamm7215 on July 18, 2019, 09:33:55 PM
Would it be an idea to harvest the 4 full ones and put some empties back in to get them drawing out some more?
No. A new hive is June will have all it can do to survive winter.
Quote from: Acebird on July 21, 2019, 09:42:48 AM
Quote from: Mamm7215 on July 18, 2019, 09:33:55 PM
Would it be an idea to harvest the 4 full ones and put some empties back in to get them drawing out some more?
No. A new hive is June will have all it can do to survive winter.
I started 5 new nuc boxes last fall following David?s instructions at BarnyardBees and all five made it, not only made it but came out of winter thriving..
Phillip
Thanks for the input. I think a smaller nuc may be better off just for the fewer numbers to care for. My hive already has a 2nd medium brood super put on for expansion and there?s already capped brood on it. I just don?t want the uncapped frames to mold or go bad. Plus all the extra work they have to do now with drawing out the remainder of those frames and the flow is definitely slowing here.
Phill, he is not in Mississippi.
Quote from: Acebird on July 22, 2019, 08:33:25 AM
Phill, he is not in Mississippi.
That is true Ace, but he is not in Canadas far North either. Michale Palmer over winters 5 frame Nucs successfully.there also. He has a very interesting video. I think it is titled beekeeping in the far North. Ian Stepper also takes his honey and feeds in late fall. Difference Ian does place his hives inside a building. Michael has snow to the top of his hives, both do well. Management is the key. I realize some folks don?t like to feed sugar syrup. In that case That would be a different matter.
Phillip
Here in the Vancouver area our weather is pretty much the same as Seattle. Rarely does it freeze here although the last couple of years we've had snow stick for a few weeks with temps to -10C (20F). That said, no worse than the northeastern US the last few years by any stretch. The bees have been bringing in a fair bit of pollen still. Hard to tell if any nectar's coming in but they're still flying in and out like crazy so they must be up to something :)
I am wishing you the best. It might help you if you were to watch the video feathering Mike Palmer. If you hav not already watched it.
Phillip
Quote from: Ben Framed on July 22, 2019, 09:25:13 AM
Quote from: Acebird on July 22, 2019, 08:33:25 AM
Phill, he is not in Mississippi.
That is true Ace, but he is not in Canadas far North either. Michale Palmer over winters 5 frame Nucs successfully.there also. He has a very interesting video. I think it is titled beekeeping in the far North. Ian Stepper also takes his honey and feeds in late fall. Difference Ian does place his hives inside a building. Michael has snow to the top of his hives, both do well. Management is the key. I realize some folks don?t like to feed sugar syrup. In that case That would be a different matter.
Phillip
Your talking about experts with more than a few hives.
That also is true Ace, your points are valid. For the average new beekeeper this would be risky if the said is not willing to do everything necessary to do it right. He ask if it would be ok to take 4 frames of honey from his late swarm. He said he would be extracting, so he would be able to put the empties right back inside for refilling. That in itself is also risky, being it is probably new comb and probably soft white comb. Is the foundation plastic? Is it reinforced wax? That must also be considered. Does he have extracting experience? Will the comb be blown out? We still have at least two more months in my area for fall build up, (I do not know his environment), And that number is convective. Yes. It can be done. But IF AND ONLY IF done with proper follow up. In another topic we are discussing hive splitting. One of our members is wanting to not take honey but make entire splits this late in the season. This can also be done, IF AND ONLY IF done properly. I have STRONGLY suggested he purchase mated queens. Especially this late. We can learn a lot from these professional keepers who run many hives, who make their living from bees, if we pay close attention and follow their guide lines to the letter. If we are not willing to do what is necessary, then of corse I agree with you, do not do it.
Phillip
Well I'm not far north in Canada. Pretty much same weather as Seattle. Hardiness 8a on the chart. Right now at best I might get 2-3 frames after checking this last weekend so as of now I'm not doing anything. Also not splitting. If it was June I probably would but not this close to August with my very limited experience. I'll try it next year but my main goal this year is to have live bees come March.
Quote from: Mamm7215 on July 24, 2019, 12:19:32 PM
Well I'm not far north in Canada. Pretty much same weather as Seattle. Hardiness 8a on the chart. Right now at best I might get 2-3 frames after checking this last weekend so as of now I'm not doing anything. Also not splitting. If it was June I probably would but not this close to August with my very limited experience. I'll try it next year but my main goal this year is to have live bees come March.
I wasn?t suggesting splitting a A June swarm hive, I only mentioned that on this topic as to show what can be done if done properly.The splits I did late last fall were from a 20 frame strong hive which was knocked over. I will add I would not have split it then had I not thought the queen was lost. What seemed like a bad situation turned out to be a good situation with my particular situation. Instead of a chance of possibly loosening this one strong hive, I came out of winter with 5 very srtong nucs. Thanks to advise from David at barnyard bees and folks like him. wishing you the best.
Phillip
Thanks Phillip. I'm hoping to split at least once next spring, maybe even catch a swarm! One hive is definitely NOT enough.
Quote from: Mamm7215 on July 24, 2019, 02:47:32 PM
Thanks Phillip. I'm hoping to split at least once next spring, maybe even catch a swarm! One hive is definitely NOT enough.
Your very welcome...
Quote from: Mamm7215 on July 24, 2019, 02:47:32 PM
I'm hoping to split at least once next spring,
Good idea.
Well I did it. Had 2 full capped frames today so I took them out, spun em and ended up with several small jars of honey :). My first batch! Unfortunately I think I spun too fast because 1 frames foundation kinda popped out and I messed up a fair bit of comb on both frames. Hate to undo all that hard work. Beginner mistakes :( Tomorrow evening both frames are going back in the super, hopefully they can clean them up.
[attachment=0][/attachment]
I would use screw tops on jars not rubber seals.
Ya that's what the wife brought home so it was all I had on hand. Only 2 frames worth. Next time it'll be mason jar style with the screw tops.
Quote from: Acebird on July 29, 2019, 08:47:21 AM
I would use screw tops on jars not rubber seals.
Why are the screw top jars the best?
I honestly don't know but I can see the rubber seal on these ones getting pretty gummed up if I'm not careful. They do seal pretty well though.
Mamm7215, remember as we talked about, feed as they will need stores going into winter. I would also recommend checking and treating for mites.
Quote from: Mamm7215 on July 29, 2019, 04:22:54 AM
Well I did it. Had 2 full capped frames today so I took them out, spun em and ended up with several small jars of honey :). My first batch! Unfortunately I think I spun too fast because 1 frames foundation kinda popped out and I messed up a fair bit of comb on both frames. Hate to undo all that hard work. Beginner mistakes :( Tomorrow evening both frames are going back in the super, hopefully they can clean them up.
[attachment=0][/attachment]
That is some beautiful light colored honey, just mouth watering beautiful it is.
Also, you can molten wax weld broken wax frames with bees wax candles. The bees will tidy up and secure to their liking. I make my own bee wax candles. The candles are expensive if you purchase online, but freebies if you do it yourself with capping and burr comb.
Van
Quote from: The15thMember on July 29, 2019, 02:48:42 PM
Quote from: Acebird on July 29, 2019, 08:47:21 AM
I would use screw tops on jars not rubber seals.
Why are the screw top jars the best?
I was gonna ask same question. I use the same bottle for my personal use, and they work great for my use.
Quote from: van from Arkansas on July 29, 2019, 06:14:36 PM
Quote from: Mamm7215 on July 29, 2019, 04:22:54 AM
Well I did it. Had 2 full capped frames today so I took them out, spun em and ended up with several small jars of honey :). My first batch! Unfortunately I think I spun too fast because 1 frames foundation kinda popped out and I messed up a fair bit of comb on both frames. Hate to undo all that hard work. Beginner mistakes :( Tomorrow evening both frames are going back in the super, hopefully they can clean them up.
[attachment=0][/attachment]
That is some beautiful light colored honey, just mouth watering beautiful it is.
Also, you can molten wax weld broken wax frames with bees wax candles. The bees will tidy up and secure to their liking. I make my own bee wax candles. The candles are expensive if you purchase online, but freebies if you do it yourself with capping and burr comb.
Van
That's the plan, my wife already has a good container of cuttings going. I'm also going to take a shot at balms and lotions with beeswax as well. Should be fun.
Quote from: van from Arkansas on July 29, 2019, 06:14:36 PM
Quote from: Mamm7215 on July 29, 2019, 04:22:54 AM
Well I did it. Had 2 full capped frames today so I took them out, spun em and ended up with several small jars of honey :). My first batch! Unfortunately I think I spun too fast because 1 frames foundation kinda popped out and I messed up a fair bit of comb on both frames. Hate to undo all that hard work. Beginner mistakes :( Tomorrow evening both frames are going back in the super, hopefully they can clean them up.
[attachment=0][/attachment]
That is some beautiful light colored honey, just mouth watering beautiful it is.
Also, you can molten wax weld broken wax frames with bees wax candles. The bees will tidy up and secure to their liking. I make my own bee wax candles. The candles are expensive if you purchase online, but freebies if you do it yourself with capping and burr comb.
Van
Mr Van, I like the plan. As you make you candles, do you add scents form time to time? It is probably hard to beat the natural honey smell. I have not tried making candles but as I said I like the idea.
Phillip
I bought my wife several bottles of scents and some wax dyes. She does not like to add them to her candles. She likes the pure bees wax. Last week my granddaughter wanted to make some candles and she used vanilla scent and some dyes. She liked them but we still like the pure bees wax better.
Jim Altmiller
Quote from: The15thMember on July 29, 2019, 02:48:42 PM
Quote from: Acebird on July 29, 2019, 08:47:21 AM
I would use screw tops on jars not rubber seals.
Why are the screw top jars the best?
Invariably honey will get on the rubber and make it very difficult to open or even rip part of the rubber away. It is much easier to keep the glass threads on the jar clean. Honey does not need to be in a sealed container except for shipping and handling.
Quote from: sawdstmakr on July 30, 2019, 08:57:10 AM
I bought my wife several bottles of scents and some wax dyes. She does not like to add them to her candles. She likes the pure bees wax. Last week my granddaughter wanted to make some candles and she used vanilla scent and some dyes. She liked them but we still like the pure bees wax better.
Jim Altmiller
Thanks Jim
Phillip