fermenting nectar in comb?

[tlynn]

I held back 3 extra supers of honey this winter and haven't needed to give it to my 2 hives.  I went through the supers today and noticed a few frames that were never capped had what looked to be bubbles coming out of the cells, like the honey wasn't dried enough and is fermenting.  If that's what's happening what should I do with these frames?  If I give it to my bees will they become drunk and lose their way home???  :lol:

[RayMarler]

Does it smell like vinegar? I've got a stack of boxes of honeycombs from dieouts, and in the last week i opened the top to grab some combs to put into a hive here, some of them were soured, smelled like vinegar. Those I will destroy, but the ones all sealed were good so used them.

[BjornBee]

Could be fermentation. It could also be the first stages of SHB larvae at work... ;) Do you have SHB in the area?

[Scadsobees]

Splash some oil on it before putting it on a hive and you'll see the bees bringing in little bits of lettuce... :)

Honey will ferment if you leave it exposed to air and your air is somewhat humid.  But I agree, double check for SHB before anything.

[JP]

I concur with Ray, if its fermented do not feed it to your bees. Go ahead and taste it, you could put your nose to it first, if it smells funny, ditch it. The mead makers may chime in at this point.


...JP

[Understudy]

The bubbles are what cause me to think fermentation. Something that behaves like the bubbles in beer. If you are at the very early stages you may not notice the odor right away. But in a few days you sure will. It smells nasty (compared to that normal honey hive smell).

If it is fermenting pull the frames. The bees won't end up with a DUI but they will end hungry.  :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[JP]

Fermented honey will kill bees, do not feed fermented honey to bees, its not a pretty sight.


...JP

[tlynn]

Does it smell like vinegar? I've got a stack of boxes of honeycombs from dieouts, and in the last week i opened the top to grab some combs to put into a hive here, some of them were soured, smelled like vinegar. Those I will destroy, but the ones all sealed were good so used them.

No I don't get a vinegar or a beer smell.  Beer smell was mentioned elsewhere as fermentation.

[tlynn]

Could be fermentation. It could also be the first stages of SHB larvae at work... ;) Do you have SHB in the area?

Yes, SHB.  No evidence of infestation, larvae, damaged comb.  The frames have been inside since November and I only noticed this starting recently.

[tlynn]

Fermented honey will kill bees, do not feed fermented honey to bees, its not a pretty sight.
...JP

Thanks, JP.  I am guessing that's what's going on.  Not capped, more moisture.  I'll spin them out and discard.

Tracy

[Understudy]

Let me split hairs here. How many bubbles are you seeing. A bubble here and there is not a big deal. Also it sounds like you stored these frames. If they weren't capped before they may have had air get in. And as you moved the frames around some of those little air pockets may have been able to break free.

I don't want to sound contradictory but since you are guessing and we are guessing based on what you have told us lets see if we can find out some more. If the frames have been in the hive for a few days find out this. Are the bees working the frames? Are they adding stores or removing stores? At this time they should be adding? Are more cells capped than last week? If the frames have been in there for a few days what does it taste like. Even uncapped honey that is starting to ferment has a bad taste to it. Uncapped nector may not taste like off the shelf honey but it is usually sweet.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[tlynn]

Let me split hairs here. How many bubbles are you seeing. a bubble here and there is not a big deal. Also it sounds like you stored these frames. If they weren't capped before they may have had air get in. And as you moved the frames around some of those little air pockets may have been able to break free.

I don't want to sound contradictory but since you are guessing and we are guessing based on what you have told us lets see if we can find out some more. If the frames have been in the hive for a few days find out this. Are the bees working the frames? Are they adding stores or removing stores? At this time they should be adding? Are more cells capped than last week? If the frames have been in there for a few days what does it taste like. Even uncapped honey that is starting to ferment has a bad taste to it. Uncapped nector may not taste like off the shelf honey but it is usually sweet.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

No, actually I pulled the supers in November and they have been stacked up on my lanai.  I went through them to put on an empty super on one hive which is bringing in nectar and as I was going thru the frames of the supers that had honey in them, there were a few frames that had uncapped honey maybe half full.  Those were the ones I noticed the "bubbles."  I am at the office and will take a picture and publish this evening.  Maybe that will help.

[tlynn]

Here are a couple of pics that may help:

http://www.technowerkz.com/IMG_0896.JPG
http://www.technowerkz.com/IMG_0899.JPG

[Understudy]

Here are a couple of pics that may help:

http://www.technowerkz.com/IMG_0896.JPG
http://www.technowerkz.com/IMG_0899.JPG

Excellent photos. Good for Mead not so good for bees.


Mind if I borrow those photos?

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[tlynn]

So definitely fermentation huh?

[Understudy]

Either that or your honey farts a lot. :mrgreen:
Either way I would say no to giving it to bees.

Sincerely,
Brendhan