Frames in Freezer

rgennaro · May 11, 2022, 02:19:09 PM

hi everybody
hope you are enjoying Spring and your bees are doing well. My 2 hives survived the winter I am happy to report, but I have not opened them yet (been busy with other farm project, and my real life work). Anyway I assume that when I open them I will find many empty frames (here where I am there is not much blossoming yet, and while they are bringing in tons of pollen I doubt they are finding much nectar). I have some frames with honey in the freezer that I would like to put in to replace some of the empty ones: I just took them out this morning. How long before I can put them in? I read 3 days in another website ... Any idea? Right now they are sitting in the basement which is about 50F. It's really warm out today and I could put them out in the sun to speed the warming up. Any suggestion?
thanks
R

The15thMember · May 11, 2022, 02:44:20 PM

I sometimes just take mine straight from the freezer and put them in a hive. I never even really thought about whether it was a good idea or not, but I've never had any issues with doing it. I wouldn't put a cold frame in a brood box though, only up in a super where it can't chill any babies.

Ben Framed · May 11, 2022, 06:02:47 PM

Thanks rgennaro for the warm greeting! I hope and wish the same for you and your bees. Before you get the horse before the cart, I would really recommend you inspect first. You might be pleasantly surprised at the nectar/honey that might potentially already be in your hive even now! A lot of nectar comes from trees and other plants, that we as new beekeepers might overlook or not suspect.

Phillip

TheHoneyPump · May 14, 2022, 10:59:12 AM

Cannot put a xx hrs time. The answer is however long it takes for the frame(s) to thaw and warm to room temperature. When no longer cold to the touch they are good to go.

rgennaro · May 16, 2022, 08:30:00 AM

Well it turns out they had been busier than I thought. Lots of nectar in there (no capped honey yet) so I just added the frames on top.

Acebird · May 16, 2022, 09:48:08 AM

Quote from: rgennaro on May 11, 2022, 02:19:09 PM
My 2 hives survived the winter I am happy to report, but I have not opened them yet (been busy with other farm project, and my real life work).

Wow, I am surprised they are not in swarm mode if they haven't already. You are way late.

rgennaro · May 17, 2022, 08:54:42 AM

They might be. I am definitely late, but I am in upstate NY and we had a pretty cold spring.

Acebird · May 17, 2022, 10:02:52 AM

Quote from: rgennaro on May 17, 2022, 08:54:42 AM
They might be. I am definitely late, but I am in upstate NY and we had a pretty cold spring.

I came from Utica. Things move fast in March and April.