Honey Flow

[DrKurtG]

I have one hive that consists of two deeps and it is one year old. I live in southwestern virginia. The lower chamber is about 85% full of honey, brood, pollen, etc and looks good. The upper chamber is a bit behind but has lots of bees working. The three center frames are about 65% filled with uncapped honey. Can anyone peer into their crystal ball and give me an approximate answer to...

1. Assuming a standard (if there is one) honey flow, when can I expect my first harvest?
2. How many 8 oz jars of honey may I expect from a ten frame super?
3. How many honey flows can one expect during the summer months?

Again, assuming that everything continues on in a reasonably normal fachion. Thanks a lot.

Kurt

[Michael Bush]

>1. Assuming a standard (if there is one) honey flow, when can I expect my first harvest?

Assuming never works with bees.  I would not assume anything.

>2. How many 8 oz jars of honey may I expect from a ten frame super?

I would not expect anything.  But you might get as much as 200 pounds from a hive or as little as nothing.

>3. How many honey flows can one expect during the summer months?

Here, we usually get one honey flow in the summer which varies much in length depending on too much, too little, or just right rainfall, and one in the fall, again dependent on the weather.

[DrKurtG]

Thanks Michael. Being very new to this, I just didn't want to be caught short. I wasn't sure if I should go ahead and order jars, more foundation, etc or just wait until I see what they're going to do. I also only have two supers. I am guessing that's ok for starters.

[randydrivesabus]

Hi doc...you live near me. the big flow occurs around my place from mid-may to july so you've got time. i harvested a full medium super last july. i think you have time before you see very much. here in floyd county we seem to be at least 2 weeks behind anyone within 75 miles. as far as honey flows during the summer months it surely depends on what is growing near you and how much rain we get.

[CBEE]

We have a flow on now. :-D Top deep is full and they are working hard on the 1st med super. You have some time but I would go ahead and get a couple more supers with frames. You never know. Better to have and not need than need and not have in the bee business. You will be suprized how quick they can fill a super in a heavy flow :shock:

[Michael Bush]

I would ALWAYS have a spare top and bottom to make a split to head off a swarm or hive a swarm.  I would ALWAYS have a few spare boxes with frames and a few spare boxes without frames.  The ones with for swarms, supers etc.  The ones without to use to juggle things around when you need to work a hive.  I wouldn't stock up a LOT, just make sure you have enough to add a box to each of your hives in a flow and then you can order more.  Of course you sometimes get price breaks at 5 or so.  It might be worth buying the 5 at a time if you do.

[Pond Creek Farm]

I have had this on my mind, and am a bit embarassed to ask although curiosity is stronger than resistace to chagrin.  How does one know when a nectar flow is on and when it is off?  I see bees coming and going all the time out the hives, and to my untrained eye, there appears to be no real difference from day to day other than perhaps the number of bees coming and going. 

[Brian D. Bray]

one way to judge is in comb building the second is cell filling.  In a heavy flow the hive can draw several frames of comb per day.  With drawn comb they can fill a super in a day or 2.  I find it helps with the fudge factor to put several empty frames into a comb filled super.  If using drawn comb adding multiple supers during a flow is necessary.  If your bees are drawing, filling and capping a super every week to 10 days you're in a flow.  If it takes a month you're between flows.

[Michael Bush]

In a flow the comb is being built like crazy and the weight of the hive increases daily.  Also the bees are working like crazy.  Not just buzzing around, but coming and going with a purpose in a straight line.