Latest time to rob hive

dgcantrellsr · September 15, 2007, 12:22:38 PM

What is the latest time in the year to rob a hive in Southwest Va?

TwT · September 15, 2007, 03:36:32 PM

I say about anytime you get ready, I wouldn't wait to late because they will need stores for the winter, you still have time to feed sugar syrup and replace what you take....... you just want the hive to go into winter with stores, so as long as you have time to feed 2-1 syrup take what you want....

Michael Bush · September 15, 2007, 03:38:49 PM

December. After that it will be early next year. Any day when the bees are either not in the supers or they are flying and you can shake, run, or brush them out without them falling on the ground from the cold.

rdy-b · September 15, 2007, 08:40:47 PM

do your self a favor and get it done before the cool weather comes so you can manage the honey how are you going to extract? cold honey is a BUMMER and to warm a small amount to spin or drain can be just as bad not to mention daylights saving time brings dark hours for small jobs after work- RDY-B

dgcantrellsr · September 15, 2007, 11:15:07 PM

I got this hive from a local beekeeper,He brought it up and set it up, and a while later he came back and put a super on it.

Well today is the first time I have opened any hive in my life, I took the outer cover off, it popped and sorta riled them, after I got it off, I also had to pop the inner cover, riled them a little more (but I smoked them a little).

Now for the inner cover he had used a plain flat piece of plywood, with no hole in the center like the new spare hive I had purchased and assembled.
There was a lot of comb that they had filled up from the top of the frames to the inner cover. I am assuming this is what is called (burr comb) but I ain't sure.

So I scraped off the comb that they had bujilt up on the outer edges of the super and replaced the old stuff with the new inner cover and top from my spare hive. I had a few bees staying with the old cover so I left it lying up against the front of the hive.

I just checked the hive after dark and they have all returned into the hive, being as it is 50 degrees here tonight. I also put the little bar that closes the opening up to about 5 inches on the bottom board.

I never got to do any inspecting as I thought I would be pushing my luck as it was my first time in there and me being green as a gourd.

Also I saw some brown buildup like a stallagtite or something from the bottom board up to the frames in the brood chamber. I took a picture and will try to post it or maybe a link to it. I also took a picture of the top cover that he used.

If the picture shows it is the one of the stuff on the bottom board inside the hive.

reinbeau · September 17, 2007, 08:12:37 AM

Quote from: dgcantrellsr on September 15, 2007, 11:15:07 PM

If the picture shows it is the one of the stuff on the bottom board inside the hive.

Unfortunately you have to have a higher post count to be able to post photos or links here :( You can PM one of the moderators and they can post it for you.

dgcantrellsr · September 17, 2007, 11:52:29 PM

I e-mailed the moderator and he said he would post it, but I don't see it.

Old Timer · September 30, 2007, 08:20:27 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on September 15, 2007, 03:38:49 PM
December. After that it will be early next year. Any day when the bees are either not in the supers or they are flying and you can shake, run, or brush them out without them falling on the ground from the cold.

just looking through the posts and i love this answer. or if you leave enough on you can do it in january and say, "i've already harvested x amount of honey this year"