What are my frame storing options?

[Old Blue]

I have read that the normal frame storage methods are to store in the freezer or spray with BT and store in the open.

I don't have the freezer space and I would rather not spray with the BT since these have some honey in them now and will probably be honey frames in the coming season.

I pulled 20 frames from 2 hives that were not filled with bees and were just basically empty space within the hives.  About 10 or 12 have a combination of uncapped nectar with small patches of capped honey and or 2-3 inches of capped honey across the tops.  The rest are built out but empty or just not built out yet.

What should I do with this mish mash of miscellaneous frames for storage?  How can I keep them safe for their built wax use next season?  Can they be stored with something like maybe eucalyptus leaves or something like that in large plastic bags or something?

My basic strategy is to start feeding my hives to have the brood built up for the start of the seasons flow here in Southern Cal at about December or early January when I start to see the dandelions blooming.  My bees fly all year and I had my best success ever this year with two small swarms that I fed from July through December which brought them up to two full built out deeps at the start of the season, at that point I quit feeding them and wound up getting 15 full deep frames from them.  That was by far my best ever, and I plan to do it again but this time I will be starting with four solid double deep hives.

So is there a more convenient way to preserve and store my excess frames for the 3 months or so?

Old Blue
Excessively taxed and punitively regulated in
Kali-bone-ya

[annette]

Here is another option. There is a beekeeper out here who makes a similar place to hold frames out in the open. They are covered from the rain, but get light and air. That is all that you need to keep the wax moths away, light and air.

[AllenF]

I would not try to store frames with uncapped honey in them with out the freezer.  Asking for trouble there.  Set them out and let your bees clean them up, then store them. 

[Shanevrr]

store dry frames in the light and air, boxes seperated,  frames with honey in the freezer

[FRAMEshift]

You should freeze the frames to kill SHB and wax moths and their larvae and eggs.   But after the frames are clean, you can store them at room temperature in a sealed container.  You don't have to have all the frames in the freezer at the same time.

[Old Blue]

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone !

I guess the uncapped nectar will have to be set out for clean up.    I just have a hard time taking capped honey and setting it out for emptying.  My hives produce so precious little of it.  But on the other hand I don't have any practical way to harvest a couple of inches of the capped honey off the tops of the frames.

I also wonder about letting them bring it all back into the hives again after I just pulled boxes.  I would ideally like to leave them with nothing so the remaining 3 deeps will have the most room in them for brood up during the three or so brood cycles that I will feed them for buildup prior to the december / january beginning of the flow.

Hey Annette,  we just had a great day of rain down here.  I am predicting another long rain filled winter with another good season (well good for our area anyways).

Old Blue

[FRAMEshift]

Are there frames of honey in your hives that are all capped?  If so, swap those for the frames with uncapped honey.

[Mason]

This was a big topic at bee club last month.  It was not the scheduled topic but after the meeting a dozen of us were standing around talking about it.  I don't think 2 of us were doing it the same way.

Here's what I do........

I pull out the frames and put the ones with the most stores back in the hive.  The ones with few stores I set out for the bees to rob and clean up.  I put them in a freezer, then store them at room temperature double bagged in garbage bags.

[Old Blue]

I don't leave capped frames in my hives.  I usually pull them all out.  My bees fly year round and none have ever gone hungry, there's always some stores in the hive.  But I have come to the conclusion that the most productive management strategy for the area I am in is to feed to brood up in advance of the flow season and add supers after i stop the feeding.  I am getting ready to start the feeding soon.  I am anticipating another rainy year (for us) that will hopefully give us another good harvest.  A good harvest being quite a bit less than a lot of other folks are used to from what I read about.

Old Blue
With no representation in
Kali-bone-ya

[annette]

Yes it was a very good year due to the rain and according to the Farmers Almanac, this winter should be very wet as well.  It is about time for us to get some honey out this way.