Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Jen on August 11, 2014, 10:59:34 pm
-
My mother hive! God Bless Her Honey Soul! She Always Comes Thru ~ I Am Giddy ;D squeel
I can see the guard bees standing at the entrance turning around all the bees that tried to cross with pink hummer food! :eusa_clap:
Every frame is just honey and capped honey ~ Phew! I can sleep knowing that at least one of my hives will not be eating junk food all winter ~
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs27.postimg.cc%2Feghoayn3z%2FDSCF0299.jpg&hash=8a1fe7eb3d86fa567f5b7dfa31d33fa4981b9e52) (http://postimg.cc/image/eghoayn3z/)
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs27.postimg.cc%2Fz74sqa1dr%2FDSCF0300.jpg&hash=3e01024f9df0a689b26f1efc5ab4d6322c8e67df) (http://postimg.cc/image/z74sqa1dr/)
-
Wow! A whole hive that went green! Organic bees that make organic honey in a non organic environment. Might be worth a fortune! ;D
-
Hahahha! Ain't It Wonderful ;D
-
Harvest 3 or 4 frames of that quick, before they change their mind. There is plenty of time before fall for them to re fill a few extracted frames and you deserve it. Frames that are 60 or 70% capped like that are usually ready to harvest.
-
OMG! I think I will !!
"Harvest 3 or 4 frames of that quick, before they change their mind" That really cracked me up!
And then should I put the extracted frames back in wet?
-
Yes, put the frames back in right away. If they have not re-filled them by mid October, fast feed a couple of gallons of syrup. Just watch for robbing, the scent of all that open honey wafting out of the hive can be a trigger.
-
So that would mean put the 5 hole lid back on the jars... this is crazy fun :D we can do it this weekend!
-
given your circumstances jen, and your dearth, i would be concerned and prepare for a robbing incident placing wet frames back into the hive. not quite certain what to tell you to minimize the risk. if you had drawn comb to replace these frames with, would be better. i don't think you have this option?
-
No I don't Riv, I've been feeding steady all summer to get 10 hive bodies pulled, for the most part that task has been accomplished, but no extra pulled frames laying around
-
Jen, You have been feeding these hives right? All of them?
-
Yep! all 4 of them, 5 hole pints up until about a month ago, then 3 hole pints. All are still taking a pint a day.
-
Sorry to hear that you have had to continue feeding...ALL of them.
If that is the case then what you have in those frames is not nectar honey!!!
I suggest leaving it for them. :sad:
-
oh, DUH!!!!......(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1056.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft373%2Friverbee1%2FEmoticons%2FDoh_zpsa0620492.gif&hash=220957ba76e8973a5e3db955cc836a784b363006)
what garden hive said jen.......totally forgot you were feeding these hives.
-
oops, sorry to get your hopes up. It sure looks like honey though, when I feed syrup it's still water white when in the cells.
-
Hi Riv and Pete- Not to worry :) The main thing I wanted to accomplish this season was to get all 10 hives pulled with wax. Honey was a long shot. I am wanting pulled frames for next season in case I need them, of which I'm certain I will, I still have two swarmy queens and her hives.
Pete, I did loose my head there for a while then I shook it off remembering the syrup consumption this season. Actually, some of the frames do have darker nectar in them, it must be a perfect blend of nectar and syrup tho...
-
Honey bees do keep the different nectar's separated when storing in the cells if you have wax or white colored foundation by holding the frames so the light shines through you can see the cells Or frames with darker nectar.
-
That Is Good To Know! So If I find a frame or frames that are darker when held up to the sun, that would be honey, right?!?
I have to say as well that when I hold up a frame of hummer food, well it's just down right pretty ;)
-
Feeding slowly with three hole jars.. and I WANT honey I might extract a frame or two just for me IF I had it to spare, just dont go giving it away or trying to sell it. It will have a honey taste but may be a little more syrupy than natural honey. Still, it is best left for the bees.
-
Good advice. I'm hoping i'll have some next year to share :) And by the way, it never occured to me that I would be caring for 4 hives this year, thanks to soo many that helped me thru the swarms episode, so in the long run it's a nice pay off.
PS. And are Still helping me right up to today ;) kisshug patpatpat