Blueblood's After Winter First Hive Check

[tbonekel]

After inspecting today, some of my frames had really dark portions of capped honey. It was kind of interesting. I'm guessing that it's stores from last fall? I don't know but what you show looks just like what I have. Not much, but there is a little.

[apisbees]

Dave I am with you Extract it so the frames are empty and can be given back to the bees to use this year. It looks like the honey in the cells has granulated some so you will need to warm the frames for a few days. Us a 60 watt bulb in a trouble light and place it in a empty super and stack the frames in supers above the trouble light box. Position the trouble light cover so it protects the bulb from dripping honey or the bulb could explode. Monitor the temp, if you use an inner cover as a lid to the stack you can use a block of wood to open or close the hole to maintain a temp of 90 to 100 deg.

[Jen]

Blue! Love Those Pictures!

[blueblood]

Thanks Apis, I appreciate the info.  I wouldn't have thought of that right away.  I would get a bottle to ya if you weren't so far away.

Thanks Jen!

[blueblood]

Yum yum!  I extracted some 6 of the frames tonight.  I ended up with 20 pounds of sweet, thick and delicious golden goodness.  Never thought I would extract in March for sure.  I am fortunate it was warm enough outside to wash the extractor off.  I removed any cells that contained uncapped nectar so it would not increase my moisture content.  The final reading from the refractometer was 18.5% but there could be an error percentage of 5% plus or minus.  I calibrated the refractometer with extra virgin oil which is 26.5.  I have seen three different results with different brands of oil.





You are in for a treat with the following video.  I had just spun 3 frames and set 3 more in.  However, enough time elapsed to allow the honey to run down the side to raise the level of honey above the bottom of the frames basket.  It was really hard to turn.  I finally had to open the gate to relieve the basket. : 

[riverbee]

LOL!!!!  PRICELESS, rocking robin........rocking dave!!!!..........too funny!

sweet!

[tbonekel]

Man, while watching that video, I thought there should be some music added to it, then all of a sudden! That was great. Beautiful honey!

[Perry]

That, is one of the funniest posts here since the forum started! Dave, thanks so much for that, it was hilarious! 

[LazyBkpr]

LOL   Nicely done!