Stella's Social Club

[mlm Mike]

She takes her chicks away from me during the day, but at night on the roost, I can see them closely and touch them. (with warning growls from the broody)

How did the honey extraction go?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Okay, not as much as I had hoped. The star thistle is still in bloom, so I'm hoping for another harvest.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I just bottled the honey, and I got 13 1/2 pints off of 1 hive. I expected better since we had such a wet winter. Last years harvest was better than this year. My 1st hive lost it's queen in early spring and it took too long to get them re-queened, so I didn't get honey off of that hive.

Last year, I got 2 separate harvests, so we will see if that happens this year or not. Hoping to get my 3rd hive going early in the spring and at least getting honey off of 2 hives.

I got more than enough for us to enjoy, so it's all good. I still have honey left over from last year also. The honey is so good, it's easy to get spoiled!

 

[1muttsfan]

I have several jars of honey from different sources and sometimes just eat a spoonful. Just cause I can.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Harvest:

Color compared to last year's honey harvest. Last year was the darkest I've ever had. This year is darker than most, but not as dark as last year.

 

[Happy Chooks]

 

[1muttsfan]

That's beautiful. And tasty looking.

 

[mlm Mike]

Okay, not as much as I had hoped. The star thistle is still in bloom, so I'm hoping for another harvest.

Harvest:
View attachment 1109535
Color compared to last year's honey harvest. Last year was the darkest I've ever had. This year is darker than most, but not as dark as last year.

Darker the better?

That's beautiful. And tasty looking.

Sure is!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Darker the better?

I like the flavor of the darker honey, which mostly comes from blackberries around here. Lighter honey is fine too, but darker honey has more complex flavors, so I prefer it. The color of honey indicates what they are foraging on.

 

[ronott1]

Star thistle honey is my favorite. It is a bit light in color but not as light as clover honey...which may actually be high fructose corn syrup in the stores...