The Honey Factory

[Sally PB]

So far, the bees are not interested in my onion flowers. Maybe the flowers aren't "ready" yet?

Or there are other things more appealing to them.

The basswood is in bloom!

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Was late getting to extracting, going into the dearth the bees started consuming the goods, 78 lbs, I'm happy. Set the decapping vat and catch pan out in the field on a table for bee clean up, frames back on the hive for in house cleaning and maintenance. Time for coffee, sit under the Maple and watch the bees go to town on the free stuff.

 

[Sally PB]

I screwed up when we put on the honey supers. We started with buying used stuff, and I *thought* I had put all the drawn comb into the hive already. So the two brand new mediums had brand new frames. (We using 8 frames, as that's what we got with the used stuff.)

We looked after about 3 1/2 weeks, and found ZERO comb.

We looked through all the stuff we had in the garage, and YES! there was a box I hadn't checked, and it had 8 medium frames, all with at least SOME comb from the used equipment we bought.

So each super got 4 frames of comb in the middle, and the empty ones pushed to the sides.

Really hoping that they're happy with this. I was really feeling like a failure.

 

[jerryse]

I am at the MN cabin and near Mann Lake bee supply. Stopped in and bought the metal 9 frame rests to install. I want thicker comb in the supers to make uncapping easier.

 

[R2elk]

So the two brand new mediums had brand new frames. (We using 8 frames, as that's what we got with the used stuff.)

Are you putting 8 frames of undrawn foundation in a ten frame super or an 8 frame super?

If you are putting 8 frames of undrawn foundation in a ten frame super, you are going to have a mess once they start drawing comb. The problem is too much open space between frames. When putting fewer than ten frames in a ten frame super, it must be done with frames that have drawn comb.

 

[R2elk]

I am at the MN cabin and near Mann Lake bee supply. Stopped in and bought the metal 9 frame rests to install. I want thicker comb in the supers to make uncapping easier.

What it will also do for you is to produce more honey in the same super. I get much more honey in my 9 frames in a ten frame super than I do from my supers that have ten frames in them.

 

[Sally PB]

Everything we have is 8 frame, because the used stuff we bought to begin with was 8. I'm glad, due to the weight.

The president of our bee club runs all medium boxes for the same reason, because he messed up his shoulder in an accident.

I wish TSC sold some 8 frame equipment. It just means that any time I need something from Mann Lake (or whomever), I order a couple other things so that I'm not ordering just one thing.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

That's so weird. I had ducks to but my ducks never messed with the bees. Everything worked. I suppose anything can happen. You know I also noticed in watching youtube bee videos that there were a lot of people that when they had bees they also had ducks! XD

None of my ducks ever messed with the bees, not even Blanca Duck who is hiding a black-hole in her stomach. But these five ducknagers are the sassiest - and sweetest - little devils i have ever met.
They cuddle with my legs when i am preparing their food, making sweet chirping and peeping sounds.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

The basswood is in bloom!

The first Autumn Olive shrubs are done with their berries (the dux plucked them!) and have started their second nectar run…

 

[Sally PB]

The first Autumn Olive shrubs are done with their berries (the dux plucked them!) and have started their second nectar run…

Does autumn olive rebloom??? I don't think I've ever seen that, but I was never paying attention before. You are way south of me, though.