The Honey Factory

[WallyG74]

I've already gulped 2 LBS of ours, still have 70 LBS to go, undecided if I'm going to take some of the Fall flow or just leave it for them.

I’m definitely taking some of the Fall flow. I’m ready to try that Goldenrod honey!

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I was helping a relative with their hives. They were using a smoker they swear up and down has worked great for decades but the top fell off twice while they were using it. They’re getting a new one if I have any say in the matter, any brands or models that are better than the rest?

Also, recommendations for nitrile glove equivalents that don’t promote quite so much sweat?

 

[R2elk]

 

[Apis mellifera]

I was helping a relative with their hives. They were using a smoker they swear up and down has worked great for decades but the top fell off twice while they were using it. They’re getting a new one if I have any say in the matter, any brands or models that are better than the rest?

Also, recommendations for nitrile glove equivalents that don’t promote quite so much sweat?

The Dadant 4x10 smoker is probably the most popular. I have a 4x10 smoker I got from Betterbee probably 15 years ago that's been great, and they don't sell it anymore, but Miller Bee Supply sells one that looks identical to it. If you have more than 3 hives, it's better to get the 4x10 over the 4x7. I think the second most popular is the Mann Lake with the plastic bellows.

Nitrile gloves are used a lot now for beekeeping. I can't use them because I'm too heavy handed and end up with two wet rubber bands around wrists by the time I get done working 2 hives. So, I don't wear gloves. The rare times I do wear gloves I have a pair of goat skin beekeeping gloves. They are more comfortable, and you can feel better with them than the clunky heavy leather gloves.

 

[R2elk]

The rare times I do wear gloves I have a pair of goat skin beekeeping gloves. They are more comfortable, and you can feel better with them

The goat skin ones are great.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

The Dadant 4x10 smoker is probably the most popular. I have a 4x10 smoker I got from Betterbee probably 15 years ago that's been great, and they don't sell it anymore, but Miller Bee Supply sells one that looks identical to it. If you have more than 3 hives, it's better to get the 4x10 over the 4x7. I think the second most popular is the Mann Lake with the plastic bellows.

Nitrile gloves are used a lot now for beekeeping. I can't use them because I'm too heavy handed and end up with two wet rubber bands around wrists by the time I get done working 2 hives. So, I don't wear gloves. The rare times I do wear gloves I have a pair of goat skin beekeeping gloves. They are more comfortable, and you can feel better with them than the clunky heavy leather gloves.

Thank you! I’ll take a look at those.

 

[Apis mellifera]

That time of year here, the washboarding started this weekend.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

What's your theory on the behavior?

 

[Sally PB]

Help, please.

We put a QE and medium super on both our hives. Two-three weeks ago, we saw a bunch of drawn comb on the middle 4 frames (old frames with a bit of comb) and nothing at all on the outside 4 frames (brand new frames). One of the hives had about 1/4 of one side of one frame capped honey.

We were very encouraged; I see lots of bees on the clover and the neighbor's ornamental grapevines.

Today, we looked at the super on hive one: NOTHING. Drawn comb on the middle 4 frames, very few bees up in that box.

We looked at hive two: Also nothing. The bit of capped honey was gone. In one frame we saw uncapped brood. WTH?

We looked at the brood box below that super, thinking it might be too crowded... Nope. The center 2-3 frames were busy, but the outer 2 frames on both sides were empty. They have plenty of room to expand.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Today, we looked at the super on hive one: NOTHING. Drawn comb on the middle 4 frames, very few bees up in that box.

We looked at hive two: Also nothing. The bit of capped honey was gone. In one frame we saw uncapped brood. WTH?

After you make a split or the hive swarms it can take 28 days or more for them to have a new laying queen. In that period a lot can happen, and the colony will not have much brood left or correct age bees to produce wax. Thats why you're probably seeing uncapped brood now. As they build back up, they will use the honey to feed young because they don't have a big enough field force to collect nectar. Young queens can get through queen excluders, especially if they are metal. You may have to pull the supers and feed. Keeping a few nucs solves all those problems.