3...2...1...BOOM
Yes, my hive's population has EXPLODED. There is also a HUGE honeyflow going on right now. Last week I checked on that super and they were beginning to draw it out and I was pleased with the progress. In just a week the whole super has been entirely drawn out and it's all filled with ripening nectar and honey. All I've heard that's providing a good honeyflow right now is Palm, Palmetto and Brazilian Pepper. Given the color of the stuff it's probably Palm or Brazilian Pepper.
Anyways, I lit the smoker and headed to the hive as usuall. This is a little later than I usually inspect them so the hive was in shade. I opened them around 3:30 Pm as opposed to my usuall 10:00am. They were again very gentle and I smoked them as usuall and the second I got the cover off was amazed at how many bees were up there. I picked up the first frame and every frame after that was the same way...filled with honey and ripening nectar. After fully inspecting the super I tried to pry it from the brood chamber but, it was too propolized. For five minutes I ran my hive tool along the crack like a box cutter. I moved to lift the super and when I felt this enormus weight I thought that I was lifting the brood chamber too. Then, I looked down and the super was about three inches clear of the brood chamber. That thing had to of weighed about 50 pounds. For a hive to draw and fill combs to the point that a super goes from 15 to 50 pounds in a week there must be one SERIOUS honey flow going on now. All I have to do is get a queen excluder and I'll be able to put on the super I have for honey harvesting. And I'm goning to need an extractor which come at a pretty penny. So, after I removed the increadibly heavy super it was time to inspect the brood chamber. I removed the first frame which had to be about 9 pounds with honey and pollen. That frame had no brood, just pollen and honey. The next frame was filled with eggs and young larvae and having seen eggs, larvae and capped larvae I had done everything I needed to in the inspection. I didn't search for the queen because, that would require me to inspect every frame and, if I leave a few frames undisturbed the colony gets back to work in no time. Besides, I had searched for any disease or paracite in the first five frames. Next week, I may have to throw on another super. This hive is growing like a weed...a very nice to have but somewhat scary weed.
Anyways, I lit the smoker and headed to the hive as usuall. This is a little later than I usually inspect them so the hive was in shade. I opened them around 3:30 Pm as opposed to my usuall 10:00am. They were again very gentle and I smoked them as usuall and the second I got the cover off was amazed at how many bees were up there. I picked up the first frame and every frame after that was the same way...filled with honey and ripening nectar. After fully inspecting the super I tried to pry it from the brood chamber but, it was too propolized. For five minutes I ran my hive tool along the crack like a box cutter. I moved to lift the super and when I felt this enormus weight I thought that I was lifting the brood chamber too. Then, I looked down and the super was about three inches clear of the brood chamber. That thing had to of weighed about 50 pounds. For a hive to draw and fill combs to the point that a super goes from 15 to 50 pounds in a week there must be one SERIOUS honey flow going on now. All I have to do is get a queen excluder and I'll be able to put on the super I have for honey harvesting. And I'm goning to need an extractor which come at a pretty penny. So, after I removed the increadibly heavy super it was time to inspect the brood chamber. I removed the first frame which had to be about 9 pounds with honey and pollen. That frame had no brood, just pollen and honey. The next frame was filled with eggs and young larvae and having seen eggs, larvae and capped larvae I had done everything I needed to in the inspection. I didn't search for the queen because, that would require me to inspect every frame and, if I leave a few frames undisturbed the colony gets back to work in no time. Besides, I had searched for any disease or paracite in the first five frames. Next week, I may have to throw on another super. This hive is growing like a weed...a very nice to have but somewhat scary weed.
posted by FLbeekeeper at 1:01 PM
3 Comments:
I won't be able to harvest honey for another month. Right now I'm letting the bees keep their current honey for winter feed. When I throw on the other super I'll be able to get harvestable honey.
Homemade honey sounds incredible.
It would be cool if you made your own brand name with labels and the like.
There's one more thing I forgot. By law, as of May of this year, I can't give or sell away honwy without it being inspected. That's not to say I'm not going to give it away anyway...FIGHT THE POWER!
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