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Thread: My little homestead

  1. #51
    Resident Chocolate Monster Lista's Avatar
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    Will this be the first time you've actually gotten honey?

  2. #52
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lista View Post
    Will this be the first time you've actually gotten honey?
    Yes...

  3. #53
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Did an inspection yesterday of my FLOW HIVE...

    Frames are the inserts bees build comb on. They are two sided so when I say 'frame' keep that in mind..

    Frame 1 CAPPED 1/2 of frame (one side totally and the other just full of nectar)
    Frame 2 Capped 1/2 of frame (both sides about 1/2 capped and completely full of nectar)
    Frame 3 Capped 1/4 of frame (one side 1/2 capped and the other maybe 1/8th capped but full of nectar)
    Frame 4 None capped and partial nectar
    Frame 5 minimal nectar stored
    Frame 6 ..nothing.

    I expect the first 3 frames to be fully capped in a week or so.

    When nectar is capped that means the honey is cured and ready and like canning...they are 'sealing the jar' so to speak. But an entire side of frame has to be completely capped to harvest pure honey..uncapped nectar can weaken the quality of the honey or if enough can contaminate it...

    Even though there is 1 frame side ready I do not want to disturb the process...when at least 2 entire frames are capped I will consider harvesting...

  4. #54
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    My little homestead-lake-primrose-jpg

    Right now Lake Promrose is blooming all around the lake and this is a great nectar and pollen source for honey bees...

  5. #55
    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    So what is there about a new hive box that makes the bees want to stay in it after you put them in it for their home? Do you 'seed' it in some way, do something to the inside?

  6. #56
    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fuego View Post
    So what is there about a new hive box that makes the bees want to stay in it after you put them in it for their home? Do you 'seed' it in some way, do something to the inside?


    It needs a Queen bee and the workers will stay

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Cardinal TT For This Useful Post:

    Quest (06-24-2017)

  8. #57
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fuego View Post
    So what is there about a new hive box that makes the bees want to stay in it after you put them in it for their home? Do you 'seed' it in some way, do something to the inside?
    Good question...No. The tightly enclosed box is a 'natural habitat and it is all a bunch of bees with a queen are looking for...so all one is doing is providing a home before they find one on their own...

    Here is an interesting, relatively short history

    http://www.heartspm.com/beekeeping-h...th-america.php

    Beekeepers used to use the basket form of hive called a SKEP, as it looked most like a natural hive....but they also took all the honey and essentially destroyed the hives.

    Their instinct is to work immediately to build comb for the queen...the pheromones are their main form of communication.

    Bees are simple creatures who live only to reproduce, feed and care for their young and store food. When a package of bees and a new queen are introduced to the box they will VERY rarely leave. If they do it is because there is a serious problem with the box...

    The Langstroth was designed to get honey without destroying the hive...beekeepers could then harvest one frame at a time..be careful to leave adequate stores for the bees...
    Last edited by Quest; 06-26-2017 at 12:17 PM.

  9. #58
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cardinal TT View Post
    It needs a Queen bee and the workers will stay
    Cardinal...have you kept an apiary? Love to share information!

  10. #59
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cardinal TT View Post
    It needs a Queen bee and the workers will stay
    Workers will stay even if the queen is gone or dead..because they are programmed to build the hive for the queen...so they would build comb, store nectar and pollen until they all die off...people have lost hives that way...they did not notice the workers were decreasing and check why...

  11. #60
    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Quest View Post
    Workers will stay even if the queen is gone or dead..because they are programmed to build the hive for the queen...so they would build comb, store nectar and pollen until they all die off...people have lost hives that way...they did not notice the workers were decreasing and check why...

    That's interesting didn't know that

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