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Cosmicwillow Guard Bee
Joined: 07 Oct 2015 Posts: 89 Location: U.K. Notts/Lincs/Yorks border
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 12:05 am Post subject: Honey collection |
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Not that we decided to keep bees for honey or that we are about to attempt it now....but when and how do you extract some honey, can it be done in a 'non destructive' way? Just preparing for our first full season as it appears the two colonies we collected quite late last year have (are) making it through their first winter, active at the moment with collections of pollen being taken in. |
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catchercradle Golden Bee

Joined: 31 May 2010 Posts: 1551 Location: Cambridge, UK
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 7:24 am Post subject: |
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This is a bit of an ask two bee keepers a question and get three answers dilemma.
Many on here only harvest in the spring when they know the bees have made it through the winter. This for many will mean no need to feed in the autumn. With my two HTBH hives I will take the occasional comb, just one or two at a time and use that as part of comb rotation to prevent build up of pesticides in the wax. With my Warre I will take a box off when I am sure they have plenty without it, sometimes spring, sometimes in summer depending on the season. |
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Cosmicwillow Guard Bee
Joined: 07 Oct 2015 Posts: 89 Location: U.K. Notts/Lincs/Yorks border
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 10:32 am Post subject: |
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Can we extract from comb without destroying it |
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Barbara Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 1857 Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 11:32 am Post subject: |
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It depends on what type of hive you have and if the honey is crystallised or not. If it's solid, even in a framed hive, you will probably have to destroy the comb. In Spring there is more of a chance that the honey left in the hive will be crystallised. Framed hive honey is normally extracted by centrifugal force.... basically putting it in an extractor and spinning it out but it will only come out if it's liquid. If it's from a top bar hive, crush and strain is the usual method of extraction, which obviously destroys the comb. If it has crystallised then you will need to VERY gently warm it, to get it back to liquid. Airing cupboard for a few days is a good place or I put mine on top of a storage heater for a few days.
I would just like to add to what catchercradle has said regarding timing of spring harvest. I would wait until there is a nectar flow before you harvest any. At the moment you probably feel that your colony has come through winter but now is the time that they will really eat into those stores because they are raising brood and it's still a bit early and cool for a nectar flow, so they could starve if you harvest too early. |
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Cosmicwillow Guard Bee
Joined: 07 Oct 2015 Posts: 89 Location: U.K. Notts/Lincs/Yorks border
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for advice, we have two TBhives and and certainly not thinking about any harvest yet, just getting the thought processes going for the forthcoming season |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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