Well today is nice and warm , 20C after a few days of 10C so I decided to open up and get the honey for the Government.
6 of the 8 frames were chock full of honey, mostly capped and the rest drying of or being capped.
The other 2 frames on the sunnyside of the hive one had one side of the frame full and capped with the other side half ready for more honey. The last frame hadnt really been touched, but there was an inch or so of drawn foundation on it.
Its not the neatest hive as some of the comb isnt near text book stuff, but I didnt see a single bug, beetle or moth while I was at it. I didnt see anything other than honey in the second box. Interestingly I notice 3 cels n all on the frame I took of what must be propylis, tastes like it. Would they be storing some of it for medicinal reasons or for use later on if that frame needs it for some reason?
One frame had some double story comb going on on one side. I guess due to too much space. It was the second heaviest frame and ready to go so I pinched it on behalf of the Victorian Government for testing by the lab as mentioned in previous post.
I replaced that with a frame with foundation. So theres now an empty frame right in the middle. Im thinking I should have put it on the outside and put a partly filled frame in the empty spacce instead? lemme know I can always fix things up tomorow.
Now the good part, the frame I took weigedt 3.5kg or 11 POUNDS, wow I dont kow how that goes on the standard for a frame but Im mighty impressed with those guys efforts. That new super was on there 6 weeks I reckon. So thats 6 frames @ say 10 pounds each for 60 pounds in 6 weeks plus they probably have half that in the box below, as most of those frames are full of all of the things necessary including about 50% honey.
Wow so lets say my bees have made 100 pounds of honey or 45.5 kg. Honey sells for close enough to $10 a kg for the cheap stuff, so my bees have made me $450.00 if I killed em all tomorrow and sold it all. WOW I cant believe it. Lets be generous and say 30kg WOW $300 bucks.
This means I will have paid for all of my expenses so far about $200.00 I spose, when I can sell 3 or so frames worth. WOW.
I didnt know how heavy the frames were going to get, I kept thinking they were stuck but it was the weight of them alone. Id never lifted a full frame out before. NOW I understand what hard work it must be looking after a few hundred hives.
Im so amazed at how quickly they work, I have so much respect for bees now!! I will have to keep an eye on them, if its a mild winter they might need more room, making 3 boxes in all.
One frame full another being capped
the strange double layered frame I took, close up of one of the access tunnels to the second story.
Oh whoopee im now a real beekeeper (in my eyes). My bees are happy and I have honey in less than 12 months. Its been pretty simple tho I know being ignorant is being happy lol.
Many thanks to everyone in here for helping me get started and feeding my intererest. I couldnt have done it without you.
If I can do it, anyone can. Where I live theres simply no reason why you cant do this yourself. Never buying honey agaaaaaaaaaain!
Now I just have to figure how to get it out of the frame. I guess I can drip the Governments 125ml into the beaker by cutting in some. Thats clean honey in my book.