What to do with old honey

[slacker361]

Spring is here and only one hive has survived out of my three.... I am trying to make another hive out of the existing one , really want the genetic of this hive.

This hive is 3 years old now, and it has honey in it from the very first year.... since I want the bees to make the most honey they can in the spring. do I want to remove most of the honey from the hive and just put in empty frames? My thought process is they will see not enough honey and gather more? or do bees just keep gathering no matter what?

[alfred]

I would give it to them to get started on.

[Jim134]

I need more Info.

1. What do you have for a "Brood Chambers  :?
2. What do you have for "Honey Supers"  :?

Med., Deep 1,2,3,etc. ???

8 or 10 frames Boxes ???


   BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[Joe D]

I had Honey left on all three hive when things started blooming here. I left 1 shallow super on 2 hives and on the weak hive I left a super and a half.  I did winter the hives in a deep and 2 supers on 2 hives and 1 super on the other hive.
The hive with 1 super was the strongest this spring.  Now all three have 3 supersand the weak hive may get a 4th first of next week.

[organicfarmer]

If you are trying to make bees (add another hive from this one) AND honey, you have to leave that honey on, even adding honey left from your dead hives AND giving space for the queen to lay. It takes a cell of honey + a cell of pollen to raise a cell of brood; if you remove the honey, you won't get bees to split later.

[Finski]

This hive is 3 years old now, and it has honey in it from the very first year

You are better to taste the honey is is valid to human mouth any more.

Old honey gets a bitter taste like red pepper. It may have a bad after taste in mouth too.
They may be partly fermented cells too.

If it tastes bad, it is better to open the combs and dilute stuff in warm water.  It is better to give sugar than bad quality honey to the hive, because it may spoil the new yield when you sell it.

[slacker361]

I guess my main question is, should I remove the honey, to drive the bees to make more?

[beehappy1950]

They will make more even if they are full up if they have an empty frame. You cant make them work harder by taking away their honey. Leave it alone.

[Jim134]

I guess my main question is, should I remove the honey, to drive the bees to make more?

No at will not but if you have not room in the Brood Chambers the bees will move on or slow than down   

  BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[slacker361]

Thanks Jim out of a ten frame Deep Brood chamber how much should be brood and how much honey?

[Jim134]

Thanks Jim out of a ten frame Deep Brood chamber how much should be brood and how much honey?

  Are running 1 or 2 box(es) (Brood chamber) on ten frame deep(s) ?


   BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[slacker361]

Sorry Two deeps on this one hive..... I am switching the other hives to all medium boxes but this one has two deep for the brood

[Jim134]

In Athol,MA. the 1st week I like to see 2 or 3 frames of honey and 1 or 2 frames of pollen 2 or 3 frames of brood. This on a Two deeps hive (brood nest on ten frame) Been keeping bees in MA. for over 50 years.

 I do not know about PA.


         BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)  

[Jim134]

On a two deeps hive (ten frame boxes)

  If you want bees to use the old honey in the comb reverse the boxes OR put honey in the bottom box the the brood in the top box.The bees will use the honey or move at to the top box.You can use the honey for split now or later.


  BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)