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Author Topic: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?  (Read 4273 times)

Offline sausage

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Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« on: January 03, 2013, 12:18:04 am »
Hi Guys,

Did my first extract for the year yesterday as things were getting a little full. I don't have an extractor, I just cut out the frames and mash then in the food press bucket and strain through a muslim wrap.

Problem is, I noticed on the cut out slices for mashing (profile view) that some cells were half filled with some sort of orangey/brown gunk and then topped with honey and then sealed.

I did notice that before the frames started to be filled, there were some occasional darkish cells. The bees didn't seem to mind.

What do you think... pollen in the super honey cells? Some grub or disease? Everything else seems fine. The hive is quite strong.

I thought the honey had a very slight odd smell when extracting, but my wife insists she can't tell anything's strange.

I have to do another two frames tomorrow so I'll try to get pics to help.

Offline ozebee

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2013, 01:10:20 am »
Sounds like pollen to me!

Offline sausage

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2013, 01:20:52 am »
I sure hope so. I'd like to take some up to my neighbour mate this evening but don't want to give anyone up there scabies.

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2013, 09:24:46 am »
Bee bread.  Fermented pollen.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline AllenF

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2013, 02:47:38 pm »
Pollen.   

Offline ShaneJ

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2013, 10:28:25 pm »
Will the bees eventually clean it out?
Shane

Offline edward

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2013, 10:49:33 pm »
How often do you throw out your food?

mvh edward  :-P

Offline ShaneJ

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2013, 02:16:32 am »
A lot of my hives currently have this same thing in the brood box which is taking up cells where the queen could be laying. Some of the frames are over 50% full of just pollen. Should I leave it or replace those frames?
Shane

Offline edward

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2013, 06:49:59 am »
If you don't have any splits to feed you could try putting one  now and then in the middle of the brood, hopefully they will not want it there and use it or remove it .

mvh edward  :-P

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2013, 09:24:57 am »
Generally they will clean it out, but not as quickly as they do honey.  If you end up with a full frame of HSC with pollen that is obviously old and dried and not being removed, you can soak it in water for a few hours and then hose it out.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline Lone

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2013, 09:53:39 am »
What is HSC Bushie?

IDLAWTTINITSDOWTMSEFTYSAHSC*

Lone






* I Don't Like Acronyms When The Translation Is Not In The Same Document Or When They Mean Something Else Familiar To You Such As Higher School Certificate






Offline tefer2

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Re: Gunk in some of the super honey cells?
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2013, 10:13:55 pm »
Honey Super Cell, LMAO