Author Topic: HUGE HONEY FLOW..I don't have an extractor (Read 3666 times)

Apis629 · « **on:** September 10, 2005, 05:28:24 pm »

Just last week I put on a super and the bees since then have drawn all the comb and filled it all with ripening nectar and honey. I don't have a queen excluder or extractor and was thinking that I could, next week put on another super so the bees draw it out and then, make sure there's no queen in it and put the excluder between it and the brood chambers. I know I'm going to get alot of comments about how I shouldn't use a queen excluder and I don't want any of those...I've made my choice. I'd rather get honey than honey, brood and pollen. I"m just asking if the idea above would work and would like to inform anyone in east florida there is a MASSIVE honeyflow of Palm and Brazilian Pepper.

Joseph Clemens · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2005, 06:06:02 pm »

The only thing I'd do differently if I were you, I'd put on another super or two the day you noticed the one on there now was full. The bees need extra room to process nectar into honey. Give them room, don't wait until next week, by then it may be too late.

Apis629 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2005, 09:40:51 pm »

Should I quickly open the hive tomorow and put it on?

stilllearning · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2005, 09:57:20 pm »

the sooner the better for you as to when you place the queen excluder,
rember that drones cant go through the excluder either it would be easier for you to install the excluder, then the new super if you let the bees get into the new super before you install the excluder, you dont know
what is going to be above it.

Apis629 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 11, 2005, 10:33:29 am »

I'll be able to get a queen excluder next week but, the brood chamber is already seperated by a super of nothing but honey. I'm leaving that super on for the bees' needs and the next one I put one, I'm hoping to get something harvestable.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #5 on:** September 11, 2005, 12:40:55 pm »

Sounds like you're doing well without an excluder, but if you want to put one on, make sure there's a top entrace for the drones to get out. A notched inner cover or something.

Unless you have dozens of supers to extract, I'd just crush and strain.

Jay · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2005, 11:11:57 am »

There's gotta be a bee club close by that owns a club extractor that you could rent for a day or a weekend for short money! :D

Apis629 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2005, 04:58:20 pm »

The closest bee club is about 40 miles away but, fortunetly, I have crunched the numbers and can afford and extractor+shipping. Anyways, when I threw on that super I had already drilled an enterence hole and can see that they're already using it.

Michael Bush said...

Quote

Unless you have dozens of supers to extract, I'd just crush and strain.

There are a few problems I have with this...
1. I'm using frames with duraguilt foundation...you know...PLASTIC.
2. It was hard enough getting my bees to draw out the stuff.
3. I'm hoping to keep the comb so that next time there's a honeyflow the bees can just fill it up rather than have to draw it out again.