CHAT Adventures in Beekeeping

[Macgyver]

So just pulled 2 medium supers that were full from one of my hives.
I blew out the bees (I thought) put each one in a hefty bag and brought them in the house.
Well there may be a few more than I expected stragglers in the bags. There buzzing away on my dining room table.
How long till they die? Its freaking the wife out.

I can't put them in the garage beacaue they will be found by the bees. Plus I plan on borrowing an extractor next weekend and they will be too cool to extract.

The other 2 hives I gave a 3rd deep about 2 months ago (inserted between the 2 existing) Quick exam indicates the new box and the top on both are crammed full. Little light on the bottom one on each but that should be fine.

I gave the hive I removed the 2 suppers from a 3 rd deep as well, that went on top they were starting to get a little cranky.
Might let them settle down for a few days and move it down the stack.

My goal is/was to get all the hives to 3 deeps for the winter. Were supposed to only need 2 for overwintering here but....
The last 2 winters I had 2 hives. One 2 deeps one 3 deeps. Only the triples have survivied the last 2 years.
So I'm going with thats my new plan going forward.

I also hit them with an oxalic acid treatment as well. Probably going to do 3 more 6 days apart.

 

[summerthyme]

Well there may be a few more than I expected stragglers in the bags. There buzzing away on my dining room table.
How long till they die? Its freaking the wife out.

Just carry them outside, open the bags and let the poor stragglers out... they can live several days in the bag, and they'll find their way right back to the hive. Yes, if you leave the open bags full of honey frames out for long, the other bees will find it and start taking it back. But not in the few minutes it should take for the stragglers to leave.

Summerthyme

 

[Hometown]

I love good honey. Last year 12$ a qt. This year 17$ around here.

 

[DryCreek]

Just carry them outside, open the bags and let the poor stragglers out... they can live several days, and they'll find their way right back to the hive. Yes, if you leave the open bags full of honey frames out for long, the other bees will find it and start taking it back. But not in the few minutes it should take for the stragglers to leave.

Summerthyme

That will not work.
All that will do is invite robber bees. Those bees on the frames will simply not just fly away. Well, at least ours don't.
We have had stragglers remain on our frames and in our collector buckets for days. I would take the super back outside and smoke it. That will push the bees to the bottom where you can brush them from the frames.

 

[summerthyme]

That will not work.
All that will do is invite robber bees. Those bees on the frames will simply not just fly away. Well, at least ours don't.
We have had stragglers remain on our frames and in our collector buckets for days. I would take the super back outside and smoke it. That will push the bees to the bottom where you can brush them from the frames.

If they are buzzing loudly, they are already trying to get out. You're always going to have a few stubborn holdouts who require a bee brush or a judicial "flick" with a fingernail to evict. But robber bees will take a both of time to find the open bag... far longer than it should take to get the live bees released (most of them, at least) and reseal the bags.

But you are surely right about the potential for "robber" bees! A couple years ago, we were extracting honey, with lots of help from 3 small grandkids. It was a three ring circus, and I lost track of a kettle of wax and honey I was heating on the stove. My son started to walk out the kitchen door, but got everyone's attention with a very loud, startled "holy sh!t!". I ran out to see what was going on... the honey was simmering, and the window screens were utterly black with bees trying to get in to take their honey back! It took about 4 hours before they all gave up and headed back tl their hive.

However, some frames we set out for them to clean (parts weren't fully capped, and a couple had more brood than we wanted to deal with) and despite them being less than 40 feet from the hive, it took them 30 hours before they found them. Granted, they were enjoying 2 acres of blooming buckwheat...

Summerthyme

 

[DryCreek]

With only broomweed in bloom around here (drought, just broke) - the bees will follow the scent of honey a long way.
My wife usually runs her extractor in the garage, about 400' away from where the hives are. Before too long she ends up closing the doors to keep the bees out.
We only have one hive with aggressive bees. For some reason, their sting seems to hurt more, and swell more too.
Probably just in my head.

 

[cowboy]

While there is many ways to clear the bees with out escape boards or a fuming method your best bet is to just sweep clean each frame and get it into a secure box. Be very fast and keep the second box hidden while you do it. Another option might be to open things up in a darker bee proof room with a window. They should try to return to the hive thru the window if the sun is shining in.

A word of caution, storing the honey frames for very long with out bees to guard them will allow hive beetles, even one to lay at free will and taint all that wonderful gold. Dark is really bad so you might consider freezing till a day or so before extracting.

 

[Macgyver]

I've never had trouble with them sitting for awhile I'm the house. I'm going to try and get my hands on the extractor sooner. And do it one evening this week.
Last year we only got a few frames so I just did a crush and strain.

 

[Macgyver]

Well did the extraction today. Probably going to have close to 5 gallons once the cappings are done draining. Not bad considering that it came from 1 hive.

 

[ShadowMan]

One of my long range plans is to have a couple of hives. Not sure how well they'd do at over 5,500 ft in the mountains. Lots of pines, cedars and tons of manzanitas. Not sure what manzanita honey would taste like or what other flowers they'd have to choose from and I'd have to make the hives totally bear proof.

 

[1954Parker]

Well did the extraction today. Probably going to have close to 5 gallons once the cappings are done draining. Not bad considering that it came from 1 hive.

I have used an old sausage stuffer with a perforated liner, it works very well. I only hav one hive, so I don’t have a large production.
I just love to see that golden flow coming out of the spigot!