As a new beekeeper I am not sure when I should check the bee hive. I checked it today, one week from the last time and I have a great honey harvest. I didn’t know things could change so fast in a week. I’m loving being a beekeeper.
Have something to add? Please consider leaving a comment, or if you want to stay updated you can subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.
17 Responses to Beekeeping: Honey Bee Hive Check & Harvest
Capped Honey stored is white. Capped broad is tan. When you said they are using the top box for honey all I saw was drawn comb. They will store some honey on each frame to feed the larva…
I would recommend you contact Kenny Reed from BeeWilde com. He raises bees for sale. He would be the best person to talk to about what type of hives, bees, and how many. His phone number is 281-620-5626. He would be glad to help you.
I have 40 acres in the country in Lavaca county Texas. I am about to start raising bees. Do have a recommendation as to the type of bee hives and the type of foliage I can plant to feed the bees. I have heard that the warre hive is best? What do you think.
I have a 2 acre cattle tank and a natural creek that flows most of the year.
I have many pecan and live oak trees on the property. How many hives would you recommend starting with? Should I protect them from the cows. I have about 10 cow
It’s a delicate balance with a new hive. They need to draw comb so they need to consume lots of nectar/sugarH2O/honey to do that. But because they haven’t enough comb they can become honey bound, meaning they filled up all the extra cells, leaving the queen nowhere to lay. Take a look, once a week, and check both boxes. Make sure the queen has room to lay. If she doesn’t, stop the sugar H2O. If she does have room and the bees keep taking it, keep giving them sugar H2O, this first year.
I’ve only been keeping bees for 2 years, but a friend of mine is a 30 year beekeeper and told me to put on another super when you have bees on 8 out of ten frames. For an 8 frame hive like yours, I would say when they are on 6 out of 8 frames. Greatd Vid.
There are a lot of bees in the hive so if I kill some it won’t matter a lot to the hive as a collective but it sure matters to the bee I squish and it matters to me. I am very careful to not hurt any bees. As I said in another video they are like my little children.
Do you kill any bees when you pull the frames out? I’ve been wanting to raise bees for many years now.. 🙂 I’m going to check out the website you showed in the video and see if I can’t order some. Thanks A lot LDS
Don’t worry about feeding them anymore. Once a hive is established and the honey flow is on you shouldn’t need to feed them. There’s a good chance some of whats stored in the comb is processed sugar water. The rule of thumb is to super after 70% of the frames have been pulled. It depends on your location but during the swarming season you should check your hive around once a week…I’d look down into the brood chamber too. Twice a week is excessive.
Capped Honey stored is white. Capped broad is tan. When you said they are using the top box for honey all I saw was drawn comb. They will store some honey on each frame to feed the larva…
CaptDonMc
June 13, 2012 at 3:53 pm
I would recommend you contact Kenny Reed from BeeWilde com. He raises bees for sale. He would be the best person to talk to about what type of hives, bees, and how many. His phone number is 281-620-5626. He would be glad to help you.
LDSPrepper
June 13, 2012 at 4:24 pm
I have 40 acres in the country in Lavaca county Texas. I am about to start raising bees. Do have a recommendation as to the type of bee hives and the type of foliage I can plant to feed the bees. I have heard that the warre hive is best? What do you think.
I have a 2 acre cattle tank and a natural creek that flows most of the year.
I have many pecan and live oak trees on the property. How many hives would you recommend starting with? Should I protect them from the cows. I have about 10 cow
bjanak59
June 13, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Excellent comment. Thank you.
LDSPrepper
June 13, 2012 at 5:22 pm
It’s a delicate balance with a new hive. They need to draw comb so they need to consume lots of nectar/sugarH2O/honey to do that. But because they haven’t enough comb they can become honey bound, meaning they filled up all the extra cells, leaving the queen nowhere to lay. Take a look, once a week, and check both boxes. Make sure the queen has room to lay. If she doesn’t, stop the sugar H2O. If she does have room and the bees keep taking it, keep giving them sugar H2O, this first year.
chuckarama451
June 13, 2012 at 6:06 pm
I’ve only been keeping bees for 2 years, but a friend of mine is a 30 year beekeeper and told me to put on another super when you have bees on 8 out of ten frames. For an 8 frame hive like yours, I would say when they are on 6 out of 8 frames. Greatd Vid.
texasprepper2
June 13, 2012 at 6:28 pm
There are a lot of bees in the hive so if I kill some it won’t matter a lot to the hive as a collective but it sure matters to the bee I squish and it matters to me. I am very careful to not hurt any bees. As I said in another video they are like my little children.
LDSPrepper
June 13, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Do you kill any bees when you pull the frames out? I’ve been wanting to raise bees for many years now.. 🙂 I’m going to check out the website you showed in the video and see if I can’t order some. Thanks A lot LDS
1TruPatriot
June 13, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Keep up the great work!
smh3w
June 13, 2012 at 7:22 pm
That is so cool. Thanks for showing. I enjoy looking at your bee videos. I wish I could do that. Unfortunately, my daughter is allergic to bees.
Glockoma441FA
June 13, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Don’t worry about feeding them anymore. Once a hive is established and the honey flow is on you shouldn’t need to feed them. There’s a good chance some of whats stored in the comb is processed sugar water. The rule of thumb is to super after 70% of the frames have been pulled. It depends on your location but during the swarming season you should check your hive around once a week…I’d look down into the brood chamber too. Twice a week is excessive.
RockCairn
June 13, 2012 at 7:45 pm
I know how you feel because I live in the city too. The majority of beekeeping hobbiest are city dwellers.
LDSPrepper
June 13, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Nice, very nice! I can’t wait for my bees to get here, Praise be to God indeed!
econewpower
June 13, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Bad bee-Daddy, bad! -g-
AnnBearForFreedom
June 13, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Sure, go ahead make EVERYONE want to have bees! : / I live in the city 🙁
dumdan1988
June 13, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Very nice, thank you for sharing your journey with us.
rchopp
June 13, 2012 at 9:21 pm
WOW is all i can say. Glad I came across your page. Nice to see fellow LDS from time to time LOL. Thanks for sharing and posting.
firearms1894
June 13, 2012 at 9:54 pm