[fatscher]

...the bees uncap the honey after it was capped? Does the exposed honey absorb moisture to the point that it is more than 18% water?

I have a dilemma, if i take the uncapped honey and extract it, I've committed the honey bee crime of the century, but my bees are uncapping honey that I wanted to claim as mine (all above the queen excluder).

I'm tempted to take that uncapped honey and assume it's cured, and extract it, because it was cured last week as "capped" honey, so why wouldn't it still be cured this week? Can you "reverse" cure honey?

I'm not trying to be greedy, I got plenty of honey. This is not about the honey, it's about my equipment---i just want to reclaim my precious honey supers and drawn comb foundation. Of course if I get a little honey out of the whole deal I won't be mad either.

I just don't want to do something I ain't supposed to...

 

[jdpro5010]

I would think you would be alright in doing that. I would just make sure you are leaving the bees enough honey. If they are moving it down it is probably for a reason.

 

[fatscher]

Been dry here just a little :/

That's the reason, more than likely.

 

[G3farms]

If they are uncapping it are they using it to feed the young bees or are they just moving it down.

Don't get too greedy and be sure to leave them enough to make it through the winter, I know there is still the fall flow to go yet but I always cont that as topping off what they need to make it through the winter.

G3

 

[Iddee]

If they didn't need it, they wouldn't uncap it. Take it and watch them starve.

 

[BjornBee]

I'd think the honey is still ok.

 

[fatscher]

If they didn't need it, they wouldn't uncap it. Take it and watch them starve.

They wouldn't starve if, after I pull any uncapped frames I fed 'em sugar syrup, would they? What am I missing?

I know I must sound honey-greedy. Not my intent here, I've got enough honey right now to keep me supplied for 2 years. What I am greedy about is my supers and frames. I'd really rather not surrender them to the bees over the winter. I have other equipment for them to use.

 

[riverrat]

if they are moving it down they need it or are rearraging getting ready for winter. i would say leave it on until it gets cooler out. keep a watch to make sure they are heavy and have enough stores to make it thru winter while you have it on without the super. Then when it gets cold pull it and extract whats left.

 

[fatscher]

River, is that photo of you --- the guy catching a swarm and holding a beer? If so, I wanna party with you! A beekeeper with his priorities in the right place.

You speaketh truth in your post. I'll tell ya where I'm coming from, and it may be a little silly. I'm only a 2 yr beek, so i gotta lot to learn still. One of the local beek mentor types has been keeping bees for 60 years, and he's got a strong personality and wields a lot of influence. If I mentioned his name on this forum there would be some who'd read it and get the wrong impression. I'm not trying to bad-mouth the guy, but the facts are, he wrote an entire syllabus of beek training which passionately implores beeks to feed, feed, feed from Aug 1st to the 15th---says this promotes brood in time for there to be foragers by Oct 15th. Hard to feed when honey supers are on. So his instruction implies you take supers off regardless, then pour on the syrup for those 1st two weeks in Aug.

But your suggestion makes sense to me, except with the stipulation of this magical two weeks in August.

 

[riverrat]

River, is that photo of you --- the guy catching a swarm and holding a beer? If so, I wanna party with you! A beekeeper with his priorities in the right place.

.

That be me with a nice cold brew after taking down a swarm 30 ft in a tree. I had the wife take the picks just to show how easy swarms can be to deal with under the right conditions. come by anytime I always have a cold one on Ice. Just like all the forums and or 60 year bee keeps go you got to seperate what works for you and what works from the them. set a plan and go to work