Author Topic: First honey (Read 5150 times)

Nock · « **on:** October 13, 2019, 09:57:21 pm »

Pulled some honey yesterday. Wish it been a little warmer honey was cool and thick. Made about 25 pounds. Put the frames back in yesterday. Placed the extractor outside today. They were all over it. Is it normal to lose a few in the honey? I had it standing up and a few got stuck in bottom. So I laid it over and that seemed to help with issue. Several crawling on ground. You could tell they were sticky and trying to groom themselves.

Ben Framed · « **Reply #1 on:** October 13, 2019, 10:22:17 pm »

Good looking frame of comb honey!

cao · « **Reply #2 on:** October 13, 2019, 11:06:44 pm »

Anytime you feed honey in a dearth there will be bees covered in honey if they have the ability to get to it. Even the ones covered in honey will be ok if it is warm enough and there are enough bees to clean them off.

Enjoy the sweetness!

Acebird · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2019, 08:28:19 am »

Quote from: Nock on October 13, 2019, 09:57:21 pm

Is it normal to lose a few in the honey?

Yes, but why didn't you strain it? Just give them the dry capings. Open feeding can be a problem if it is too close to the hives.

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2019, 08:35:04 am »

Looks good.
Always turn your buckets on their side or you will kill large numbers of bees that cannot take off inside of the bucket because they are too heavy to fly straight up. Same thing with honey super stickies.

Jim Altmiller

Nock · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2019, 12:01:58 pm »

Quote from: Acebird on October 14, 2019, 08:28:19 am

Quote from: Nock on October 13, 2019, 09:57:21 pm
Is it normal to lose a few in the honey?
Yes, but why didn't you strain it? Just give them the dry capings. Open feeding can be a problem if it is too close to the hives.

I did give them back the capping after I strained it. There was a small pool of honey in the bottom of extractor. That?s what they were getting in. That?s why I then laid it over on its side. I?m probably 300 yards from my hives.

Nock · « **Reply #6 on:** October 14, 2019, 12:06:43 pm »

Quote from: sawdstmakr on October 14, 2019, 08:35:04 am

Looks good.
Always turn your buckets on their side or you will kill large numbers of bees that cannot take off inside of the bucket because they are too heavy to fly straight up. Same thing with honey super stickies.

Jim Altmiller

What are stickies? Frames after you removed honey?

saltybluegrass · « **Reply #7 on:** October 14, 2019, 06:09:29 pm »

I can?t stop staring

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #8 on:** October 14, 2019, 07:01:59 pm »

Stickies are waxed out frames in which the honey was extracted. The frames are sticky with a small layer of honey. The bees will clean the stickies.

Nock, That is a beautiful frame of capped honey. Light colored I might add which is my personal favorite although I have some darker honey that taste wonderful.

Light colored honey, class 10 or white honey demands a premium price. Hard to find. I think I have a pic of honey colors, if I do, I will post.
Van

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #9 on:** October 14, 2019, 07:07:48 pm »

The left side honey is standard grocery store color, 30-40 color. The honey on the right is 10-20 class color.

Your honey in the pic, Nock looks to be in the 20 range which is phenomenal. Mouth watering to look at.
Van

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #10 on:** October 14, 2019, 07:08:36 pm »

The honey bear is class 10 color, the larger container is most likely class 30, standard grocery store is 30-40 class.

I should add, the honey bear is thick honey, 16.4%. I realize sucrose is placed in frames and can even be capped which is class 10 color, but capped sucrose is so easy to detect, taste is oblivious, moisture is high and sucrose fails simple honey test.

Nock · « **Reply #11 on:** October 14, 2019, 09:10:39 pm »

Thanks Van. I know it sure tastes amazing. I was told about how well they would clean up equipment. Guess I had to see it to believe. Wow is all I can say. They pulled all the capping out and they were bone dry. Also I guess there weren?t as many dead bees as I thought. Only saw maybe a dozen. I did break bad on yellow jackets this afternoon. Bees were all gone. Only bunch of YJ. I got almost everyone.

jtcmedic · « **Reply #12 on:** October 14, 2019, 09:18:37 pm »

Nice looking honey

saltybluegrass · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2019, 10:52:30 am »

Just came by to stare some more

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2019, 04:25:14 pm »

Salty, me too.
Blessings
Van

Nock · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2019, 08:07:18 pm »

What is a good temp to warm to for making bottling easier? Got my bottles in today

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #16 on:** October 19, 2019, 12:30:38 am »

98F, basically body temp. Honey warming buckets heat to 104F. Pasteurized at 140F will destroy antioxidants and enzymes but prevent crystallization.

Nock, for the amount you have, just strain either in cheese cloth or measured filters such as MannLake, 200, 400, 600 microns. I use the 200 for filtration of ultra clear honey, no heat.
Van

CoolBees · « **Reply #17 on:** October 19, 2019, 05:01:46 am »

I agree/concur with Van. Any temp between 60 & 98 deg F works.

I use the Mannlake strainers screens that fit over 5 gallon buckets. I place the 600 screen directly over the 200 and strain thru both simultaneously. (I throw the 400 screen in the trash). I do nothing else. (I do freeze and then thaw the frames prior to extraction to kill any would-be problems such as wax moth eggs, etc)

Warmer weather/temps will make the honey flow faster during filtration. Colder days cause the process to move slower - the result is the same either way. ... unless the honey is overheated, then it will lose its medicinal properties. Hope this helps.

Ben Framed · « **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2019, 08:37:32 am »

A sealed container with a honey valve at the bottom, along with a slight bit of air pressure to this sealed container, will make it flow into the bottles.

Acebird · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2019, 08:46:25 am »

Quote from: Nock on October 18, 2019, 08:07:18 pm

What is a good temp to warm to for making bottling easier? Got my bottles in today

Bottling is usually not a problem. People warm honey to make extraction and straining quicker.

Acebird · « **Reply #20 on:** October 19, 2019, 08:54:45 am »

Quote from: van from Arkansas on October 19, 2019, 12:30:38 am

Honey warming buckets heat to 104F. Pasteurized at 140F will destroy antioxidants and enzymes but prevent crystallization.

As with all heat processes time and temperature determines the results. I have yet to see a scale plotting time and temperature for the results of destruction. I don't accept the claim that all antioxidants and enzymes are destroyed the instant honey reaches 104 F. I would also like to know what is the rate of destruction at room temperature as a comparison.

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #21 on:** October 19, 2019, 10:03:56 am »

Ace, Buddy, I said at 140F it is pasteurized.

Blessings

Nock · « **Reply #22 on:** October 19, 2019, 10:41:17 am »

It?s 68-70 inside house. Just was thinking warming it 20-30 might would help. Thanks

CoolBees · « **Reply #23 on:** October 19, 2019, 08:56:06 pm »

Quote from: Nock on October 19, 2019, 10:41:17 am

It?s 68-70 inside house. Just was thinking warming it 20-30 might would help. Thanks

For me - that would be just fine, it just takes a little longer. I wouldn't heat it up. But that's just me.

paus · « **Reply #24 on:** October 19, 2019, 09:38:11 pm »

I have no technical experience on the study of honey and heat. Since I have no experience this generally gives me the license to loudly express my opinion so I am thinking 104 F is the temp when honey starts to degrade and continues as time and temp increase.

Nock · « **Reply #25 on:** October 19, 2019, 10:02:56 pm »

Quote from: CoolBees on October 19, 2019, 08:56:06 pm

Quote from: Nock on October 19, 2019, 10:41:17 am
It?s 68-70 inside house. Just was thinking warming it 20-30 might would help. Thanks

For me - that would be just fine, it just takes a little longer. I wouldn't heat it up. But that's just me.

I?ll give it a try at room temp. Never know till I try. Thanks

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #26 on:** October 19, 2019, 10:10:06 pm »

Quote from: CoolBees on October 19, 2019, 08:56:06 pm

Quote from: Nock on October 19, 2019, 10:41:17 am
It?s 68-70 inside house. Just was thinking warming it 20-30 might would help. Thanks

For me - that would be just fine, it just takes a little longer. I wouldn't heat it up. But that's just me.

I second this post.

Van

Nock · « **Reply #27 on:** October 20, 2019, 10:07:22 pm »

Didn?t do nothing but just pour. Wasn?t bad at all. Definitely will need to stream line the bottling process come next year.

The15thMember · « **Reply #28 on:** October 21, 2019, 12:40:50 am »

Wow, that is gorgeous!

CoolBees · « **Reply #29 on:** October 21, 2019, 01:05:05 pm »

Beautiful Nock!

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #30 on:** October 21, 2019, 09:40:36 pm »

Yep, that is beautiful, makes my mouth water.

Ok here is the deal: I purpose Nock send a bottle to every person who has viewed this thread. Reason: teasing us with pics of mouth watering scrumptious deliciousness golden honey. Notice how the bottle is held up to the light to show off the beauty. We have been teased, now to be fair, Nock must pay for pain and suffering the fella has caused us. Send us all your honey, Nock!!!
Well I tried.🤣🤪

Blessings
Van

Ben Framed · « **Reply #31 on:** October 21, 2019, 10:51:27 pm »

Quote from: van from Arkansas on October 21, 2019, 09:40:36 pm

Yep, that is beautiful, makes my mouth water.

Ok here is the deal: I purpose Nock send a bottle to every person who has viewed this thread. Reason: teasing us with pics of mouth watering scrumptious deliciousness golden honey. Notice how the bottle is held up to the light to show off the beauty. We have been teased, now to be fair, Nock must pay for pain and suffering the fella has caused us. Send us all your honey, Nock!!!
Well I tried.🤣🤪

Blessings
Van

Nock your honey looks to good to eat!!! Outstanding!! That being the case I must agree with Mr. Van. Which is the best proposal I?ve heard today!

Phillip

And I quote
? I purpose Nock send a bottle to every person who has viewed this thread.?

Nock · « **Reply #32 on:** October 21, 2019, 11:33:04 pm »

Thanks. I wish I could but my wife made one post on Facebook. I think it?s all spoken for. Neither of us thought it would go that quick. It will be interesting to try some more next spring so I can compare the different flavors to. Up until this point all I?ve ever had was store bought.

Ben Framed · « **Reply #33 on:** October 21, 2019, 11:42:39 pm »

Quote from: Nock on October 21, 2019, 11:33:04 pm

Thanks. I wish I could but my wife made one post on Facebook. I think it?s all spoken for. Neither of us thought it would go that quick. It will be interesting to try some more next spring so I can compare the different flavors to. Up until this point all I?ve ever had was store bought.

We were just kidding Nock.. wishing you many more bottles next season!! Isn?t it a good feeling, bottling our first batch of honey?
Phillip

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #34 on:** October 21, 2019, 11:58:41 pm »

Yes, just teasing ya Nock. Your own honey is always the best.
Van

saltybluegrass · « **Reply #35 on:** October 22, 2019, 11:33:35 am »

Quote from: Nock on October 21, 2019, 11:33:04 pm

Thanks. I wish I could but my wife made one post on Facebook. I think it?s all spoken for. Neither of us thought it would go that quick. It will be interesting to try some more next spring so I can compare the different flavors to. Up until this point all I?ve ever had was store bought.

Nock- you and I have found the second drawback to keeping. They aren?t just ours nor are the by products- that stuff goes and fast!!
Ima keep my mouth shut next year!!

Is that the sunflower field honey?

Nock · « **Reply #36 on:** October 22, 2019, 11:48:53 am »

Quote from: saltybluegrass on October 22, 2019, 11:33:35 am

Quote from: Nock on October 21, 2019, 11:33:04 pm
Thanks. I wish I could but my wife made one post on Facebook. I think it?s all spoken for. Neither of us thought it would go that quick. It will be interesting to try some more next spring so I can compare the different flavors to. Up until this point all I?ve ever had was store bought.

Nock- you and I have found the second drawback to keeping. They aren?t just ours nor are the by products- that stuff goes and fast!!
Ima keep my mouth shut next year!!

Is that the sunflower field honey?

No sir. Sunflowers were a bust. I guess they were I type that they could only get pollen from. They were in worst shape when I brought them home than when I moved them. Packed full of pollen though. This is all GR and probably some smartweed.