Extract uncapped before capped?

[woodchopper]

Of the three supers we just took off our hives one is empty and two are very full. Not bad for our first year and only having two hives. We're wondering if we find any uncapped honey if we should extract it first before we uncap and extract the capped honey. I'm worried about the moisture content being to high if we happen to mix the two. What's your opinion? Thanks !!

[DANIEL QUINCE]

Buy a refractometer. It's a good investment.

[BerkeyDavid]

Unless you have a refractometer I wouldn't do it. I don't have one, so unless a frame is 95% capped I won't extract it, and then only if I have lots of other capped frames in the batch. I just set it aside and use it to feed or if it is earlier in the year put it back on and let them cap it.

But Dan is right, we should get one...

[Mike Gillmore]

I extract in the opposite sequence.

First I'll extract all of the capped frames, drain the tank, and set this batch aside for bottling.

If I don't want to put the partially capped frames back on the hive then I'll extract them next and use this batch to feed back to the colonies... or store it in the freezer until I'm ready to feed it back to them in the spring.

I bought a refractometer last year just as a precaution. Most of the time capped honey is the correct moisture content... but not always. I extracted some this spring that was all capped and when I checked it with the refractometer it was over 19.5%. I dried it out in a room with a humidifier and was able to use it... but without the refractometer to check it, I may have had a fermentation problem. It's a worthwhile investment.

[Michael Bush]

>I don't have one, so unless a frame is 95% capped I won't extract it

Me too, on both counts.