6 Deep

[ruralnv]

I have a hive that was started from a nuc, it is now is made up of 6 deeps. My problem is I am runing out of wood wear. Can I extract a few boxes even though the bees have not capped every cell? This is my first year and appreciate your help.

[Ron Young]

They told me 95% capped before removal. I am new too.

[drobbins]

you don't have to do it box by box
pick through the hive and just take frames that are fully capped
folks with lots of hives don't have time to do this but you do

Dave

[LET]

What a wonderful problem! Good advice from the others, just pull the completed frames. You can probably find 20 or 30 that are fully capped, allowing you to harvest lots of honey and then put them back for your wonder-bees to continue their efforts.

All the best,

Lenny - Sacramento

[Ruben]

I would think that out of six deeps a few of them would be capped. Mine are not moving to the next super until the previous is mostly capped.

[Oldbee]

Good advice has been given but I can just see Michael Bush shaking his head; six?..Six??.. Deeps!! Ok, maybe 2 or 3 with honey.

[Michael Bush]

A good friend just blew out his back recently and is selling all his hives...

"Friends don't let friends lift deeps" --Jim Fischer

[Troutsqueezer]

I'd like to see a picture of that hive.

[paulnewbee1]

I cant even get one deep filled yet my honey flow is running out of time
Do what the others say and pull the ones that are full and enjoy you honey luckey you
Paul

[Barry Digman]

Make sure you don't pull a capped frame without inserting another frame in it's place, preferrably drawn but bare foundation will work fine. If they're going gangbusters they'll make a mess of that empty space in no time.

[R.L. Bee]

From what I understand all of the cells don't have to be capped as long as there are 80 percent of them capped . Others say that 80% doesn't have to be capped as long as the cells contain dried honey and not nectar.To be on the safe side I have tried to stay with the 80% rule.

[berkshire bee]

[QUOTE=ruralnv;246628]I have a hive that was started from a nuc, it is now is made up of 6 deeps. My problem is I am runing out of wood wear.

:D can I put a hive next to yours :D

[sierrabees]

If that was my hive, I'd be trying to raise some queens from the queen that built it up this fast.

[Dan Williamson]

I've got some 8 meds high but those where overwintered hives. Sounds like you got some good honey producers since yours started out as nucs.

I've got some deeps that I drew out on the blueberry flow and are completely capped. I normally use only meds but needed to draw some deeps for nuc sales next year. It sucks trying to move those heavy boxes around.

I can't imagine trying to lift that many deeps full of honey off the top of that 6-high stack.

[odfrank]

Feel for me... I have yet to pull three supers of drawn out Jumbo frames (11 1/4" deep), shown here:
http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210979

[Honeytree]

They told me 95% capped before removal. I am new too.

Is it 95%? I've seen 70% and 80%. I just did six frames (what can i say, i was anxious) using something closer to 70%. and it sure tastes like good honey. So, should I be worried?

[dug_6238]

Someone told me a figure something like 18% or below (moisture content). If memory serves that is...you might want to check with your local bee organization to see if someone would test it for you. Too much moisture in it and it'll ferment on you. I beleive you just need a refractometer to test it though, but maybe others here can confirm.

[Ron Young]

Fermentation is what I was warned about! I would still like to see some photo's of a six deep hive, started form a nuc!

[beegee]

If you have uncapped honey amongst the capped, hold the frame with the combs parallel to the ground and gently shake the frame with a quick downward snap. If the nectar is too thin, it will shake out. If it doesn't, I extract it.

[Dan Williamson]

If you have uncapped honey amongst the capped, hold the frame with the combs parallel to the ground and gently shake the frame with a quick downward snap. If the nectar is too thin, it will shake out. If it doesn't, I extract it.

The problem is that I've pulled 100% capped honey and had it test as high as 21%.

I've also pulled frames that were only partially capped and the uncapped portion tested 17%.

You don't know what you have without a refractometer. If you are selling honey to customers I don't think you can afford to not have one.

It only takes one customer to get some fermented honey to give you a bad rep.

If you are producing it for yourself and family then its probably not as important. :rolleyes:

For $70 get a refractometer if you are selling honey!

[ruralnv]

My wife and I extracted 20 frames...the taste is very smooth...thanks for all the advise. Tried to post a few pics but I haven't figured it out yet.:)