How much is enough?

[dickm]

I'm wondering how much of a frame one can leave uncapped and still harvest it safely. Has any one ruined a crop by harvesting undried honey?

Dickm

[honeyman46408]

Dick
Last year I extracted about 16 grames that was 90% uncapped, thinking I would save it for food but when I opened the gate on the extractor it came out REALY slow so when I had it checked it was below 16% moistuer so go figuer.

[GRIMBEE]

At 80% capped your safe to extract. I wait until all is capped IMPO.

[BeeAware]

If you have some uncapped cells on a frame, tip the frame on its side and shake it gently. If the honey remains in the cell it is ripe. If it is unripe or uncured, it will run out of the cells. If it remains in the cell it can be extracted and eaten.

[dickm]

Thanks guys,
I ask this question of myself every year. I have an awful lot of frames that are half capped but will not shake out.

dickm

[J-Bees]

so what happens if it is not capped and or good to extract?

[riverrat]

I'm wondering how much of a frame one can leave uncapped and still harvest it safely. Has any one ruined a crop by harvesting undried honey?

Dickm

I pulled honey sunday that had uncapped frames in them that was testing 16% to 17% on the refractometer. IMO Just to be safe I would get a refractometer to take the guess work out of it.

[Joseph Clemens]

Give it back to the bees, they can either eat it or finish it. Some keep a special drying room to finish ripening it. Either way don't wait too long or something will get at it and ruin it, ants, wax moth larvae, SHB larvae, or yeasts, etc.

[riverrat]

so what happens if it is not capped and or good to extract?

Honey will ferment if the the moisture content is to high

[J-Bees]

Honey will ferment if the the moisture content is to high

OH!!!!!!! so what's wrong with a bit O spiced up honey:}:}

How long does it take to ferment?


thanks JB:}

[Curtis]

It is different for different locations, that is why you should always use a refractometer. With my equipment in my location, I can extract with about 40% uncapped. Although, I usually extract with about 95% capped.

[riverrat]

OH!!!!!!! so what's wrong with a bit O spiced up honey:}:}

How long does it take to ferment?


thanks JB:}

There are beekeepers and beehavers. I hate to be rude but after reading some of your posts I got to say you fall into the later of the two. I try to produce a quality product that people will return to buy. If they wanted a bit o spice they can go to the liquor store or I can fix them up with some of the mead I brew. However I dont try to mix the two so someone does not end up with something the was not wanting

[J-Bees]

OH my River Rat I was jesting man I sure would NOT want to sell something like that...... I am also a joker, DON'T DRINK OR SMOKE an am an old man that won't and don't have the need to do that stuff:

Now when I do pull honey this fall I will have an experianced older fellow with me or another lady that know bees and that kind of stuff but as for right now I am reading lots online and I sure ask some stupid questions when ever I see someone with bees:}


PEACE MAN:} JB:}

[Michael Palmer]

Thanks guys,
I ask this question of myself every year. I have an awful lot of frames that are half capped but will not shake out.

dickm

Dick, what I do is feel it with my lips and tongue. You can feel it when it's thick enough.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Dick, what I do is feel it with my lips and tongue. You can feel it when it's thick enough.

I'm not brave enough to harvest honey without a veil.

[dickm]

Thank you Mike Palmer. I think you added to my feeble store of knowledge admirably. It seems sort of like kissing a baby's forehead to tell if it has a fever. Thank you all for your input on my output. I can't seem to bust the cash loose from my wallet to buy that refract thingee.

dickm

[mdotson]

Check out the Meadmaking Forum.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Check out the Meadmaking Forum.

I did. So why did I do that?