Just bought my first flow hive and am keen to get my girls happily re-homed.
But I have a few concerns. Firstly it is late January here in Australia with only 1 month of Summer remaining and I live near Newcastle, NSW. Secondly the current super is about two weeks away from my next harvest.
I don’t want to put the flow super on and at the same time rob the bees of their current stocks this close to the end of summer - or am I wrong in that?
Would I be better off simply moving the brood frames into the flowHive and then putting my current super on top of the brood box and then the FlowSuper on top of that?
Many Thanks in Advance
Tony
If I understand correctly, you have a standard hive with a traditional super on it which is well on its way to being filled and you are wondering if it is a good idea to change the super now for a new flow super?
I wouldn’t do this now as the frames in the super that you remove won’t be ripe (any honey is likely to ferment) and there might not be enough time for the bees to prepare, let alone fill and cap, the flow frames this season.
I think its better to finish this season with your existing set up and then change to the flow super when the bees are ready to work it next season.
I thought that might be the case. I was also thinking about whether to re-home my existing hive or start a new one in the FlowHive. In either case it gives me more time to make a decision and I can start when they have the best opportunity to make it work.
I agree with @JimM . Leave them finish this season in their current hive.
I would go further to suggest that you simply split your current hive next spring putting the split into your flow hive. If you don’t want two hives you will easily be able to sell one.
Has really made me think about what I want from beekeeping beyond looking after the bees.
I would really like to have two hives - one to maintain traditionally (something about being in there with the bees and sensing their mood, understanding their needs beyond honey) and one to have a source of Honey without to much work and harming the bees.
I agree with Tim & Jim, as well as your second option.
What you said “(something about being in there with the bees etc…)” applies to Flow beekeeping as well as traditional beekeeping. The only thing different is the way the honey is harvested.
Jeff is right, there is still just as much work to do with a flow hive. The difference is that you don’t need to clean an extractor.
All other management is the same.
Cleaning an extractor became easier for me since I started resting it on an angle overnight. Any honey settles in the lowest spot, which I retrieve for myself the following day, just in case it got watery from hygroscopic activity. After that it’s easy to wash with hot water & a rinse.
I have discovered the pressure washer is amazing! No need to disassemble just get in there and blast with cold water. I mounted mine on a pallet and use the front end loader to shift it. When I wash I just tilt it right forwards and it drains perfectly.