Novice Beekeeper

Yesterday I opened hive #1 amd found an amazing  amount of burr comb that had been built in just two days. I had no mind to undo their work, i left what was on the lid. Besides that, it was layered with bees, evening smoking and shaking failed to shift them. I  set the super aside, placed with waxes frames only, then replaced the super full of honey, amd fonally the lid. I left axed  st their efforts. After hive #1, I opened #2. It was bound up also, so I used a twisting technique to sever the no nb eycomb. I found a mass a comb filled with honey. Obviously i removed it. Shown here is about half the quantity . I put a queen excluder and new super on place and boxed it up. Afterwards, I mashed and strained  the honeycomb to produce nearly 2lg of light gold honey. I love bees!

HIVE OBSPECTION - 21 July 2020 Weather: 20 Celsius, calm, sunny. First inspection during Winter. Hive #1 - Brood Box and Ideal Super Lid stuck with  Burr Comb Many honey cells ruptured, but not too messy. As I had no Super prepared or with me, I sealed it up. Hive #2 - Brood Box Lid stuck, but due to the isk of upsetting Frames with  Queen,  the lid was replaced. Mentor suggested adding Super to prevent swarming but was not worried about honey flooding hive #1. FOLLOW-UP OBSERVATION Bees x 200? by entrance. Mentor  says clean half  of burr comb, remove preventers, get a super on quick. BEE WORK #1. Cleaned half of burr  comb and put empty (no frames), on top This  quieted bees somewhat,  but not totally. FURTHER WORK Two days time, add supers. Replace honey frames in Brood Boxes x 1 each for Q space. Ensure Hive Mats are fitted.  .

Well we're into week two of July and things are traveling along well enough for me to consider buying a honey extractor. This model is a two frame manual extractor for $199.  Any sized frames can be processed two at a time.  I just watched a YouTube review and it skates about a bit,  but apparently that's normal and more to do with uneven distribution of honey in the frames. Another few things I learned were:-    - frames need to be reversed during extraction to remove all of the honey.   - You can uncap directly into the extractor.   - A fine sieve is needed between valve and bucket to strain off any  wax and debris. It's an aspect of beekeeping that I've had nothing to do with before,  but I am very much looking forward to. I will need to buy some jars, and labels!      ############## Hive Work.  I'd been reading of local bkprs extracting honey over these past weeks all the while concerned that my girls were...