When to expect first honey

[Newbeebeekeeper]

Hey so i have 1 hive which i hope to split in the next month and no real drawn out comb at all except maybe 6 frames now.

Is it completely unrealistic to hope for a few jars this year?

I only got the hive last year with a new queen

 

[Millet]

If you have a good 2017 Queen you will get honey this year or you should (weather dependent) if you don't and the weather is good maybe a new Queen would be on the card's for me..

 

[sean-a]

I would expect that if you can stop them swarming, you should be good for a crop this year. That first jar of honey is a real treat!

 

[B+.]

Is it completely unrealistic to hope for a few jars this year?

With only one hive, the cost of all the paraphernalia you'd need to extract and bottle honey would make it very expensive.
IMHO, there is nothing to beat fresh honey in the comb straight from your own hive. Even if you only get the odd bit of brace comb, packed with honey, enjoy it that way. That memory will endure through all the ups-and-downs as you grow your apiary.

 

[thorn]

Why do you “hope to” split the hive? The more bees, the more foragers, the more honey. Split them if you need to do so to prevent a swarm, or if you want to have two colonies. But if you can keep them together you’re more likely to get honey.

 

[Newbeebeekeeper]

I want to have 2 hives this year i have everything bought and made for it already. I don't want to go into the winter or risk loosing my only hive. I have already bought an extractor but only a small one.

I would happily take less honey this year to have more next year but i was still hoping for some.

But if its only a couple of frames i prob would just cut it out

 

[Jambo]

I notice you say no real drawn combs, only 6 frames - is this in the brood or the super?

I only started a year ago and it's amazing what a drain on resources drawing comb is - they're getting on so much better this year when they started with all the boxes already drawn.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

So the colony has not drawn out all the frames in the brood box yet?
I can't comment on the weather in NI but that seems rather slow!
As an example, a nuc of mine from last winter is now in a WBC with two brood boxes - 14 frames of brood is usual for my girls - and 8 supers on top. (Although that's with OSR very close and I would not usually expect to see that much honey).

 

[Newbeebeekeeper]

The frames are in the brood box.
It was a small nuc last year and wasnt great in the spring. They started with 5 frames of comb pretty much this year and have been building it out but its a slow progress they also had some deformed wings which appears to have stopped now after the treatment.
They have been building up quickly this last month and they are black bees if that helps with the comparison.
There is no osr or large crops like apples etc nearby we have lots pf gorse nearby and should have alot of rose bay willowherb soon.

 

[Erichalfbee]

That’s way too slow.
An overwintered nuc should be brimming with bees with all the frames drawn. Treatment? I presume you mean for varroa.
We need more information
What did you use and when?
Once you start seeing bees with deformed wings the colony is in trouble.
I think you are way off making a decision to split.

 

[Newbeebeekeeper]

I used apiguard and its about to come off this weekend. Thatd why i was hoping for a split in a month's time depending on how it goes.

 

[drex]

DWV is an indicator of heavy varroa infestation. Apiguard is a good treatment, but needs temps in excess of 15 to work well. Have no idea how warm it has been in Ireland over the last month. Heavy varroa load means the hive fails to thrive, like yours.

Let the bees give you the answers. Do another check to assess your varroa load. Let them build up. They need lots of nectar or sugar to draw comb. When 8-9 frames of brood, then the hive may be strong enough to split. If treatment has not been effective or you split too early, you are in danger of losing them all.
The hive needs to be strong and healthy to produce honey or to produce more bees. I think that should be your priority

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Is it completely unrealistic to hope for a few jars this year?

I only got the hive last year with a new queen[/QUOTE]
so the hive has drawn out but 'maybe' six frames and you are already planning to split it. Forget getting any honey, you'll be lucky to have a strong enough colony to make it through next winter.

 

[Beagle23]

If you've only got 6 frames of drawn out in your brood chamber is it really sensible to create two weak colonies?

If you have two hives wouldn't it be better to try to lure a swarm or buy in a NUC?

It sounds to me like you're trying to rush things because you've bought in the equipment, that doesn't mean the bees are ready

 

[Uncle Betty]

Hey so i have 1 hive which i hope to split in the next month and no real drawn out comb at all except maybe 6 frames now.

Is it completely unrealistic to hope for a few jars this year?

I only got the hive last year with a new queen

You need a mentor.