Honey Is Flowing!! Extracting 2023 Honey Harvest

[@yolandalaughter944]

I have the same knife mine is Old Hickory but it is longer

[@MikeBarryBees]

Glad you shared that info. Thanks! I had gotten mine from Kelley Bees back in the day and that size is hard find. I will need to pass this info on in the comments and I’m going to pin your comment. I have a lot of folks asking me and with Kelley long gone, I have no answer.

[@emilandrusko8597]

Hey Mike, thanks for sharing. Congrats on the harvest.

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome and thanks!!

[@ThatBeeMan]

"By God's grace and God's favour" Amen, brother!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yes indeed!

[@ECP]

Congrats on your harvest Mike - So Happy for you…. The Lord has blessed us both in so many ways. I ended up with 73.29 gallons of honey 879 pounds if I figured it right for 2023. That is the total for both the Spring and Summer Pull. I did leave some for the Bees too.

[@CastleHives]

ECP, great harvest. .

[@ECP]

@@CastleHives Thanks Brian I saw you got a very nice harvest too on your video…

[@turan_hoca]

From how many hives did you get 879 pounds honey?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Chris and congrats on your harvest.

[@edmartin875]

I'm glad you left some honey for the bees. Sometimes I feel many beekeepers take too much or they wouldn't have to feed so much sugar water. I guess sugar water is cheaper, but there is more than carbs in honey and thus, to my way of thinking, the sugar water is less healthy for the bees.

[@lindagray5857]

Great harvest Mike. Yes God is good, all the time. Summer is flying by as usual and looking toward winter plans.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks and I am grateful to God indeed!! Yep winter will be here before we know it.

[@jeffreykellum]

The refractometer give you peace of mind. I definitely use it to spot check all the way through extraction.

[@MikeBarryBees]

It sure does. I never bothered with one and only borrowed one a few years ago. But with open frames, I needed to check, but now, as you said, peace of mind.

[@joseluisduarte3313]

Enjoyed the video Mike!! G'day from down under! Thanks for sharing God's peace

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed it from abroad!!

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Love the dripping honey. You make that knife uncapping look way too easy. Hibachi skills! Love your extractor. Nice set up. Blessed days Mike. Take care.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Garry!

[@brucesbees]

Nice set up Mike. Pretty good harvest considering the crazy year you have had. Good stuff as always!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Bruce!! I’m very grateful for sure!

[@timmorris7022]

As always great video Mike and thank you so much for sharing .That honey looks so good .

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for the support!! The honey, while different, was in fact so good. Wish I knew for sure what it was from😬

[@randyblaylock4663]

thanks for your service for our country

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome, I was an honor.

[@edmartin875]

@@MikeBarryBees That's the way I feel. I enlisted in 68, did a bunch of shore duty, Navy sent me to college, then OCS. commissioned in 76, schools and 39 months aboard a sub, more schools then plank owner on CVN-70, around the world cruise, then last 4 yrs on shore duty again, retired in 88. Enjoyed the entire 20 yrs but loved sea duty.

[@drippingcombbeecompany3640]

Thanks Mike , We appreciate you !!

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome. Hope to get the word out some more.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Glad you got your moisture down. Checked some of mine today and 19.5% and 24%, so still going to wait to pull supers. Nice haul and some nice looking frames. Love your equipment. Stay cool in that AC honey house! Oh yeah, I used to have that same Shibara tractor. It had Japanese writing on the controls and didnt know what they did. lol

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thank you for checking in! I think you guys have such a drier heat most times that they dry it very effectively on the hives pretty quickly. It takes forever down here. Yea, that little tractor is alright. I need a few parts, so I have to go a couple hours away to a gray model junkyard to find them😬😬

[@tammybrazeau1213]

Congrats on the honey. You, my dear Sir, are the Master of decapping those frames. I could watch you for hours doing it.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thank you kindly!!

[@melvinlantz9572]

Still love watching anything your doing.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Mel!!

[@bernardblizzard83]

Thanks for your service

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome, it was an honor.

[@bernardblizzard83]

@@MikeBarryBees as it what was mine

[@MikeBarryBees]

@@bernardblizzard83 thank you as well then!!

[@edmartin875]

Thank you both for your service.

[@todddowell2483]

Thank you for your video Mike!

[@MikeBarryBees]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@PennsylvaniaBeekeeper]

Thanks for the video, Mike. I appreciate your gratefulness for the honey harvest.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks and glad you enjoyed it!!

[@framcesmoore]

Ha Mike I am very happy for u I knew you would get some you did good. I got 20 gal my self Not like last year but I am glad for it. I have sold every bit of it as well. I sale mine for 15 a pint. I like your uncapping knife I use a kitchen knife as well. Your extractor when u loaded it with deeps and med That is what I had as well that is when my walked but its not the extractor I love the thing it is real nice. Glad i got it. I do my extracting in the kitchen of my house I have seen some videos where people did it in a unfinished garage/shed what do u think about that Idea I seen u have a sink in your shed what is on the floor how do you clean up the mess when I do it in the kitchen I put down a taupe it is just so messy. my feet stick to the floor. bees are in the house and I am cleaning up dead bees for days after I am finished. and then I have to clean the walls where they been flying and pooping. it is a real mess. any way the video was great and very glad for u hope you have a blessed week. when are u going to treat and what are u useing. and what do u do to get your bees ready for the winter. all my queens are 23 queens there is a few that just got mated and have started laying. have a great day.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Glad you’re getting the extractor forgives out. I think the kitchen is ok until you have a lot. An unfinished shed or garage would be fine as long as the bees can’t get in. I have a friend that does it in his barn, but he seals the doors. The bees gather all over the cracks since they can smell it. I use cardboard all over the floor in the heaviest areas use. As far as treating, this year will be apiguard and I’m starting in august. Going to have to be careful on the heat and use half doses.

[@windyridgeapiaries]

That's a great harvest, Mike! Congrats! And AMEN to His provision. See you soon! -Jeff and Diane

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Jeff!!

[@brucesouthernsassapiaries8316]

Glad to hear that you were able to get something this year, seeing how the season went. I have to agree with you when you said that this year was a strange year! We did end up with a decent honey harvest this year in middle GA but it came in trickles and spurts. Our honey harvest up in the Georgia mountains has been another story due to swarming this year.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yep, that’s what I saw. Spurts. Ebb and flow. I’m hearing it from everyone from Kentucky and south.

[@donbearden1953]

Mike, I’m happy for you! The Good Lord blessed you and your girls for working so hard!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yes indeed Don!

[@doctortcbkk2027]

You make it look easy. I’m a sweaty mess and so is my workspace on harvest day.

[@HickoryGrovebees]

I was also wondering if you were a retired Senior Chief? My husband is a retired EOD Master Chief. We do bees as well. Thank you for your service. Keep up the great work and videos.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yep, 23 years. Who is your husband. Would he have known Bob White, or Chad Black? Maybe Randy (Charles) Carpenter? I knew those EOD techs well.

[@Chard-Bees]

Happy to hear you were blessed with a better harvest than you expected. May God continue to bless as you wrap up the harvest and begin prep for over wintering them.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!!

[@danmilbourn]

Sir thanks for sharing another great video.

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome and thanks for watching!!

[@superheroteach]

The harvest videos are the best videos!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Glad you like them! And thanks !!

[@russellaymond312]

Great job Mike

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks!!!

[@keithspillman]

Congratulations Mike!! So glad to see honey flowing in your honey house!!! We ARE truly blessed!!! Take care!!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Keith!!

[@fuzzynuggetsbees]

Congratulations Mike!! Definitely a harvest to be thankful for, especially in light of your sketchy tallow spring start.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yes indeed and thanks!!

[@taylorboysoutdoors]

Awesome, GOD is good 👍 made about the same amount here. May have to get me one of Hills extractors

[@theboonecountybeekeeper]

Great video Mike! I am so happy that you got some honey, that was a good harvest considering the season that you had.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Tim!! I’m very happy for sure with the harvest!!

[@redfish440]

Thanks Mike, this harvest is proof God knows a lot more than we do, and I love your gratitude. God Bless !

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yes, yes, yes!! He knows for sure!! Thanks!!

[@russellkoopman3004]

The Lord does take care of us. You have a decent harvest after all, and I'm glad for you. So that was about what 50 lbs of honey per hive average? Now it is time for mite treatments and getting ready for winter, at least for you. My bees are still on a moderate flow here in MN and I'm just over 50 lbs per hive average already. My honey's color is about the same as last year, a light amber and very mild. My early honey had some dandelion nectar in it and was not real good so I used it to make flavored creamed honey. Take care. and have a great weekend Mike

[@MikeBarryBees]

That’s about right on average Russell. And just what I needed to make up inventory. Yea, we’re done for now down this way for sure. Treatments in a couple weeks. I have to go enjoy some cool weather up north before I can start those😁😁

[@briancraig6468]

Honey looks great! Love my 18 also. Our honey is light this year also. Late freeze as well here. Keep up the great videos.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks you!! Will do!!

[@mlfarm]

Nicely done. Love your videos Mike. You run a clean operation. I could watch you cut caps all day. You can handle that knife. 👊

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much. Glad you liked it!!

[@lomavistabeeco]

I always enjoy your videos Mike! Glad your harvest was more abundant than you expected 😊

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks and glad you enjoyed the video!! Thanks for watching!!

[@mikehill9888]

Thank you for the video 😊

[@MikeBarryBees]

My pleasure Mike, thanks for watching!!

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

Great video!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks!! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@melvinyoder1954]

Im glad you got something. Maybe a little more then what you where thinking at one time

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Melvin. Yep, definitely more than I thought.

[@honeyandthecoop803]

I'm glad to see your harvest rebounded to be a reasonable season, Mr. Mike. It was definitely a different type of year for me here in South Carolina, but blessed non the less.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks and I am so grateful. Blessed none the less…love it and true!

[@phillipduncan2497]

This will be me in about 10 days. Your harvest turned out better than I thought it would be considering how hard the nectar flow got hit by the weather. God gives us blessings so we need to appreciate what he gives us. I hope to see you at Kamon's next conference. Stay safe in the heat.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Good deal Phillip, hope it goes good!! I will hopefully be there once we know more. Look forward to seeing you again!!

[@DoubleBee-lg6su]

well done Mike. I too was not expecting the harvest I got. Enjoy and thanks for sharing from Seattle

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks and glad you were surprised as well with your harvest. They always like to surprise us. Thanks for watching!!

[@HaasBuzzHomestead9909]

Fume boards were the game changer. So glad you did videos on them, Mr Ed did too. I made one and it worked fantastic.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Agreed Jennifer, they are my favorite way. Glad you could get something from us regarding the boards.

[@viklund2725]

Härligt att se :) Önskar jag får en fin skörd skörd av honung nästa år! Då vore det fint med en kvalitetsmaskin från Hilco ultra max som kan slunga ramar flera timmar utan problem

[@MikeBarryBees]

I hope your season next season is bountiful!! Thanks for watching! I wish he shipped overseas, but I understand the Lyson is a great machine too. Made in Poland.

[@AmericansBee]

Almost 400lbs for me this year, first and biggest harvest. I've been raising bees last few years so not much honey production. This year was awesome!!! 15.5 % water on average, lowest was 13% for my uncapped.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Good stuff! Glad you had a bumper crop!!

[@AmericansBee]

@MikeBarryBees thank you

[@ThatBeeMan]

You can probably run your RH closer to 50% to sufficiently dry the honey. Selling honey by weight, it's beneficial to sell as much water as possible.

[@MikeBarryBees]

That’s very interesting. I knew there was a reason to not have it too dry and that makes great sense. Thanks Brad!

[@billc3405]

👍

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for watching!!

[@JoseOrtiz-zb7gq]

Awesome

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for the support!!

[@johnreynolds614]

Love your channel Mike! Great editing, great content, and most of all fun to watch. Keep up the good work. Getting ready to harvest my Michigan basswood honey! Also thank you for spreading the message of God, may be subtle but its powerful, just like all of His creations.🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks!! Glad you enjoy the channel and the videos. Means a lot to hear that!! Hope you have a great harvest. God saved me, he deserves all the credit!!

[@nancynolton6079]

When I have those odd frames (partials and mismatched sides) I sort those frames out and run them all together at the end of the extraction. I usually try and find two frames that are the same in content and place them in the extractor opposite each other in the drum also being mindful of which frames are "heavier" and which are "lighter" when loading. By doing this I end up with a more balanced drum that won't walk the floor. Also start out slow and work up to speed. Definetely been a different year even up here in south central Pennsylvania too. And in stead of just hazy, hot and humid we can add smokey as well still having Canadian wildfire smoke blowing through our area. Wishing you all some relief from the heatwave down your way.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I got some relief from the heat😂😂 alright and it was thru me traveling 1500 miles north😁😁😁.

[@tommychew6544]

Mike, you are a retired Navy Senior Chief? No wonder I like your style, I served in the Corps and seriously appreciated my Navy brothers while I was in. Your no nonsense approach and straight forward talking is now understood and I appreciate it even more! How long were the frames in your honey house before this extraction? With your humidity those bees must have been working their tails of to dry the uncapped cells out if it wasn't very long, I would think. As always, I love seeing your videos, and this one just adds to why Mr. Ed calls you World Famous. What's the backstory to that title, I haven't come across it yet?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yep Tommy, 23 years. I was an AO. I left the frames in there only a day before I started. But I also took a two day break and finished the last 20 or so. I keep it very dry in there. You know, there’s really not a backstory to the name. He just started saying it after my channel took of😂😂. He’s a character that Mr. Ed. The title has stuck though😁😁

[@markbee5787]

Mike is your refractometer calibrated that seems awful dry for your high humidity area. Honey that dry takes a long time to spin out. Love your videos 👍

[@MikeBarryBees]

I did calibrate it before I used it and I made sure I calibrated it at the same temp that I keep the honey house at. My buddy down the road found his to be quite dry as well. I did dry it for quite a bit, so that helped it a lot.

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

Alot of people having problems with buckets splitting. Keep your eyes open. I don't even pick buckets by handles and don't fill to 60 lb per 5 gal. Pick up holding the sides till I get where I'm going with it

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yea, I try not to snatch them when they are full. Can’t have them leak all over the floor.

[@timgoodin42053]

Great video, glad your harvest turned out well. God Bless!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Tim!

[@edwardjacob5674]

Guess I need to get into my hives and see if I have anything to pull

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yep, you just never know.

[@chuckcampbell3927]

🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Brother Mike, You're faithfulness has been rewarded by the ALMIGHTY. GOD resist the proud, and favors the humble. Several of us of this way have been talking about quitting pollinating and going into honey production. However, my chief concern right now is to dig deeper and try to learn more about the decline of the health of some of our colonies. Mike, I'm very seriously considering switching to caucasians and possibly carniolins. I have noticed that when you travel your bees across the country there is less and less propolis being made and we take them into areas of very high chemical applications. My own guilt tells me we need to really put dollar signs behind us and really try to enhance our bee populations. Remember what Jesus said when he was talking to Peter ❓ "Get thee behind me Satan"..... When I look at how much I have lost this year since Ian hit and now seeing far too much drop in brood size and longevity. Still seen a graveyard in front of every hive and it doesn't seem to stop. I can tell you for sure, that it's not related to Varroa mite. I am counting on GOD'S help, because as you also know, Mike, GOD said, "And this too shall come to pass" Thanks for a great video and all the wonderful help you spread across this world. GOD Bless 📖🛐🐝🐝🐝

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks as always!! God is good to us for sure. I figure we have to have pollination and everyone has to figure out what the cost is to what they want to do. It can’t be the best for the bees, but it’s got to get done. But honey production is needed as well and it is hard to do both at an efficient pace. But I suppose that’s why the very big outfits do it as they have to be efficient.

[@PapaBee165]

Great job Mike! (papa bee)

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Papa Bee!!

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Wow wow wow that is so great to see just how much it all turned around. Your little girls proved if it is out there they can get it done. I am like you I Purchased a hot knife well I never even plugged my up an have been using my bread knife. This season with my knife tho ever once in a while it was like it would start to pull clumps of comb out like my knife was getting dull . Any thoughts . That was a first . Also Mike on overwintering your supers like that with them being in the open an full light do you not have any problems with wax moths even if there are some brood/honey frames out there . ?? . I have had maybe four frames this season first year frames honey only that the wax moth had started leaving trails in them fast . Get my crop sold this season I guess I will be calling John hill for my 18 frame extractor an I think I will keep my Maxant also . I

[@MikeBarryBees]

My knife does that too every now and again if the honey is thick and I go too fast. When the honey is super dry and thick, I have to go slower and that helps prevent that. But I do see that. With the frames, I group all frames that had any brood or pollen together and then I stack them on their own stack. I get a little bit of damage to a few now and again, but nothing serious. This season I only had about 7 boxes like that, so I put them back on strong hives over excluders when I could after they weee cleans out and dry. I will store those boxes that had brood on the hives until around December after a couple of freezes and then take the back off.

[@kathyhathaway8823]

@@MikeBarryBees Thanks I had not even thought about keeping them on for that reason great idea . Another thing I was doing this season that was stupid of me I have just got toooooo many things going on. I have been pulling supers an pulling them down to winter season an for so reason not even thinking about swarms so now I need to go back and add to give them some room but luckily I have not found any cells so I hope I can get one added back to stop swarms . Just not thinking . Have a great week. THANKS

[@MikeBarryBees]

@@kathyhathaway8823 I do that. I get them down to to deeps for the most part. Only where I storing the supers or on singles did I add a box. But most of the doubles are just that at Thai time of the year. Now your region is different, so if there is not a dearth, the I would add the space. But if there is a dearth, mine do fine, even when crowed, once I break the down to two.

[@patrickbrewer2794]

Mike as always it's a pleasure to see you with your bees and man that honey harvest was awesome congrats Mike. I'm glad you were blessed with some delicious looking honey. May God continue to bless you Mike with your bees and with making amazing videos. Thank you again Mike your awesome God bless you.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Patrick!!

[@amfarmsllc5624]

Took me about 3 minutes to clean mine the other day! Nice job Mike.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Cleaning is a breeze! Thanks Amanda!

[@KayiFarmJaHoneyBees]

Always love seeing your harvest vidz! Blessings Mike!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thank you my friend! Glad you enjoy!!

[@randallcarter-carterhillho2277]

I am happy that you got more than you expected.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Randall, me too!!

[@kentcostello5286]

You keep out doing yourself on your videos and information please keep it up.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!!

[@sentimentalbloke7586]

Always put some calico or plastic fly screen on the top and bottom of the wax. It helps stop any suction caused by the mixture of wax and sticky honey. The presses start at less than $100 here in Australia, they are stainless steel and real easy to keep clean. They are available in several sizes.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for the info!!

[@jimhughes6794]

I started pulling today. Moisture between 16 and 17.5%. I am running my dehumidifier due to the air moisture being so high. I am hoping for about half of last year. We will see. Glad you did so well.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Hope you got what you needed Jim. That’s a good number on the moisture.

[@davidlewis4179]

#hillco What I'm seeing is that when you use the cold knife that it makes the comb a uniform depth. 👍 Edit: moving that many boxes I'd be crippled because my back would be hurting! Love the uncapping!

[@MikeBarryBees]

I agree, it does a nice job on the combs with that serrated edge. Trust me, I was soar for a couple days after moving those supers😬😬

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Awesome job as usual Mike!!!!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Rodney!!

[@colinvoss8484]

Your extractor looks like my Mann Lake 18/9 extractor it does a good job.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Well, I have the HillCo in one corner and the Maxant in the other. I’ve only ever seen one Mann Lake and it was at the Abbey with Mr. Ed. I like the price of the HillCo the best😎😎

[@ronhaymore]

Looking good Mike. I’m working on my video. Pulled about 700 pounds this year from about 20 hives.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Good deal!! Congrats on a great harvest!!

[@sentimentalbloke7586]

Looks good bud, but you need one of those cheap chinese fruit presses for your cappings ... you will be amazed how much honey comes out after a little pressing, I leave mine overnight just giving it an occasional screw and the next day there is a plug of solid wax and a bucket of honey.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I need to get one for sure. I’ve thought about it, just never did it. I will get a press eventually because I’ve heard good things. Thanks!!

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

I made mistake in putting my wets back on hives this year hoping. All I got was robbing and lost hives. Live and learn

[@MikeBarryBees]

Oh yes, I have done that too. I only put them on in the spring. If there’s a dearth coming in, I just let them clean them out away from the hives then replace them. Like you said, we live and learn. I made mention of this last season in a video when I put one back o with just a couple wet frames. Hate that that happened to you.

[@CastleHives]

Mike, we had some areas of Ohio with the same, 15.5% uncapped. I tested mine and saw 17.5% in some and 16% in other. Quite the harvest you had.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yea, glad ours was dry. I don’t know how well I could have dried all that uncapped stuff if the bees didn’t get a head start for me.

[@brettlong6729]

Always love watching your how you do videos.Looking to build a honey house and was wondering what size your is? Always where did you get your bread knife? Keep doing what you do!! God Bless!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks! The knife was from the old Kelley Bees. Not sure where they got them, but it’s serrated on both sides and very long. Check out the pinned comment where the viewer said that theirs is an Old Hickory. I built the shed and I made it 12X30. If I had to do it again, I might would go maybe 14 or 16 feet wide and a bit shorter.

[@brettlong6729]

@@MikeBarryBees Thank you

[@Tcrim354]

Thank you for your content, what size is your shed? 10’*20’?

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome and thanks for watching!! It is 12X30. I built it a bit too narrow though.

[@BindisHoney]

Our honey was darker, too, in BR.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yea, I’m hearing that from everyone in the area.

[@darrellhamner4608]

Man, Mike you know how to handle that knife!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Lots of practice. It’s all I had for a few em years and I guess I just got used to it. Thanks!!

[@tommywise1702]

Our honey was very dry and dark here in central Arkansas as well.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Hope it tastes great. Sometimes the dark can be strong and I was a bit concerned when I first saw mine. But it is very tasty.

[@tommywise1702]

@@MikeBarryBees we love it, strong taste but not offensive at all.

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

How often do you check your refractometer? And what do you check it with?

[@MikeBarryBees]

I checked it the day before using it and I did it with extra virgin olive oil. And at the same temp as the honey house is. That’s important.

[@TerryRomanko]

Nice setup!! I think I'm going to have to get a proper uncapping tank at some point soon. Just curious - you said the refractometer is new... what do you do with a new refractometer to ensure it is calibrated to start out so that you know the reading is correct?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Terry!! I calibrated it as soon as I got it per the directions. Extra virgin olive oil and then set it to the proper number on the gauge. I was sure to do it at the same temp as my honey house. Needs to be calibrated within 5 degrees Fahrenheit of where it will be used.

[@jamskinner]

How do you clean the wax out of your double filter? Mine gets embedded with wax.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I keep it skimmed lightly with a spatula as I extract and when I wash, I put an inch or so of cold water in the sink and then I swish water up and down and side to side thru the screen. After a minute or so the wax loosens up and I can just rinse it out.

[@3Beehivesto300]

I’m getting darker honey also. It has a vanilla taste.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Exactly what I’m hearing from everyone!

[@michaelfike7542]

My honey was dark this year and last year the first harvest was light gold and the fall harvest was dark. Probably be a reverse this year when the goldenrod comes in.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yep we just never know sometimes. They go for so long and we see the same thing, then when we think we got it, they change up on us.😁😁

[@brettellis1837]

Ps now that's black 🖤 as coal honey that stuff. Makes a good wine as well if ya drink on the job 😂 elder Berri wine one can not feel the stings.

[@MikeBarryBees]

😂😂. Thanks for watching Brett!!

[@brettellis1837]

@@MikeBarryBees never miss it.

[@SylantBill]

What problems do you have leaving the honey supers out like that?

[@MikeBarryBees]

I don’t have any issues. That’s how I store them every year. As long as they have air and light going thru them, they do just fine.

[@SylantBill]

@@MikeBarryBees thank you

[@Ovenmitt123]

Where do you find a center bevel bladed bread knife that is that long and also that thin?? Been looking everywhere! Blades that favor the edge to the side tend to eat into the wood.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I got this one from Kelley Bees when they were around. I pinned a comment from Yolanda and the comment said their knife is an Old Hickory.

[@Ovenmitt123]

@@MikeBarryBees Thanks Mike & Yolanda!

[@davidhorsley4657]

Is that a Hillco extractor? I just bought one.❤

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yes, the ultra max 18 frame. I love it!

[@gregoryscott5063]

Who is your decapping tank made by. Enjoyed the video.

[@MikeBarryBees]

It’s a Maxant. When I bought it, HillCo wasn’t around yet. The Maxant is a good one, just a bit pricey in my opinion.

[@jessefjr]

Where do you get your buckets from that you store your honey in and do they ever leak? I've been using Tractor supply buckets but I think I got a bad batch I had 2 from the last 6 start leaking on the bottom

[@MikeBarryBees]

I get the food grade buckets at Home Depot or Lowe’s. I have a couple tractor supply buckets that someone gave me, but I’ve never used them.

[@woodlandharvesthoneycompanyllc]

Mike do you have much trouble with mice getting in your supers by stacking them uncovered?

[@MikeBarryBees]

No, never had a problem with the boxes outside. Inside is a different story, so I keep those sealed.

[@brettellis1837]

Bet milk weed base. Bees here get stuck into elder berrie trees .

[@MikeBarryBees]

We don’t have much milk weed at all here.

[@brettellis1837]

@@MikeBarryBees that's why we should plant more meter out from boundary of land all around what ever blocks one owns.. last year here put in 200 shrubs and 🌻 sun flower's 40m of them they were packed swarm traps same some locks only 30 but bees in that area out in the middle of know were turn up and they know about traps works a treat. Winner both ways. Now I have patches of lavender near swarm trap areas as well 24 plants counted 36 bees on them.

[@jeffreykellum]

This has definitely been a weird year for honey. That last late frost really screwed up the nectar mixture this year. It tastes and looks different.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Agree 100%!!

[@ericcunningham4434]

Can't find a good bread knife.... do you have a source?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Unfortunately I do not. I got this one from the old Kelley Bees. Check out the pinned comment where the viewer said that theirs is an Old Hickory.

[@kenjordan5164]

Thanks for the video Mike. Do you have the maker and model of the knife you were using? Is it long enough to also uncap deep frames? Thanks again Mike.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Ken, it is long enough for deeps, but as to the brand, I don’t have the name. It was from Kelley Bees when they were around, before Mann lake bought them out. I have a comment pinned at the top of a viewer that stated she found a similar knife called Old Hickory.

[@DrAudet-eh7hp]

MIke, what kind of a knife are you using?

[@MikeBarryBees]

It was an uncapping knife from Kelley Bees when they were around. I am not sure where to get one these days but Check out the pinned comment where the viewer said that theirs is an Old Hickory. Hope that helps and thanks for watching!!

[@DrAudet-eh7hp]

@@MikeBarryBees Thank you Mike!

[@jonclemons1421]

My bees really tear up the comb if I just set frames out for them to clean. If I put them back on the colonies they repair it and clean it. Any idea why the difference? It's like they're robbing instead of just eating/cleaning.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Well, if they are capped frames they rip the to shreds. But I’ve never had them do that much damage if they’re just wet frames that I have extracted. I leave them like this every year. One thing I have experienced putting wet frames back on hives if they’ve went into a dearth is they like to attack the hive i put the wet frames on. They smell the honey and rob that hive. If there is still a flow, it’s not an issue. As far as what you’re experiencing with that, I’m really not sure. Just haven’t seen that happen with mine.