Cut Comb Honey Processing - 'How I Do'
I have gotten the comb honey super ready to cut and package. I've had several requests from viewers to show how I handle the comb honey that my bees produce, so here you go, hope everyone enjoys this video.
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Пікірлер: 177
I found putting skewers as vertical guides in the super frames does a could of things: 1. Forces clean comb builds into the right sizes, 2. Takes stress off the blocks, 3. Reduces cracking.
@MikeBarryBees
Ай бұрын
I’ve heard of skewers in the frames. I’ve never tried it. We did have a good batch this year that I hope to get released on video soon. Thanks for sharing the idea!!
85 my butt. It looks like 184 on my screen. Can't wait to see ya at the next Hive Life my friend. Hopefully sooner.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Finally seeing some cooler mornings and evenings down here. Hope all is well Yappy and look forward to seeing You again as well!!
Hello Mike those comb sure looked good. I did two shallow this year and in a new yard I got this year the bees put Mimosa in part of the frames. 🤦♂️🤦♂️. Thanks for the video update. I am glad you had a great season.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Kathy! I believe I got some of that mimosa from the yard in town from the tree over the hives and a few others. They bloomed very well this year. Sounds like you had some boxes filled well too. Hope your harvest was everything you were hoping for. Thanks so much for your support!!
Just think, one cassette super and you have 40 combs and all ya have to do is put a lid and label on and done!! It’s genius !!
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
I have thought about them. And I have used my Ross rounds too. I prefer the cut comb though. It seems a bit more forgiving if the timing isn’t right on and if the flow is off just a bit. But they are nice units.
I would pay like $20 Australian for cut comb because I’ve never had it & I want it. I’m hoping 🤞🏻my local apiary has them. If you have to cut comb it’s a good idea to use a heated knife because it melts the wax where you cut & seals in the honey. You just get a cleaner result in the box & you’re not loosing honey from all the cells on the cut edges
@MikeBarryBees
10 ай бұрын
It doesn’t sell very quickly here, so it takes us a good 8 months to move all of it. But because we can sell it at a higher premium, it’s worth making a box each year. As far as the heated knife, I don’t believe that. I’ve used heated knives to cut cappings and it will never seal off the combs. To be that hot to seal it in one stroke would mean it would have to be scorching and that’s worse for the honey and would certainly taint the taste. The square heated cutter by pierce doesn’t seal the comb. The real trick is to let the cut portions drain overnight. They dry right up and the honey that drains on the pan is scraped right into the bucket and later bottled. Nothing is lost and no honey or wax is burned.
WOW 😮 I have been selling my comb honey too cheap.... I got a entire Medium Super of 10 frames this year of comb honey.... I did the cassettes with comb honey and I did glass pint jars and 2 pound skep glass jars with large wedges of comb honey in them... I did freeze my frames, but I did not see any cracks...
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Just have to find out what the market is and what folks are willing to pay.
@ECP
2 жыл бұрын
@@MikeBarryBees will do.... Thanks
Beautiful job! I love the look of honeycomb in a jar 🏺. As usual you have done a great job. Thanks for sharing and letting me tag along :)
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Mary Jane, thanks so much and so glad to have you tagging along and supporting this channel. Very much appreciated!!
I recently subscribed so my question may be answered. All the comb producers always show how they process comb honey, but never show the complete process of setting up the hives and running the hives to produce comb honey. I've done comb honey for years, but I want to see others methods. I do the Juniper split which is a superior method to most others I've seen. But I'm alway happy to see other technigues.
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
We’re you able to go back to the past years and see? I did a video on preparation of the frames. As far as on the hives, nothing special down here. I just pick the strongest hive and place the super as the flow is beginning, as they start filling supers.
BTW, you guys that need a good cheap freezer that will hold up to 3 deeps box and all or 5 shallows box and all, it has extra room over the compressor for 10 - 6&1/8 frames stood on end or you bee supplies ect., I bought mine 2.5 years ago when I got back into bees with some lazy Italians and knew nothing about SHB and they semi slimmed my bees which abscounded, got it from Lowe's in a scratch & dent sale for $150 , it measures 30.5" deep X 16.75" wide X 21" inside in the deep part and has more room over the compressor, it's a Hisense brand, but mine been outside on some old plywood and I cover the top with a 1/2" piece of white painted plywood since I bought it, lol it makes perfect work bench to assemble frames and boxes as well since it's close to my hives and underneath a water oak, ATM mine has about 250# of honey in brood deep frames, in a few days it'll have 320# after I pull enough to do the OAE treatments. Anyway I love it and works great.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
I’d really like a standup freezer for my operation. I have two chest freezers, but if I were to run more comb honey, I’d have a standup unit.
Mike thank you for the truth about honey retail price. I’ve tried cut comb no luck, only a waste of space for me. I believe I need more education. Thanks again.
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
You’re welcome Henry. I just throw a box on each season with no big expectations. I wait until I see the bees hitting the flow. At the very beginning, and when the are filling supers, then I throw it on.
Another great video Mike, look forward to seeing you in January. Kevin O
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Kevin!!
Ha Mike enjoyed the video might just try it next year, Thanks have a Blessed night
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Frances, thanks and glad you liked the video!!
Hi Mike I really do enjoy your videos. Everything explained clearly ' the way that you do bees' . Open , honest, friendly presentation. A pleasure. Thank you.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so very much for that kind comment!! Appreciate you watching!!
I think the decals you are using on the comb honey containers are perfect. You get to see the majority of the comb, which to me is like dangling the carrot in front of the mule🍺🍺
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!! I plan to keep them small, just have to get some extra info on them to be sure I’m complying with labeling directives. Appreciate the support!!
Thanks Mike I’m planning on Ross Rounds next year. I hope they come out good. Yours looks great
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Ross rounds are beautiful when they come out. I really like them. A bit trickier, but a beautiful product.
Thank you for your tips on honeycomb. I love it so much, and it's so pretty and delicious. My friends get honeycomb gifts from me. I don't make enough to sell. Keep up your wonderfully informative videos.
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
Glad you liked the video Michelle!! I love producing a box each season. It’s so nice!
Looks like a sandwich of honey. Interesting video Mike. ✌🏻
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!! One of my customers calls it a honey cake😄😁😆
Great video … love the ‘How I Do’ - thank you for sharing.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!! And glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for this. I like buying comb honey on occasion because it's a fun thing to have. I share it with my boys. They are eight years apart so the youngest is just now growing into that age when a boy decides what is interesting. The oldest will be off to college, soon. I think I might go out and buy another comb to share with them while we talk about science and insects. Most of all, I like to tell them about the mysteries we have yet to solve and how fascinating it can be to add another block of knowledge on the wall of scientific discovery. Comb honey is such a great way to open a child's eyes to see the animals with whom we share this earth. Natural curiosity combined with the novel experiences can build traits that can last a lifetime.
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
You’re welcome and thanks for the comment!! It does open many doors for us when in conversation at the market. People really love to learn about the bees.
Good video again MIke. I cut my comb up a couple of weeks ago just like you did. I entered a jar of chunk honey in the county fair and ended up with a Grand Champion ribbon. Yes, mine sells slow also but I sell it for $1.50 an ounce. I raised my price on the liquid honey to $9 a lb this year with all the increased costs of everything. Have a good week.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Wow Russell! That’s great. I’d love to have even a third in a contest just to hang a ribbon on something at my honey table at the market.
Mike you do a great job with your comb honey. I saved two frames of comb honey this year they are still in the freezer, got to get them out and put them in the containers. I use the same containers from ML. I have trouble getting them drawn out, I used the thin surplus wax but they didn"t get them all of them capped over. Thanks for your videos you do a great job explaining how you do it. Thanks again from Southeast Georgia.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Billy, appreciate the support. Even a couple frames boosts sales. Hopefully the timing is right next season for more. I know the flows over your way are very different from ours. I grew up just south of Valdosta and my friend back home tells me about the flows there and it’s so different.
Beautiful. I have not done comb honey since the late seventies. Your video got me motivated to do some next year. I have a lot of customers ask for it. It draws a premium at sales. Thanks for the information. Great video. I’ll go watch your other video on it. God bless.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Yep Garry, you need to revive the practice again. It is such a premium product for sure!!
Mike I tried the way you do ( cold and the way you cut and yes it cracked.). Try room temp ,and do the short cuts first ( dividing the square and release the stress ) and then do the 2 long cuts , to completely released from the frame . And No Crakes!
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
That’s what’s confusing Edward, it was room temp. I noticed the cracks as I pulled it from the freezer. After it was at room temp, it didn’t actually break except for a few spots and there didn’t seem to be as many cracks, so I do agree, room temp is best. I need to freeze it as I did in the past in my outside freezer where I just slip the whole super in nice and level. I also used to cut it as soon as it came out of the hive and then freeze the packs, but that got to be too much clutter and level stacking in the freezer. Thanks for the suggestion and comment!!
Great video I'm thinking about adding comb honey to my product list. Thanks Mike for your videos always learning something new. God's blessings. 🐝😎
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Gregory!! Never hurts to just throw one on.
Very nice presentation on comb honey. I’m A first year beekeeper looking for way to sell it next season. I think the story to go along with it would help sell the product, for me it would any way. Thanks Mike
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the support Roy. It’s always a great item for a back story. People really like to talk about bees and these really add more subject matter for sure.
I have a how I do cut comb video from a couple years. That was before I learned about draining the cut comb. Our methods are almost identical now. I've got some 2oz mini-cups with lids from the Dollar Tree store. Plans are to sell samples for a couple bucks. I tried the Ross Rounds this year from Hungry Bear Farm Bee Supplies... Total bust... Maybee next year... I was in Hungry Bear last week and they had several boxes/pallets of Ross Rounds sitting there to bee packaged up. So I know it's possible to get Ross Rounds full of comb. Maybee next year... I dropped the clamshell after the ants got into them. I use a 12oz Dart container now. Closes tighter and has a tamper evident feature. My favorite question: Did you make the honey? My answer: No! The bees did!
Nice video. Just a suggestion but I do hog half comb. The draw the cassettes Nd you can see all the way around them. There are 40 cassettes to a shallow box and you can order replacement cassettes. They look very nice. Thanks
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
The hogg half’s and the Ross rounds are truly nice. And they really present nice at shows and markets. I have thought about buying the hoggs, but just never have. For a while after I started beekeeping, they were unavailable on the market due to the passing of whoever was still marketing them. So I went Ross round. Got a couple good years of Ross’s, but as I had stated timing is everything. Probably the same with the hoggs. I might buy the cassettes one day, I’m still interested, but I have about 500 rings, lids, and bottoms for the Ross, ha, ha, ha!!😁😁
One of our club members uses medium boxes for comb honey. This way he can pick and chose where to cut to get perfect sections. The remainder goes into chunk honey. Nice video. Your comment about the SHB larva in the comb reminds me of an entry at the state fair a few years ago. About the second day on display larva started crawling around in the container. It disappeared very quickly. Have a great rest of the year.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Oh wow Phillip!! That would be horrible. I do everything I can to be sure that doesn’t happen. I bet that did disappear fast!!😬😬
Comb honey got to be the way to sell honey in little wooden boxes back when settles first brought bees to America because they had people who cook down various syrups and claim it to be honey, so in the comb was proof of being genuine honey, it always commanded a premium price, then the women of the day decided it should be very clean looking and pretty, thus honey show contests at fairs and church socials began and the winners honey would sell for top price for a while. Micheal Palmers video on making winning comb honey is kinda funny, he tells a story of how he had to lick off a tiny leaking cell 30 minutes before the judging to win. He tells how hard it is to make top quality comb honey anymore in the Champlain Valley of Vermont. Great 👍👍👌 video Mr Mike as usual, very informative and helpful. I could probably pull the top box off my swarm hive add a QE and make shallow of cotton honey which is pretty and unique, but I'm about kill some mites, with Randy Oliver's OAE sponge method at 75g of OA per 20 frame double deep, since the OXAVAP vaporizer I bought is a f@#king joke and I'm not willing to spew hot liquid acid all over my bees and brood chambers, I ordered a dozen Swedish sponges off Amazon, they came, open the package sez made in China I'm laughing thinking WTF, I cut enough to do all my hives @ 75g per 10 frames of brood which is 450g of OA & 450g/ml of vegetable glycerin heated and stirring to 150f or it turns clear, all the while I'm thinking no way in h#ll will them swedish dish towel sponges absorb this much liquid, but I did it like the videos said, only my candy thermometer read 125f when it turned clear and only had a LOCK&LOCK made in china 1.9 L plastic rectangular container to pour the liquid solution over the cut in half sponges to cool, to my total amazement they absorb it all and 12 hours later were dry to the touch, now for step 2 is pulling out 3 frames of capped honey each over the brood nest and placing these sponges 2 each on the top bars and adding back empty foundation, to carry them thru the rest of the cotton and goldenrod flow. I'll be checking on them every few days to see how it goes, these GA Cotton-mouth bees might get a logging chain and drag it out on the ground in front of the hives and cuss me for putting it in their houses, but if they don't it'll be there for 60 days.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
I am really hopeful we’ll see the Swedish sponges and the OA/Glycerine approved here in the US one day. The mixture works, but the delivery is what’s crucial and the sponges are working the best.
@carlsledge3868
2 жыл бұрын
I'll keep you posted on how it worked later in early October after my bees have been through 2 full brood cycles on the OAE sponge method, they've been on it today about working as hard as ever, they're bringing in darker orange colored pollen, but I've still not seen any goldenrod blooming yet, I'm going to gardener apiaries sometimes this or next week and buying 2 - 5 frame nuks with laying queens for $120 each and 3 mated queens ($21 each) to do some splits since I still havd some brood in the top boxes of my double deeps
@carlsledge3868
2 жыл бұрын
they were back at it hot in heavy the next day after I put the sponges in and I've still not seen any dead bees
the best Honey
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mike!
Comb honey looks good
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
Thanks!!
Great video Mike and beautiful comb honey! I have the same problem as you with Ross Rounds. They are finicky and I struck out this year with them but still had some good traditional frames for cut comb.
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Eddy. Yea, I’ve about give up on them and just stick to the traditional. Of course none this year with the slow flow.
Enjoyed it Mike! I may jump into this next year, on a small scale.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it Nathan. Never hurts to just prep a super and throw it on in your heaviest flow. A few minutes of extra prep and the bees do the rest for you.
Good Looking product 👌 💯
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!! It’s not as colorful as yours though😁😁
I use shallows and just let the bees draw them out usually they do pretty good on them and they are all uniform in size and not fat combs . Some good looking stuff you got there. ❤️🐝
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Michael. Yes, I know some others that do foundation less. If they don’t draw it straight, then they can just make chunk honey. But good colony seems to do just fine.
Going to try comb honey next. Another subject, storying suppers and frames what do you put between your boxes to keep wax moths away
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Randall, I don’t put anything in between them. I store them either crisscross or on end with frames vertical, outside under a shelter. I want wind and light to go thru the frames. I probably need to do another video on that, but here’s the link to the one I did last year on honey supers and brood frame storage here in my yard. kzread.info/dash/bejne/e6GDmMeto7ezY9I.html
@randalljarnigan5897
2 жыл бұрын
@@MikeBarryBees thank you sir
I wonder if it could be moisture causing it to crack in the freezer. There's a decent difference in 12% to 18% moisture. I've only ever done ross rounds with pretty good success. But hopefully you have a productive year in the bee yard.
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
Hmmm, you might have something there Mason. Makes good sense and would account for different sides cracking. And as you pointed out, big differential in those moisture counts. Thank for commenting. I will dry it with my fans and dehumidifier before freezing and see what happens. Thanks for the input!!
The other Mike would be proud
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
I hope so...😁😁
Another great informative video Mike. Thanks again.....
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Ken and you’re welcome!!
Mike, great video as always. Thanks for sharing and for your transparency on pricing. It’s always interesting to hear what other beekeepers charge for their honey.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure and thanks so much for the comment!!
Heck yeah, Mike! Looking good! I've been doing chunk honey, but need to try this next year. Thanks for video!
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Roy. Give it a go, you’ll be happy you did. Although my chunk honey sells pretty well too.
Great video, I've been debating on comb honey, but this year I started getting asked about it so I think I may pick up a shallow to start doing it next year.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Well, like I said, I really believe it’s worth having a shallow laying around just for this. I only have one and I just add some foundation to any orders I make so I always have it ready. Each spring I just throw a box with frames together and drop it on when the main flow starts. I do have one set of spare shallow frames I have to assemble, but just one setup yields me a nice harvest if all works out. If it doesn’t, oh well, I try to never count on it.
Amezing
That comb honey looks so good! I'm going to try it next year!
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Only one year since I started did I not just throw a box on. Never hurts to have one on and costs nothing more really.
I’ve been melting wax to glue my foundation in for many years , I used to get so mad when I looked in a super and my foundation was all popped out of the frames , I started melting wax to glue the tops and bottoms in and it’s never been an issue again, you are the only other person I’ve heard of doing it 😄 Have you seen the hog cassette supers for making comb honey ??, that would probably be good for you , the square cassette is built by the bees to fit , and on harvest you take the 40 piece super out and put a lid cap on and your label and it’s done , so each super makes $600 nice and neat and it’s such an easy system especially when the bees do all the work 😀
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
I started doing the wax on starter strips on my swarm setups, but the year I had the foundation on my comb frames broke loose, I started doing it on them.
@DavidWilliams-wr4wb
Жыл бұрын
@@MikeBarryBees fool me twice shame on me right? 😝
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
@@DavidWilliams-wr4wb exactly!!
Great videos Mike!!!!
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Brother!!
Had my first honey harvest this year and have been getting a lot of requests for combed honey. I will be doing this next year using mediums. I didn’t even think about freezing them. I’m glad you mentioned that. Thank you for video.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Mediums work well too. Just has to be a really good flow on a very strong colony. If they fill it, then it will provide plenty of comb honey as well as chunk honey. Congrats on your harvest this season!!
@SmokyMountainLashBees
Жыл бұрын
Yes same here first year for honey to sell and. Had lots ask for comb so was wanting to see how someone else did it. Going to order me a shallow or two(hadn’t planned on it but I think it would be best) after watching this. Where did you get the cutter you use to mark the sizing?
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
@@SmokyMountainLashBees you can find those cutters at Mann lake and Dadant for sure. If you get serious, pierce has a heated one that Beekeeping with Natalee shows and it’s a cutter. They seem to do well, but again, if you are serious, because they are expensive (the electric model from Pierce).
Thanks Mike. Great video.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Rick!!
Very interesting as always, thanks for sharing your process.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure Peter and thanks for the support!’
Great video Mike!!
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!!
I like how Mike does it . Always informative 👍
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Bill!!
Love the video and how genuine you are!
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much!!
Great video Mike. I'm gonna try that next year!
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Greg. You’ll be happy you did.
Great video! Thanks for the tips.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mark and my pleasure!!
Hello "world famous Mike Barry!" I found out about you from Mr. Ed who I've been following for some time now. Great video. I really love comb honey and it's obviously worth the effort financially, but I'm fresh off a trip where I saw so much plastic on what used to be beautiful beaches that it made me sick. So I'm looking for ways to sell comb honey without using any plastic packaging. I was wondering how you sold your chunk honey ends. Do you drop them into pint jars and then fill the rest of the jar up with honey or ??? Thank you sir!
@MikeBarryBees
6 ай бұрын
Th aka for checking out the channel!! Glad to have you and yes, I do just that with the chunk honey. Glass jars with the end and then backfilled with honey. Thanks for the question..
Evening Mike, looks like you have a nice day. Bought me some shallow frames to try and make some cut comb but never got around to building the box for them. Make more money off premium products but they sell slower, always trade offs in keeping bees. I wonder could it be a higher moisture content causes expansion of the liquid in the cells/combs causing the cracking? I don't remember was your honey wetter? That's how I ate honey as a kid of the farm, gona try and give chunk honey for Christmas this year. Ty for sharing Mike, Blessed Days...
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
You do bring a though about the cracking. Might very well be. Throwing that shallow on sure won’t hurt. Just place it and forget about it. Our chunk honey sells really well, better than the comb squares. They will make great gifts.
Nice video, I've been thinking about trying cut comb next year. How you do it might be close to home I try it👍👍👍
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
It’s a bit more forgiving of you use the whole foundations. The ultra thin wireless. Hope you get a great box next season!!
@williamkn621
2 жыл бұрын
@@MikeBarryBees yeah I'm considering it. Even though we've been doing droughts here in Texas next year there's a good chance I'll give it a shot with the thin wireless foundation from man Lake I run almost all deep boxes but I do have some shallow honey supers I can use
Hi Mike, Thank you for your presenting the comb honey process. This is my second year of beekeeping in Canada. I did a one shallow box of comb honey this summer using queen excluder to avoid having brood in it, the result was very good. I like to know the benefit of freezing the comb before or after the cutting and whether it affect the quality of honey.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Hello!! For us in the southern US, the small hive beetles lay eggs around the frame and in small cracks and crevices. After 2 to 3 days those eggs will hatch and the larvae will begin feeding in the honey. The comb will become infested with these larvae and will destroy the honey. So freezing will kill the eggs. So if it is to be cut up first before freezing, we must do it quickly and then freeze, or we must be sure the humidity in the room is less than 50% and that the dry air is circulating through the frames so that the eggs are dried out and then cut it and freeze it. I freeze my frames after drying them to be sure the eggs are completely destroyed since I will not get to curing for a couple of weeks. Freezing will also kill any wax moth eggs as well. I have not noticed any loss in taste or quality from freezing and the endless, it is a must in my region. Thanks for the questions!!
@MOHAMADYARUB
2 жыл бұрын
@@MikeBarryBees Thank you Mike. Appreciate your clarification and swift response. Wish you all the best.
Awesome ❤
Mike, your comb honey looks great! I’m the type person that would love to get the ones with the cracks at a discount because it’s really going to have cracks in it when I pop a bite into my big mouth and start chewing! lol I didn’t produce any comb honey this year although I did last year. One of my friends gave me a jar of her chunk honey and it’s very good. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten any bad honey. The worst that I’ve ever had was just wonderful. lol. I’m sure a bite with SHB larvae in it would not be good! Like I told you before, if you have to come my way for anything and still have some comb honey, I want to buy some. I don’t think shipping comb honey would be a good idea unless it was packed frozen in the appropriate package and that gets too expensive. Thanks for the great video telling us how we need to cut and package comb honey. lol
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Don, I think I just got grossed out when I read the larvae in a bite note😳😳. Can you imagine!!! I will be sure to bring one by if we pass your place, you can bet on it. I totally agree on the shipping. I’ve had a few inquiries, but I told them that was my concern. We had some melt in a box in a vehicle and it was shaded and everything.
Hogg system looking better I think.
@MikeBarryBees
3 ай бұрын
I’ve thought about that type of frame, the Hogg cassettes, but I see these as normal frames and less for the bees to conform to. I like this way better. Less to buy and less money.
The first thing is the bees have to rebuild the wax before they can install the honeycomb
@edmartin875
3 ай бұрын
That's the way beehives work.
🛫📖🛬 Hi Brother Mike, Always interesting to follow you and I always get a blessing. My plans on doing some comb in the jars this year didn't come to "bee"🐝. Maybe next year ❓ Thanks for all your hard work that we get to glean off of, Bro. What is the brand of Bee suit that you use and is it the breathable type ❓ BTW: The other day I tried to do a full Hive inspection without a Bee Suit; Will not try that again! Those little girls didn't like me tearing their house apart and Soo; They gave me my baptism in beekeeping. Approx: 30 Stings and in some very tender areas at that! 🐝 Have you ever harvested in the mason jars in your supers. How much would you charge for the small and large jars? GOD Bless 📖🛐✈️🐆🐝
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Hello there brother and hope all is well after the sting-fest that you’re bees put on....as far as the jacket I have, it’s from Dadant and it is just the plain heavy cotton. Doesn’t breathe that much, but when there’s no wind, it’s no hotter than a ventilated jacket in my opinion. The ventilated jackets are just so heavy and thick that with no wind, they’re brutal....again, my opinion. I have not tried the jars. I don’t care for the combs being glued to the sides and I haven’t really seen where they’ve done great job at filling them. Jason Crook of Bohemia Bees has a good video on them and his cake out very nice. As far as price, we sell a pint jar with a piece of comb like the slice I showed in the video for $14. They sell very well. Many of God’s blessings my friend!
Looks great. Could you cut and package then freeze?
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Yes Keith and I have done that in the past. But you have to cut them pretty quickly or hope the SHB eggs were killed in the drying process. But I have done that in the past. Problem is I have chest freezers and it’s hard to stack all the packs in there without them getting knocked around. If I had a freezer with shelves, I’d probably do it that way every time.
Great Not how to video! How many ounces do you put on your label? Thanks and Bee Amazing!
@MikeBarryBees
5 ай бұрын
Id have to look, but I weighed the thinnest chunk and then I keep the same size cut each time. That way I might be off, but it’ll always be that the person gets more than what’s on the label should the squares be a bit bigger.
Great Video Mike!, Do you use starter strips along the top of your frames?
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks David! I use the full sheet of the ultra thin wax foundation. Just seems they get the frames done faster that way. But starter strips will work fine too.
Gloves would bee a good idea when handling cut comb, people like untouched comb honey, just thinking out loud.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
In my opinion, Way too sticky for gloves. We keep things clean and always wash our hands. I wash my hands between each frame after cutting and even after handling the camera. I am a stickler on that and if I even touch anything outside of the operation at hand, I wash my hands. I do hear ya though, but sticky gloves would drive me nuts and I could see comb being damaged if it stuck to a glove or something.
Those look great, Mike! I wonder if you can tell me two things about your comb sections. What is the median weight on those sections and what is the measurement on those that fit into those containers so nicely? I pack around 500 sections each season and those containers look really nice. I'll have to check on the cost of those. Thanks!
@kathyhathaway8823
2 жыл бұрын
Hello I am not Mike but in the mannlake book on page 171 are the clamshell containers . It said they are 4.5”x4.25”x 1.5”. They have a 10 pack for $12.00 or they have a 100 pack for $35.00 or a 600 pack for $180.00 . Hope that helps a little
@ThatBeeMan
2 жыл бұрын
@@kathyhathaway8823 Thanks, Kathy. I'll pay way more than those prices and my current containers are costing me $0.50 each so I guess I'll be staying with what I have.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Yep Brad, Kathy is right on with the numbers. The combs are cut to about 9.5cm from what my conversion is telling me and the squares are 320g, give or take. Very thick ones a bit more of course. We’re limited on the clamshell availability here and any other types that I can find increase in price from what she told you. I buy the 100 qty or Dadant sells them at 50 I believe.
@ThatBeeMan
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Mike! The crazy thing is, as a Canadian, 4.5”x4.25”x 1.5” means more to me than 9.5cm but I still measure my comb in grams, because all food is measured in metric here. Honey is sold bulk by the lb and retail by the g or kg...talk about confusing! My comb ranges from 200 to 600 grams but I try to pack 350g to 450g pieces and I sell those for $15.00. Your presentation is beyond what I attempt to achieve. I don't use any foundation at all though, the bees do it all.
Hey Mike. You said that u freeze the comb honey in the frames before you cut and package. Do you worry about condensation when you are thawing It out?
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
I don’t seem to have an issue. I mean there is a little just with the humidity down here, but very little. And it’s dry in no time. I used to freeze the individual square in the containers and that caused me a bit more condensation. But all and all, it’s not an issue.
Great video Mike. My cut comb didn't turn out to good. This was my first try. Must not have done it right. I put wax starter strips in shallow frames and boxes. I got a few frames about 3/4s capped and not drawn all the way to the sides and a few capped in the center but not all around. Some may be capped partly on one side but not the other. I need some training on comb honey production. Is it ok to make chunk honey out of the ones that have honey in them but not capped. Some are just drawn comb and no honey in them. I guess they are headed for the wax melter.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
A lot of it has to do with flow and strength being just right, especially depending on the region. It can be tricky, but you’ll get it nailed down and after that you’ll see some good results.
Trying next year also. East of Dallas here. Horse country, not sure if I have enough of a flow for it. Mike can you ship, if so PM me and I`ll send the money for a slab of it.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
You definitely need a good flow, but a good, strong colony can build a box for you in a decent flow. I don’t ship the comb due to the heat. I edited some parts of the video out of the final cut, but in part of it that’s not actually in the video I had told a story of how some comb melted down in the heat. I had three in a box inside a vehicle and they melted flat. They were even covered and not in the sun. I worry about them in a postal truck in the sun and heat being shipped. I’d hate to have that happen. If you want to try, we can. Up to you. Where can I PM you?
Where do you get your containers? Haven’t been able to find any with those dimensions.
@MikeBarryBees
11 ай бұрын
Mann Lake and Dadant carry them.
@davidmcneilly2727
11 ай бұрын
Thanks Mike.
Where do you get your comb honey containers. I Haven't been able to find them
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
David, Mann Lake and Dadant sell them. I think I stated the item number for Mann lake in the video. I’d have to go back and look. But these came from Dadant this time as Mann lake was out of bulk.
@davidgarner3071
2 жыл бұрын
@@MikeBarryBees thank you
Is it just me or would it be vastly easier to do that first cut if it wasn't laying flat against that other frame that's causing obvious interactions between the knife blade and the lower metal pieces. Just go vertical with it slice slice slice slice again voila you're done.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
No, actually it would not. If I laid it on another frame, it would fall down thru the other frame as I cut thru, thus damaging the comb. And it surely can't lay on another frame of comb or both would be damaged. It works just fine this way and it's only one box, so I was in no hurry. I was also in no hurry as I did not want the comb to continue cracking down the seams that were already visible. It's only ten frames and the 8 I did this particular evening were done and draining in 45 minutes. Faster if I weren't shooting the video. Appreciate the suggestion, but it really wasn't that difficult.
It isn't a novelty to me. Comb honey tastes the best. Spun honey out of an extractor doesn't taste as good. I have to pay $16.99 for a 1lb square where I am. I'd buy a frame at a time if I could.
@MikeBarryBees
6 ай бұрын
I agree, it definitely has a different taste. I have often wondered if it might be because it has yet to be exposed to open air….
I have no luck on comb bees wont help it all cris cross
@MikeBarryBees
Жыл бұрын
It’s really got to be just right with strength and flow. This year I won’t get any at all since we had a light flow due to the freeze. Thanks for watching!!
but doesnt it take a lot of honey to make comb?
@MikeBarryBees
2 ай бұрын
It takes the same amount to make comb on wax as it does on plastic foundation. There’s no difference except I don’t spin the honey out of the cells, I cut it in squares. Been done like that long before there were extractors.
Is this spring or June honey?
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Spring and June. Added it in may and pulled it in July. Mostly tallow though where a lot of my liquid is blackberry from spring and then the tallow from June. No mixture due to the privet falling flat this season. I never try the comb super in the spring as the early spring flow here is so hit and miss.
If we only knew the ugly truth about our food we get in the market we my not eat it so willingly.
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
In this case it’s only ugly if we let the beetles have their way. And wow, could it get ugly if we do.
The end of the day how is cheating how times money if you put cider vinegar in the sole under the hive and with a cover of plastic the hive battles can’t reproduce
@edmartin875
3 ай бұрын
??? I haven't kept bees for almost 50 years, but I try to keep up with it. Having said that, with beekeeping in mind, your sentence is completely incoherent to me. Perhaps punctuation would help but I parced your sentence every way I could, trying to make sense of it and was unsuccessful, so I doubt it.
Use gloves
@MikeBarryBees
2 жыл бұрын
Why? It’s too sticky and I would have to change them constantly.
@cedricdavis6718
2 жыл бұрын
@@MikeBarryBees but people don't like their food touched especially when the can see it and no hand washing
@edmartin875
3 ай бұрын
@@cedricdavis6718 Get real. Almost all food gets touched at some point, even in this highly automated world. That is just a fact of life. Videos are made of cut scenes. Scenes of constant handwashing are totally unnecessary except for those with mental problems, so handwashing is either not on camera or cut out completely. And don't tell those poor souls that honey is just bee vomit. And as a side note, these same folks should never drive by a sugar refinery, or they will be the ones tossing their cookies.