Adding a honey super to your native bee hive
The sugarbag honey from native bees is divine and often described as liquid gold. After you have had your hive for 12 months the hive should be full of bees, honey pollen and brood. Typically the hive should weigh 7 kg.
Below I have described the HOW TO of adding a honey super to your hive so you can enjoy a drizzle of honey on your vanilla ice cream!!.
This is what your Sydney stingless bee hive looks like. Remove the strapping from the hive using a drill remove the 4 screws on the top of the hive.
Then remove the four screws in the corners of the hive.
Using a hive tool pry of the lid to expose the hole in the top of the hive.
Top of the hive.
Using strapping tape secure the bottom sections of the hive. Place the honey jar on top of the hole.
The bees will deposit the honey into the jar.
Place the honey super (3rd level) onto the hive.
You can check the honey jar in 4-6 weeks. Every time you harvest the honey it will taste a little different because of the various flowers that are in bloom. Using a fork or your fingers puncture and squeeze the honey pots. Strain the honey through a tea strainer or mousseline fabric to remove dead bees and pollen. You don’t want the pollen mixed with the honey as it changes the flavour and can ferment the honey. Keep your “smackerel” of harvested honey in the fridge.
Delicious on vanilla ice cream to good for toast !!!
Tom Poland
Thanks, very clear. Question: why do we call them a honey “super”?
Pam W
What is the best time of day to put the super on? Or does it make no difference?
admin
Hi Pam
The hive has to be full of bees, honey, pollen and brood. The hive should have doubled in weight. If the hive is not full the bees will not deposit any excess honey in the honey super. If the hive is full you can add the honey super now.
Zena
Does it mater what time of year you add the honey super?
admin
Hi Zena
you can add the honey super when the hive is completely full of honey, bees, pollen and brood. Spring through summer is fine. During winter they will actually be consuming some honey as they won’t be foraging as much. If you add it to soon the bees will fill the jar with rubbish.
Carlos Goncalves
you mentioned the weight of the hive would be around the 7 kilos mark before a super can be introduced, is that correct?
admin
Correct…approx 7 kilos in weight. It normally takes the hive 12-18 months to reach that weight