Last September I harvested some honeycomb from one of my Warre hives. In Spring of 2008 I had hived a huge swarm, and over the summer they built up a big hive with lots of good looking honey comb. I decided I would harvest a box of cut comb honey from this hive.
First, I removed the roof and the quilt. This exposed the cloth that covers the top hive box. Then, I carefully peeled back the cloth on the top box, and took a look at the bees. They were happily attending to the honeycomb. I used my smoker to blow some smoke into the beehive to move the bees into the lower boxes. Then, I slowly twisted the top box in a circle to break the propolis bond the bees had put into place to seal the hive boxes together.
As I worked, I made sure I was gentle and calm around the honeybees, and I also tried to make my movements smooth and efficient. This goes far to help the bees to remain calm.
As I took off the top box, a cluster of honeybees gathered on the top bars of the next box to gather some of the honey which dripped from the honeycomb in the top hive box. You can see these bees at work in the photo below.
I needed to put the cloth back onto the hive, so I took my smoker and gently smoked the bees back into their hive. Unlike those misrepresentations of beekeepers in “The Bee Movie,” I do not routinely smoke my beehives to the point of annihilation. I prefer to use either no smoke at all, or a gentle spray of sugar water. Actually, this was the first time I used the smoker on this beehive all summer!
I gently replaced the cloth, and laid the quilt back on top of the hive. Then I replaced the hive roof. Now I could focus on how to get the bees out of the hive box and back into the main beehive. Even though I had used the smoker, there were still plenty of bees in the hive box.
Go on to the next page to continue the adventure!
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37 responses so far ↓
Ralph // November 23, 2008 at 8:30 am |
I might have freed the sides of the comb first, then lifted each comb out still attached to the top bar – probably much less messy.
Nick // November 24, 2008 at 11:13 am |
Ralph – Yes, that would be easier. However, the rebates on this particular box protruded into the the comb area. (The rebates support the top bars.) The bees had formed the comb around the rebates, rendering it impossible to lift the comb our without taking off the top bar.
I have since started cutting the rebates into the sides of the box instead of nailing them to the sides. This makes the box compatible to the method you recommend.
Thanks for your comment!
Paul // November 24, 2008 at 8:50 pm |
That is a great way of bee extraction. Makes the job much easier than using an extractor.
Nick // November 24, 2008 at 10:32 pm |
Paul – I think so too. It even works for liquid honey. All you have to do is crush and strain the comb honey…then filter it and you have liquid honey. Wash off the wax in water and you are left with fresh, clean beeswax for candles and such.
Robin // November 26, 2008 at 11:43 am |
Hi Nick – Great site and really interesting blog. I’m new to BK myself having started 2 horizontal top bar hives this year in the UK thinking these to be sustainable. Having read more now I am converted to the Warre philosophy so have built 3 of these ready for population from next year’s swarms. You seem to be fully converted yourself, have you still got any Langstroths or have they all been converted?
Nick // November 28, 2008 at 1:06 pm |
Robin – Thanks for your compliment! Yes, I am pretty much converted to Warre hives. I have one or two Langs left…but I will probably sell them next year. Good luck with your beekeeping venture!
Dietrich // December 26, 2008 at 2:37 pm |
Hello Nick,
I am Hobby-Beekeeper in Brazil and ready with 2 Warré Beehives waiting to catch two africanised bee swarms.
In the Warré instruction they recommend to put a empty box under the box tower when you take out a top honeycomb box to have a continuous comb renewal.
My congratulations for the fotos and work explanation.
Dietrich
Nick // December 26, 2008 at 7:24 pm |
Dietrich – Thanks for your comment! Yes, Warre does recommend to replenish your hive by replacing boxes in that manner. Good luck with the Africanized swarms. Are they very aggressive towards you?
Dietrich // December 27, 2008 at 8:48 am |
Hello Nick,
In my opinion it depends of the climate ( temperature, wind, rain, etc.) and quantity of honey. Sometimes, the same beehive, can be very calm and other time very defensive. What they don’t like is dark or black hair or the dark mesh in the head-mask.
Dietrich
Nick // December 27, 2008 at 5:07 pm |
Dietrich – Very interesting! I have heard that it is best to wear light colored clothing when working with any type of bee. Your comment seems to support that theory.
Dietrich // December 28, 2008 at 8:06 am |
Hello Nick,
Yes, that is right. White or light green, but white is the usual here in Brazil. But the face mesh is better to be black. With a colorless mesh you can not see right. The result of black mesh is, that the bees fly in front of your eyes and nose. Advantages and disadvantages.
Nick // December 31, 2008 at 9:27 pm |
Dietrich – I have found black to be the best head net color as well. Thanks for your tips!
ryan // January 6, 2009 at 12:45 pm |
thanks now i know how i can extract the honey at home without buying an extractor. what would be the best type of bees for me to get i was told italian is that the type you would suggest
Nick // January 7, 2009 at 1:50 pm |
ryan – You can also crush and strain your honey using cheesecloth or nylon paint strainer bags. Use a clean bucket to catch the strainings.
Yes, most people like Italians for the quick spring build up. They are calm, so that is helpful for a new beekeeper. Carnolians overwinter better, but they are known to be swarm happy. Italians are a good choice for beginning beekeepers.
I like to use feral, or wild, bees exclusively. I travel around and catch swarms in my local area. It is fun, but it takes some practice.
Dave // February 19, 2009 at 8:16 am |
Hi – I’ve been wanting to try backyard beekeeping for years and had decided this was going to be the year. Then after realizing the startup costs for Lang hives and a honey extruder, I thought I’d have to pass again.
But just this morning found out about TBH’s, and then the Warre variation via your site. Looks like I’m on again! Thanks for so much great info. I’m looking forward to building at least one hive and the bees are on order.
Nick // February 19, 2009 at 11:48 am |
Dave – Wow! From “no bees this year” to bees on order in less than one day.
Congratulations on getting started with backyard beekeeping! I know you will enjoy it.
Andy // February 21, 2009 at 6:27 pm |
Hi Nick. Great site! I hope soon to start a hive or two. I am a transplant and now reside in California. I joined a local beekeepers assoc. and drew a few blank stares when I mentioned the Warre method. I’m hooked on Warre’s as -natural-as-possible approach, but I have one problem- can you tell me where to buy a metric tape measure?!! Only kidding.Thanks again for a very easy to read and informative site
Nick // February 24, 2009 at 6:02 pm |
Andy – Thanks for your very nice comment! If you want a metric tape, you can find one here: http://www.duckworksbbs.com/tools/measure/index.htm
Garth // February 24, 2009 at 7:48 am |
Nick,
Wow! I really like your site. My daughter and I try to do many things on our farm to create a more sustainable way of life. Bee Keeping is on our list of things to experiment with this year. What do you think of putting a hive or six out in a field–unattended? Do you think there would be problems with raccoons, possums etc? Thanks again.
Nick // February 24, 2009 at 6:00 pm |
Garth – Thanks for your compliments. If you are going to put your Warre Hives in a field, you will want to make sure they have some shade during the hottest part of the day. If you have raccoons and possums in your area, you will have to deal with them wherever you put your hives. Predators can go anywhere, especially skunks.
Laura // March 8, 2009 at 9:07 am |
Nick,
I just love your website! For some reason I was a bit overwhelmed by looking at Beekeeping for All causing me to procrastinate, but you’ve made it all seem so easy. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I’m very interested in installing windows. I’m just wondering how much extra work it will be. Do you have any success with that?
Nick // March 10, 2009 at 5:13 pm |
Laura – I do not use windows since they are just add time to the building process. You need to cut out a side of the hive box, then inlay a piece of glass or plastic, and then build a shutter to cover the window when not in use.
Once finished, a window looks very nice. I will build a hive with windows someday.
Dan // March 12, 2009 at 11:01 am |
Nick what a site I found it 3 or 4 days ago I know now that my bees will be in the Warre Hive come Spring Keep up the great work Dan
Nick // March 28, 2009 at 11:36 am |
Dan – Thanks for your kind words! I look forward to hearing how your Warre Beehives are coming along.
Katherine // April 4, 2009 at 1:27 pm |
Hey Nick,
I just came across your website by “accident” and am feeling this incredible wave of relief. I have been trying to find someone who can tell me about natural beekeeping for sometime but to no avail. You and your site appear quite genuine, thank you.
Nick // May 8, 2009 at 1:07 pm |
Katherine – Wow, thank you! I am glad that you found this site useful. Best wishes to your beekeeping success!
Kirsten // May 7, 2009 at 3:55 pm |
Hi there! Your site is great for learning, as I am. I have two Warre hives and a bottom feeder (as shown in the plans you posted). The bees are happy so far, but unfortunately have built comb right down into the bottom feeder (they have been in the hive for 5 days. I only had one Hive bo on. I am at a lost of what to do. I would like to add another box to the bottom, but this would mean that I would break the comb they have built in the process. Do you have any suggestions as to what I should do?
Thanks,
Kirsten
Nick // May 8, 2009 at 10:15 am |
Kirsten – Ooops! Sometimes the bees can build the comb very quickly indeed. I would gently try to remove the feeder. Just peel away the comb from the feeder. It is new comb, so you can (gently) remove the feeder. Maybe use your hive tool to carefully cut the feeder away from the comb. Then put a new box on under neath the top box.
Let me know if that works, or if you fixed it another way!
journey11 // September 11, 2009 at 5:25 am |
Hi Nick. Thank you for all this info. Very nicely done. I am going to look further into the Warre method now. My dad kept bees using Langstroth hives. I got to observe a wild hive once that set up in a 4-6″ space between two doors on an old, unused cellar. What a wall of honeycomb! I can see how the bees must like this method. Thank you for making your construction tutorial freely available. I can tell you are passionate about your bees.
Lucy // October 7, 2009 at 10:19 pm |
Hey Nick – question: how d’you lift the stack of boxes to add a new box at the bottom? It seems like the stack could weigh 50+ lbs and is a little precarious? Thanks
Margie in AK // November 5, 2009 at 10:57 pm |
Hi Nick, sounds like you had a great summer. Did you nadir the boxes w/o a lift, or just muscle them? I have an IBM lift at work that’s giving me ideas…
BTW, had enough stores; will finally attempt overwintering up here in the Interior. They’re currently in a Lang-Warre setup (8 frame w/quilt)
A side comment for some of the folks who want to set up next year, do check and see what your local ordinances are for beekeeping, if any- good luck to all!
vincent // November 14, 2009 at 8:30 am |
wow thanks for all tha tips,think my mom will be freekt out when she sees a teenager working with bees
Roger // January 3, 2010 at 6:22 pm |
Nick wrote:
‘I have since started cutting the rebates into the sides of the box instead of nailing them to the sides. This makes the box compatible to the method you recommend.’
Could you post a photo of how you are “cutting the rebates into the sides…”?
Thanks!
dave m // January 10, 2010 at 6:32 pm |
Great site! The photos suggest that the top bars are nailed to the rebates. Is this typically how the WH is assembled?
Carrie // March 7, 2010 at 3:49 pm |
My first top bar hive came thru the snowiest February of all time here near Pittsburgh. I had put hay bales on top and on each side. The one comb I robbed last year had knotweed honey, dark and delicious. I have never been around a hive before and did this with my mentor from GA via cell and internet, reading and adapting to this northern climate. No treatments, no chemicals. I did see varroa in the fall. Looking forward to a split or baiting a new hive. The warre looks great, but I can’t beat my TBH for it’s simplicity and ease for the beginning beekeeper.
Regards,
Carrie
Debbie // May 31, 2010 at 4:28 pm |
Hi Nick, I am new to bee keeping and have got a warre hive set up and am now waiting for bees. I l have joined a local bee club and I told them about the warre hive, one of the older members said you couldn’t eat the honey from a warre hive because there would be brood in the comb because there is no queen extractor could you tell me if this is the case.
Margie in AK // May 31, 2010 at 5:29 pm |
Hi Debbie, Warre hives are still being pooh-poohed Stateside; they’re widely used elsewhere.
The inside of the hive is very dynamic; where the queen lays changes a lot; the bees prefer to have their stores above the brood nest; you don’t have to pull the brood frames, just the supers with honey. To harvest, most use a fruit press or something similar. I don’t know off hand what Nick is using; he mentions a method up above. You’re welcome to ignore your club member’s comment and enjoy your experience with your ‘girls’.
Best of luck to you!
On the topbars, I cut a notch into the end of the topbar, then put a brad in the rebate to hold it in place; the notch acts like a pair of fingers holding a straw in between. Hope that helps a few folks.