The frames have to be already full drawn before you can reduce from 10 to 9. Bee space will always win.
"Bee space refers to the specific gap (between 1/4" and 3/8" or 6-9mm) that honeybees naturally leave between combs, frames, and other hive components.
This precise spacing allows bees to...
I have one hive that will not accept a standard entrance feeder. I hand trimmed a standard entrance feeder to make it fit. It's not pretty but it works.
The problem with the 8 frame hives is that the super is a little too wide for 8 frames with undrawn comb. Looks like they were designed to hold 8 frames with already drawn comb.
You cannot get away with 9 frames with undrawn comb in a 10 frame hive. Anytime you violate the "bee space" whether...
You will not believe how much more honey they will put in 9 frames than they put in 10 frames.
Another advantage is that the cells are higher than the frame and in my opinion they are easier to decap.
Bird netting can be walked right through by deer. I banished the deer from this area a long time ago by putting up a 6'x2"x4" welded wire fence. When they started going after trees I had planted 20 years previously, I said enough was enough.
The bucks can jump a 6' fence easily but most of...
I planted two this spring. One is blooming. I have not seen a bee on it yet. Of course they still have currant and cherry blossoms to work on.
I will have a bumper crop of tart cherries this year.
Added 2 more medium supers to each of the hives.
The Millers are starting to show up which means the Russian Olive bloom will be starting soon.
The Golden West hive is well ahead of the other two hives in working in their first medium super.
They definitely do. One of the things that was used for bear baits was a 5 gallon bucket of syrup with a drip. The deer would stay with the bucket until it was empty.
This particular hive location has always out produced any of the other hive locations. I suspect it gets more sun and less wind than the other locations. The differences are slight.