| Step 1: The simple smoker made from a small
can is suspended beneath the hive (for details on how to make, click here).
Returning field bees fly through this smoke screen, and carry the scent
into the hive, but we do not force smoke into the entrance. This obviates
unnecessary disturbance of the brood chamber. |
Step 2: A special hinged smoke hole is cut
in the back of the hive. Honey is stored at the back of the hive and this
is the area of least bee concentration. Thus when the smoke is applied,
a minimal number of bees are disturbed, and we do not put smoke directly
into the brood area. Here the smoke hole has been opened for demonstartion. |
Step3: Smoke being applied into the hive. Three
or four puffs from the bellows will be sufficient. We allow a period of
one to two minutes so that the smoke has time to fill the back section,
and so that the bees will move away from the honey area. This is useful
to the beekeeper as the bees will have already left the combs, making
harvest easier. |
| Step 4: A frame near the back is removed. We
selected the third frame from the back here, but occasionally bees may
be working on the second or very last frame. Note how the smoke from the
empty unused frames is given space to escape quickly, so as not to taint
the honey. |
Step 5: All empty frames which the bees are
not using are removed, until the first frame with drawn comb is reached.
Empty frames are placed on the ground to give space to work in. This frame
is unsealed nectar and not ready to harvest. It will be returned at the
end of harvesting. |
Step 6: A full frame of honey to harvest.Note
the smoke is puffed across the face of the frame and not into the hive.
The bees will run around to the others side of the frame.The frame is
lifted and shaken. The bees fall to the bottom and run towards the darkness,
the brood area, and thus away from the beekeeper. |
