People who keep bees are often interested in exactly how much honey is contained in one frame. However, it is impossible to give a clear answer to this question. The honey productivity of insects is influenced by a large number of factors. These include the climatic features of the region, the breed of bees, and the condition of the family. It is also important to take into account the location of the apiary and the presence of honey plants nearby.
How much honey is in the frame?
The volume of honey is primarily influenced by the type of structure. In this case, beekeepers use different options.
Dadanov frame
Dadan frames are used to remove honey that thrifty bees have stored for the winter. The thickness of such reserves is 15 centimeters. Dadan hives can contain 8-12 frames - it depends on the layout. The standard size is 435x300 millimeters. At the same time, the dimensions of the half-frames are 435x145 millimeters.
It is best to use products made from pine. These should include tensioned stainless steel and brass bushings. This helps optimize the collection of honey products. Dadan's design can hold 4.5 kilograms of bee nectar. The empty structure weighs only 500 grams.
Ruth frame
Ruta's polymer frames are very popular among beekeepers. They are suitable for reusable use. When installing foundation in such structures, it is not necessary to tension the wire. Therefore, the structures are easy to use.
Rutov structures have become widespread throughout the world. They are somewhat different in size from Dadanov’s designs. Ruth's frames measure 435x230 centimeters. Thanks to this, it is possible to build hives up to 7 floors and obtain 250 kilograms of valuable product. The weight of such a frame with honey is about 3 kilograms.
Half frame
Such structures are made 5 centimeters smaller than ordinary ones. Manufacturers claim that this makes it easier to remove nectar from the hive. The size of the half-frames is 435x145 millimeters. They contain approximately 1.5 kilograms of bee nectar.
How much honey does one hive produce per season?
Bees always produce different amounts of nectar, but it is quite possible to calculate the average parameters - for example, over a season. To determine this indicator, it is important to know the number of frames in the hive. Each of them produces 1-1.5 kilograms of product.
With 12 standard frames in the hive, the beekeeper will be able to obtain 12-18 kilograms of nectar. However, in practice, this volume is usually 11-15 kilograms, which is considered normal. Cells cannot be completely cleaned. In addition, not all frames are filled entirely. This is especially true for outlying structures.
The maximum and minimum volume of honey cannot be determined in advance. Experienced beekeepers collect 60-80 kilograms of honey from 1 hive during the summer. At the same time, the average parameters are at the level of 30-40 kilograms per season.
The amount of honey a beekeeper receives from a hive depends on many factors:
- Climate of the region. The productivity of bees depends on temperature, type of spring and winter weather.
- Weather features. In dry weather or during periods of heavy rainfall, honey plants bloom worse. Therefore, the honey productivity of bees is significantly reduced.
- Condition of the bees. Their activity depends on the health of insects.
- Breed of insects. The Carpathian, Ukrainian, and Ukrainian steppe breeds of bees bring the most honey.
- Choosing the location of the apiary. The amount of honey is favorably influenced by the presence of a good honey base and reservoirs.
The amount of honey in a hive depends on various factors. This indicator is influenced by the state of the bee colony, climatic and weather conditions, the location of the apiary and other features.
