The process immediately following extraction is a seamless transition from mechanical reset to biological renewal. Once the honey has finished draining, the operator mechanically resets the comb, allowing the bees to immediately re-enter the cells, clean away residual wax cappings, and begin storing nectar again without the frame ever leaving the hive.
Core Takeaway Unlike traditional methods that require removing, spinning, and filtering frames, the Flow Hive cycle occurs entirely within the brood box. The mechanical resetting of the comb triggers an immediate instinctual response from the colony to repair the wax seal and replenish their stores, significantly reducing colony disturbance.
The Mechanical Phase: Resetting the Comb
Closing the Split Cells
The process begins with the operator interacting with the frame mechanism. A special key is inserted into the top slot of the frame and turned. This action engages the internal mechanism to close the "split" cells that allowed the honey to flow downward.
Restoring Structural Integrity
Turning the key realigns the comb parts, returning them to their original, intact honeycomb structure. This creates a solid floor for the cells again, effectively sealing the bottom of the comb so it can hold liquid nectar once more.
The Biological Phase: The Colony's Response
Wax Recycling and Cleaning
Once the cells are reset, the worker bees move into the empty comb to investigate. Because the extraction process breaks the wax seal but leaves the wax present, the bees must chew away the rough wax cappings. They clean the "wet" cells, reclaiming any remaining honey and recycling the wax for future use.
The Refilling Cycle
With the cells cleaned and the structure intact, the colony resumes normal operations. Worker bees begin depositing fresh nectar into the cells. Once the nectar is cured into honey, they cap the cells with fresh wax, completing the cycle and preparing the frame for the next harvest.
Understanding the Differences
This section clarifies how the Flow Hive process differs from standard beekeeping practices mentioned in the references.
Elimination of the "Wet Frame" Storage Risk
In traditional beekeeping, extracted frames (often called "wet frames") must be physically placed back into the hive for cleaning or stored carefully to avoid attracting pests. In a Flow Hive, the frames remain inside the protective environment of the hive throughout the process. This allows the bees to reclaim resources immediately without the beekeeper managing external storage logistics.
Bypassing the Centrifuge
The internal reset mechanism renders the traditional centrifugal extractor obsolete for these specific frames. By avoiding the need to remove frames, uncap them manually, and spin them, the colony is spared the significant stress and temporary homelessness associated with traditional harvesting.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
When managing a Flow Hive post-extraction, your focus should be on ensuring the mechanical reset is complete to facilitate the bees' work.
- If your primary focus is Production Speed: Ensure the key is turned fully to the closed position immediately after draining; this allows bees to start the cleaning and refilling process without delay.
- If your primary focus is Colony Health: Observe the frames (via the observation window) after resetting to verify the bees are actively chewing away the old cappings, confirming the colony is healthy and behaving normally.
The efficiency of the Flow Hive relies on a partnership: you reset the mechanism, and the bees instinctively handle the restoration.
Summary Table:
| Stage | Action | Participant | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Phase | Key insertion and turn | Beekeeper | Resets split cells to intact honeycomb structure |
| Cleaning Phase | Wax recycling & cleaning | Worker Bees | Removal of old cappings and residual honey |
| Refilling Phase | Nectar deposition | Worker Bees | New nectar is stored and cured into honey |
| Completion | Wax capping | Worker Bees | Cells are sealed with fresh wax for the next harvest |
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