I can’t imagine how you can get your conservatory to that temperature!
But if you can, you could start at 35 for a couple of days then raise it to 45.
However, it might be cheaper in the long run to buy a heated cabinet with what you could save on your electric bill.

I agree – it can be a nightmare.
However it’s a great source of autumn pollen and nectar for the bees which helps them build up for the winter.
As you say, frames sometimes need to be removed to give the bees space in the spring but these can be used to make nucs later in the year. Spring is also the time to take a crop – not the brood frames but strong colonies can be set up in the autumn as outlined above
Further research is currently being done into ivy and ling heather honey to see if they have medicinal properties similar to Manuka. And lets not forget – there is a growing market for ivy honey. Personally I don’t like the taste of it but a lot of people do and they are willing to pay extra for it which helps sweeten the grief of having to handle it.
A blessing and a curse then – like a lot of things in beekeeping.

I think ivy honey is a nightmare. I try and feed the bees with their sugar ration before the ivy flow starts. But it is not easy to get it right. I invariably find combs completely filled and rock solid with a mixture of ivy honey and sugar at my first spring inspection next year. The brood chamber can be nearly filled, restricting the queen’s egg laying at this critical time.

My only solution is to remove some filled brood frames and
replace them with empty drawn combs. Then I fill my large honey extractor with cold water, uncap the frames with ivy honey/sugar
and let them soak for a few hours or overnight. The ivy/honey mixture soon dissolves and the frames are ready for reuse. It is best to either put the extracted frames above the crow board for a cleanup or dry them carefully. Either way, the bees find them very attractive.

Any better ideas?

Phil

They certainly can struggle with it – it sets like rock. If they have uncapped frames – spray with water, the honey dissolves and they hoover it up then.

Thank you!

Hello David,
If you actually melted the wax it would have released any pollen and/or old cocoons that were in the comb into your honey and I’m guessing that’s your gunge. I found that 45 degrees was plenty to melt the honey without melting the wax.
If I was you, I would heat it again but only to about 45 degrees – don’t go melting the wax again – then coarse-strain it. After that you should be able to run it through a fine cloth without clogging it.
If you heat honey much above 50 degrees you will cook it.
Good luck!