Welcome to another episode of backyard honey bee keeping topics.
We’re focusing on spring preparations so you won’t be caught off guard.
OOPS! I did get the date incorrect! This video was recorded on April 21st of 2023. Please don’t come here to validate your calendar or to set your watch 🙂
If you have a topic you’d like to submit for consideration, please visit this webpage: https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/thewaytobee.html
Don’t let chemical companies tell you that you need to kill weeds! learn about Dead Nettles here: https://www.growforagecookferment.com/foraging-purple-dead-nettle/
I invite you to join an online fellowship of beekeepers, where you can discuss your beekeeping anytime day or night:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3062274013832702/
Using Drones for mite counts? YES: https://youtu.be/GfzkreMezCI
Today’s topics are as listed below:
1) Can you tell us a little more about Lyson hive stands, and why you notched 4×4 lumber when they are designed for 2×4 lumber?
See them here, I could not find a lower price, if you find them cheaper, please let me know: https://www.betterbee.com/wooden-hive-equipment-10-frame/lyhe4033.asp
2) You used Eco-Wood, others have mentioned that their wood still warps or comes apart at the finger joints. I would love your opinion.
For those wanting to know what Eco-Wood is, please watch this video:
3) It seems like lots of additional equipment is needed when starting beekeeping. Could you estimate what extra standby equipment you might need for a Langstroth Hive?
4) How long after bees swarm, can few remaining bees raise a new queen?
5) This is an update regarding the BetterBee Better-Comb being installed upside down. I am highly impressed by the company.
If you want to know more about BetterComb, here is my video review:
NOTE, use wire, not toothpicks: https://youtu.be/74Ajg1chRqQ
6) I looked at capped brood and it was brown in color. Should the cappings be light beeswax?
7) Not all swarms are created equal! Be prepared for any surprises you may receive from unsettled, or defensive bees.
8) You present your Langstroth Hives without venting or top entrances, why does your Long Langstroth seem to contradict that? Can you explain why you recommend upper venting in the Long Langstroth?
FREE PRINTS: (a BIG Thank you to Ross Millard for his digital draftsmanship!): https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/printsforyou.html
9) You said that queens don’t mate with drones from their own colony. I have heard that many times from many sources. How does that work?
10) Do you know if anyone has ever tried to teach bees to groom off varroa by putting a dab of honey on the mites?
11) I think I killed my Queen in a mite wash. Should I re-Queen or let them make a queen?
12) Here in NW Texas we’ve had extremely dry winter weather. Spring isn’t providing as it should. I’m wondering if I should put my bees on light syrup? I have pollen patties but fear that it would encourage brood production when Mother Nature isn’t providing.
13) I noticed that when bees are departing the hive, they make a figure eight as they rise up and fly off. My question is, did this orientation flight mimic the waggle dance from inside the hive? Or is this typically how they orient themselves?
14) I have 3 very small over-wintered colonies that I am worried about. Can I mix leftover Hive Alive Fondant with pollen substitute to make patties to feed my bees?
Thank you for Beeing with me here today! If you are counting varroa mites on your drones, I’d like to hear about your experience.
Want to support a worthy cause? Click on this link:
HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND BEES BETTER!
By participating in the Bee Informed Partnership loss and management survey: https://beeinformed.org/citizen-science/loss-and-management-survey/
26 Comments
1) Can you tell us a little more about Lyson hive stands, and why you notched 4×4 lumber when they are designed for 2×4 lumber? 17:18
2) You used Eco-Wood, others have mentioned that their wood still warps or comes apart at the finger joints. I would love your opinion. 20:50
3) It seems like lots of additional equipment is needed when starting beekeeping. Could you estimate what extra standby equipment you might need for a Langstroth Hive? 24:59
4) How long after bees swarm, can few remaining bees raise a new queen? 35:46
5) This is an update regarding the BetterBee Better-Comb being installed upside down. I am highly impressed by the company. 39:39
6) I looked at capped brood and it was brown in color. Should the cappings be light beeswax? 41:38
7) Not all swarms are created equal! Be prepared for any surprises you may receive from unsettled, or defensive bees. 43:45
8) You present your Langstroth Hives without venting or top entrances, why does your Long Langstroth seem to contradict that? Can you explain why you recommend upper venting in the Long Langstroth? 53:10
9) You said that queens don't mate with drones from their own colony. I have heard that from many sources. How does that work? 59:41
10) Do you know if anyone has ever tried to teach bees to groom off varroa by putting a dab of honey on the mites? 1:09:41
11) I think I killed my Queen in a mite wash. Should I re-Queen or let them make a queen? 1:13:37
12) Here in NW Texas we've had extremely dry winter weather. Spring isn't providing as it should. I'm wondering if I should put my bees on light syrup? I have pollen patties but fear that it would encourage brood production when Mother Nature isn't providing. 1:18:13
13) I noticed that when bees are departing the hive, they make a figure eight as they rise up and fly off. My question is, did this orientation flight mimic the waggle dance from inside the hive? Or is this typically how they orient themselves? 1:23:14
14) I have 3 very small over-wintered colonies that I am worried about. Can I mix leftover Hive Alive Fondant with pollen substitute to make patties to feed my bees? 1:26:46
May 21st? Is this from last year?
Hiya Fred, iv just noticed my bees are three bee deep on the fresh nectar in the brood comb when they have capped honey above in the super, my good friend and experienced bee keeper said that I need to count frames of brood and stores so I know if they are eating stores or storing stores so i will know if there is a possibility of starvation. My hives are full of bees, they look really good but if she hadn’t said what she said I wouldn’t have realised that they were using more stores than filling cells with nectar. Please if you have time do a fluff section on brood/stores/ bee ratio and the importance of realising if they are using rather than storing and they may starve. I now have sugar syrup ready just incase the stores dwindle and I have to feed. Your opinion would be great as always x
Never apologise for the length of your broadcast, someone some where will be learning from it, as I do every time x
ECO-Wood is a wood treatment not a sealant, Thank you Fred.
I have tried to explain this to beekeepers when ever the topic comes up, I try to explain to them the difference and how to remedy the issues.
Hi Fred hope you are well , we get thefts and hive damage in uk 🇬🇧 unfortunately we have dodgy light fingered folk the same as you , have a fab week and a better week ahead hopefully 👍🏻
Always great stuff Frederick.
Question for you my friend. I’m about to split a thriving hive to start a new hive—and the current hive is just now building queen cups.
When I split the hive-the old queen is going into the new hive and then very quickly, I presume the old hive will build queen replacement cells. My question is—once the old hive has produced numerous swarm or supersedure cells, should I go in and remove all of them except the best cell; and won’t this help control them from swarming and to help them just focus on making a new queen?
Grateful. Hope I made myself clear.
I’m so inspired. Going to ask for a bee belt for Mother’s Day!
As a Doctor, I have to let you know that the pollens reported on allergy sites are not those that the bees are looking for. Humans tend to be mostly allergic to grass pollen, and bees, as far as I know, have no interest in that. Similarly, some folk think that eating honey or pollen from local hives may help them develop blocking antibodies which might help with their hay fever. This is unlikely, because, again, bees don't generally collect those pollens which cause human allergies.
Thanks!
Fred, I am half the way through your video. Will listen to the second half on the way back home later today. Thanks for your detailed explanation on drones not feeding themselves. Now I am not sure if drones feeding themselves:) What one observes is often more accurate than what it in the paper. Please keep observing drones and keep us updated. In the meantime, I will look for more studies that examined feeding patterns of drones.
Good show today Fred learning more and more
Glad you keep it real. 😂😂😂😂😂
Question? I didn’t have good results using the extended release OA. Now I have a mite issue. The weather has been warmer during the day but freezing at night. Difficulty getting last minute miticide due to supply issues. I happen to have Gard three from last year so I went ahead and put that on today I ordered might check that still isn’t here. How soon do you think I could put that on when it does arrive. Thank you for your input and your channel which I listen to it once a week.
Fred how many seasons did the wax coating last on your Hover hive? Thanks.
In my garage this afternoon just listening to Fred on Spotify, cutting and grinding some metal to make hive stands, assuming I don’t burn my garage down with the new welder I bought when what comes rolling through my speakers….
Sassy pants….
👏🏻
What do you do with deep frames that are loaded with pollen from last year? I seem to have quite a few and takes up a lot of the queen's laying space. I am adding foundations periodically to build new wax but wonder what to do with all the extra.
Thanks Fred! Another great Q&A full of information. I believe you had said in a previous Q&A that you had converted all of your Langstroth hives to singles deeps. I am contemplating this as well and was wondering what a potential downside would be. I imagine that 1 potential downside would be that single-deep hives may have a higher tendency to swarm since they can run out of room quickly. Is this true and are their other downsides?
I always feed any type of hard food in a take away tray unturned over the hole in the crown board, no disturbance. Great vid again thanks
Ohio weather has been HORRIBLE. Everything is blooming, 80 degrees one day, down to 50 the next. 32 degrees the next 2-3 nights in a row with scattered snow/sleet. I'm almost afraid to do splits!
Thanks! 👍
Hey Fred.
My hive is orientated to south-east. The other day i accidentally left a crack opened in the back of the hive, that is facing north-west, and i noticed, that about 90% of the foragers used that crack instead of the main entrance. Hive is in full sun location from around 8:30 in the morning. Does that mean, my bees wants to go against the rules and prefer the northern side?
Hello, Mr. Dunn! Would you mind explaining your method for preventing swarms? Thank you!
Fred can you remember where you purchased your observation hive? I’m looking for a video on how you put it together.
Hey Fred. The other day when I was going through my hives I had several that had queen cells in them. So I went ahead and made 4 splits with them and fed thin sugar syrup. They have all developed diarrhea on the front of the hives. Do you know what would have made this happen? The only thing I can thing of is the sugar syrup.
I mixed It fresh that day so It wouldn’t be spoiled. None of the parent hives are having this issue either.
Thanks in advance.
David Shrewsberry.
your comments on having your kit ready and bee belt are having me laughing on the floor!