Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 215, comb foundation sagging solutions and more.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/p4FqyXf-UhQ

 

Please follow this link and fill out the form to have your own topic considered for future podcasts:  https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/thewaytobee.html

 

Topics and time-stamps below are generously provided by Adam Holmes -

1) Is it too late in the year to make a split from my established colony? 3:23

2) I have one Layens Hive, the frames are wired from Dr. Leo, three frames of the honey have collapsed. Should I add horizontal wires before I put it back in the box? 5:49

3) Can you please explain the various methods to remove workers from honey supers once they are ready for harvest? How should I store the frames after extraction? 12:12

4) Wondering if you could talk about mite treatment. Are you using OA Vapor on your Layens hives? I'm curious about the time of year to treat. 19:17

5) You mentioned that drones are flying around at 3 days old and visiting other hives for a handout. Seems like the obvious vector for varroa mite spread from one hive to another. Would putting a queen excluder on the entrance of a hive be another varroa management tactic? 28:00

6) I was reading an article about alternatives to using the smoker. Where we are in the forest they are a fire hazard. 32:28

7) We are having a mild winter in South Australia, what would be the minimum temperature to open the hive to harvest the honey and replace the frames with empty comb? We are having a mild winter, min 8012c max 10-17c. 36:14

8) I have heard that old pollen and bee bread are only used by bees for about 6 weeks. If I should pull or replace unused pollen frames, what's the best way to extract the unusable pollen, can I do it and save the comb? 41:35

9) I removed bees and comb from a house and moved them into a Layens 22 frame insulated hive. They have a frame of honey in the middle of the brood. Should I move it to the outer edges? 46:15

10) I know you are testing the Apimaye new entrance, Any update on that work? I've got a couple of Apimaye hives and like them but find the entrances to be very restrictive. 49:48