Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 229, can drones or queens feed themselves? And much more!

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

 

Topic and time stamps generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) At what age do you usually replace queens? Assuming no issues. 7:44

 

2) What would you suggest for taking notes during an inspection with gloves on? I want to keep records digitally, but I'm not sure what to try. 17:45

 

3) With the general consensus that an apiary should be treated for varroa and not just the hive with high mite counts. What do you do in the case where you have a hive that really needs to be treated? 26:00

 

4) For the podcast, can we skip the random music intro/outro? 36:58

 

5) I have two hives that appear queenless. I am packing them down and there is a large population. No eggs or larvae. My question is, could this be a genetic thing that the queen has ceased laying before the other colonies around? 38:20

 

6) You often talk of bridging the gap between treatment and treatment free beekeepers. So far you've only had two interviews with treatment free beekeepers. 49:19

 

7) I requeened a hive with a BeeWeaver Queen early this year. that hive has consistently been the spiciest hive in my apiary to the point where I couldn't even manage the mite count on it for comparison. Have you had any issues with their queens being aggressive? 1:14:17

 

8) You mentioned that drones can't feed themselves. Is this true? Queens can feed themselves if they have to, correct? 1:17:40