The Way To Bee

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 235. How to feed honey back to a hive and more...

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/fCjAbzM2GVo

 

The associated video time stamps and topics are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) Did you try different treatments on your plywood bottom boards that failed early? 5:18

 

2) Another beekeeper told me that I need to move my hives to the top of a hill because bees won't forage uphill. Is that true? 10:45

 

3) When planting for honey bees, why is it better to plans large plantings of single species over a pollinator mix? 15:22

 

4) Have you ever seen a larvae trap for small hive beetles that hangs on the hive landing board? 22:20

 

5) I asked my Forrest preserve friend if it's ok to buy plant seeds and throw them throughout the forest preserve? He said "don't you dare"! 27:37

 

6) I have some extra honey from 2022 spring honey harvest and I don't like the taste. I would like to feed it back to the hive it was harvested from. What's the best way to feed harvested honey back to the bees? 34:38

 

https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/mystore.html

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 234 RECORDED LIVE on Black Friday

Welcome to another edition of Backyard Beekeeping topics.

This episode was LIVE-streamed on Friday, the 24th of November, you can watch the YouTube video here: https://youtube.com/live/mNSiKL6QCnE?feature=share

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 233

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/SyqjqqWgJ4M

Video topics and associated time stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) Is there any science or studies that demonstrate the bees forage direction may be influenced by the entrance direction? 2:48

2) I'm interested in plans for your Bee Porch. I could not find them. 7:37

3) Can you explain what a vertical split is and how it's done? 10:24

4) Would it be a good thing to control swarming with the Queen Isolation cage? Would it reduce swarming or impact the swarm instinct? 17:28

5) I have a huge stand of eucalyptus nearby. What's the best way to capture this nectar flow? 24:29

6) In the 40s and 50s is it OK to put out pollen substitute the way you did? Will they overproduce brood? 27:29

7) Can I split a 8 or 10 frame hive into two 4 or 5 frame hives with a slatted rack using a single entrance? 47:24

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 232, working bees at night and more...

This is the Audio Track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/awniz4sZvZs

Topics and associated time stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) One of my hives is dying. What should I do with the resources in that hive? 4:04

 

2) Is there a way to isolate kinds of honey in specific locations in the hive? Are supers capped when pulled? 12:00

 

3) I'm wondering if any backyard beekeepers have 2x5 over 5 deeps with a common flow hive super on top? 21:19

 

4) Is the reason for the hole in the inner cover simply to feed when needed? Could you cover it up? Do bees propolize double bubble? 25:15

 

5) How do you build up resource colonies? Can you start another hive with two frames of brood? 32:07

 

6) Do honey bees see red lights at night? Is there proven science? 39:12

 

7) With pest management trays in winter, should we clean them out and turn them over? Or is mineral oil ok through winter? 44:51

 

8) What kind of Tote-bucket do you use to store or remove horizontal Layens frames? 49:05

 

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 231, why there are so many frame choices and their benefits.

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

 

Topics and associated time-stamps from the video are generously provided by Adam Holmes. 

1) What is the correct orientation for honeycomb cells? 4:05

 

2) Do you think that Hive Alive fondant can be sliced up and placed inside a frame feeder for a Layens Hive? 10:31

 

3) Will the Ivry-B Hive survive a cold winter? 22:07

 

4) What is a foundationless frame? 23:45

 

5) In Ontario, Canada, I'm in a panic over the decision to go with or without vents with so much water running out. 33:33

 

6) I want to turn one of my strong hives into a dedicated foundation builder. What setup would you recommend? 44:06

 

7) Do you, and how do you, feed your Layens Hive? If you treat with Oxalic Acid Vaporization how do you implement that? 50:04

 

8) I've tried many different sized entrances for my wintering setup. Shrews got through my wire last year and killed some of my nucleus hives. 1:02:22

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 230, fondant vs sugar for emergency winter feed and more...

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video: https://youtu.be/w4Ycle_BFVo

Topics and associated time-links have been generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) Should I modify my Layens Hive to install a screen bottom board? 10:36

2) I'm considering a Long-Langstroth hive, does the side the entrance is on matter? 15:58

3) Questions about candy boards vs fondant, vs dry sugar as a winter emergency feed. Will pollen patties cause brood rearing in winter? 20:10

4) What research or testing is presently being done to eradicate varroa destructor mites? 51:15

5) Have you ever left your Flow-Super on during winter? 58:25

6) I'm considering wrapping my hives for the first time. Will this cause more activity in the hive and result in more resource consumption? 1:09:10

7) Regarding OA at the end of November, aren't your temps below 48 degrees f? Is there a temp where you would be wasting your time? 1:17:19

8) If I put a jar of honey in the freezer, do I risk glass breakage? 1:26:14

9) How long is it safe/ok to keep honey in a warmer, would it be ok to leave honey in a warmer at 100 degrees to stop crystallization for 6 months to a year? 1:29:00

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

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 228, spotted lantern fly honey dew, and much more.

Welcome to another episode of backyard beekeeping topics, this is the audio track from today's video:  https://youtu.be/hyM-RT-BR3U

 

The topics and associated time links are generously provided by Adam Holmes

@Adam.Holmes.

23 hours ago

1) There are spotted lantern flies where my bees are located. I have heard about bees making honeydew honey from there excrement. What are your thoughts on Honey Dew Honey? 4:30

2) Do bees store the 2-1 sugar water this time of year or are they just consuming it? 11:21

3) I built a horizontal hive from your plans. I have a question about pulling frames. I was planning on taking all fully capped frames, is it safe to assume they will continue to process the uncapped nectar and cap it once all resources dry up? 23:38

4) Can I use crystalized honey to make syrup to feed my bees? Same amount of honey and water by weight. 33:34

5) In episode 213 you mention that you do not use a queen excluder in your hives. Does that include Flow Hives? What is your hive set up for your Flow Hives to help prevent brood in the Flow Frames? 36:37

6) My honey is cloudy with foam on top. Do people shy away from buying cloudy RAW honey? The honey I processed last year wasn't cloudy. 46:38

7) It's time to pack down the hives so I busted into 2 of my 6 hives today. To my surprise I found zero brood in one and scant at best in the other. There are about 6-8 frames of bees in each. I'm wondering if I should join these two hives. 52:52

8) Quick question about OAV Treatments, should it be done every 7 days and for three sessions? 59:30

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 227, should we be open feeding or putting out robbing stations? Things to consider.

This is the audio from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/hxfze-BIFLg

 

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

1) Please stop promoting open feeding and robbing. Lots of negatives. 5:16

 

2) I have a question about my winter feeding setup. Would it be better to have the fondant patty above the insulated inner cover? Could I perhaps double up the fondant patties under the cover to make sure they don't run out? 25:08

 

3) Can I take frames of honey to boost another hive that doesn't have as many stores? I also plan to feed fondant and sugar patties. 35:07

 

4) I have been thinking about insulating my hive with 2 inch foam insulation and making a five-sided box. Do you think it would be a too sealed and they wouldn't get enough fresh air? 40:23

 

5) I did a series of OAV treatments and then could not find my queen. I tried to install a new queen and they rejected her. A friend said the hive wasn't likely queenless. I doubt the new nucleus can make it through winter after making a split. What are your thoughts? 47:27

 

6) I have the new insulated inner covers. They have holes around the edges. What is the reason for this, could other things make their way in? 56:21

 

7) New research has shown that certain mushroom species may be effective against varroa mites. Have you have researched this topic? 58:47

 

8) Is it possible to over feed bees for bees? 1:01:26

 

(apologies, question 9 was missed)

 

10) I remember you talking about using Bleach solution to spray your drawn frames for winter storage. Has that fallen out of favor? Do you stack supers tight, or alternate them at 90 degree angles? 1:14:25

 

11) I'm trying to make a decision about feeding hives in October. I am a backyard beekeeper with 5 colonies. 1:18:26

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 226, are you ready for winter? What about honey storage? Cut comb is a high value offering...

This is the audio track from today's YouTube: https://youtu.be/FZiMXjQa2jo

 

The time stamps and topic list below are generously provided by Adam Holmes:

 

1) Many beekeepers remove a full frame of brood and reinforce other colonies that are not doing as well. Why don't they fight it out? 4:36

 

2) I'd like to know more about Cut-Comb honey, I understand what it is and how it's harvested but why is it so popular? 13:02

 

3) You mentioned long-term honey storage in a freezer. How would you store 5 gallon buckets of honey over winter and what temperature? 26:50

 

4) The NOAA Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a strong El Nino year going through early next year. How can we prepare our hives to best overwinter these extremes in temperature and precipitation? 34:29

 

5) Regarding the wasp nest removal video, was there a queen? If Queen removed would the hive survive winter? what do they feed on during winter months? Do mites or SHB attack them in high areas off the ground? 51:07

 

6) Fred, do you use the escape boards on Apimaye hives? 1:04:35

 

7) I had 2 discs about 2 lbs each in storage in my basement. Imagine my surprise when I encountered evidence of wax moths. Does this happen to you? Should I be storing it with a Para moth sachet? Something else? 1:08:42