The Way To Bee

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 223, do bees have a favorite color? What to do with incomplete Ross Rounds and more...

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

 

The below topic links and associated time-stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

 

1) Is it true that metal with/in honey destroys the enzymes? 11:20

2) Follow up response to Question 3 from Q&A Episode 220. The observation hive was not queenless, and they are on track. 25:00

3) My colonies had high mite counts. Should I replace the queens in those hives? Are those queens spreading viruses to the next generation? 26:00

4) I have a question about storing honey supers. Is there anything wrong with just letting the little bit of leftover honey dry on the frames? Seems like the comb gets torn up by the bees. 33:45

5) I have a memory of you talking about drilling holes in your hive walls to allow OA Vaporizers. How are you placing the hole and bolt to avoid hitting frames and stopping the flow of OA? 41:40

6) I purchased the Ross Round brackets that you introduced during your Hive Life Conference video and I had to purchase them. They are 40 to 60% filled out. I am interested in your thoughts regarding what to do with them. 52:41

7) Do you have any thoughts on what a honey bee's favorite color is? 59:44

8) I'd love to know what you are going to do to winterize your Ivry-B hive, if anything? 1:05:05

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 222, Queen Isolation Cages as well as Queen Introduction and much more...

Thank you for listening to another episode of Backyard Beekeeping topics.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/LKqJMfQ4aO0

 

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

@Adam.Holmes.

 

1) When do you put Hive Alive Fondant on your hive? 5:45

 

2) This is my first year winterizing my colonies. I use rapid round feeders, when it gets cold how do I use an inner cover if using a feeder shim? 9:24

 

3) We found no eggs, brood, or evidence of a queen. We ordered in a new queen and then found a queen inside the hive that just wasn't laying eggs. I am stumped. 14:01

 

4) I would enjoy hearing your opinion on handling the fall flow. I run double deeps and have 1 super. I do not want to have to feed over winter. 16:44

 

5) I keep large concrete blocks on top of my hives. During the last warm spell, I noticed that his block gets very hot and my bees are bearding a lot. I was wondering if it would be better to use a different method. 20:24

 

6) I have a question about the divider board on a Layens hive. Is it necessary to leave a small gap underneath the board when you're getting the bees ready for winter? 24:59

 

7) When you have a queenless hive or nuc, queen cells have been started and some are capped. Then you install a new queen, is it necessary to tear down the cells or can you leave them for the queen or workers to destroy? 27:55

 

8) I know you have spoken at great length about top entrances and ventilation. It seems for the most part that you're against the concept. I've also heard folks say that bees know what's best for themselves. That being said, I keep a two-inch hole in my inner covers and covered with #8 hardware cloth. The bees seem to regulate this opening with propolis depending on the time of year. Aren't you deciding for the bees what is best for them without letting them regulate what's easiest and best for their hive condition? Why, or why not? 29:35

 

9) I started 2 resource hives that are 5-frame in the spring. Both colonies have grown to 5 boxes high. How to reduce for winter? 41:10

 

10) Currently Iowa is in a level 3 drought. How long should I feed them, should I feed open or inside the hives? Can I take a break or maybe start in hive feeding? It's never been this hot and dry before since I've had bees. 44:44

 

11) Can you explain on your Friday video why you used the isolation frame, and a bit more info on it as I'm not sure you have shown it before. 48:48

 

12) Should I be concerned about oxalic acid residue in my honey? 59:42

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

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 221

This is the audio track from today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/DA1Pv8itAJM

 

@Adam.Holmes.

1) I noticed that the rapid round hive feeder that you showed has holes in the top/cover. Did you put them there? Should I vent my own, or do you feel that leaving it without holes would actually help. 5:02

 

2) Soon, I will have access to WiFi on the farm where I keep my bees. what are some of the tech tools that you would install to gain info from your bees? Scales? Sensors? What ideas do you have on how to extend WiFi to the beeyard? 10:18

 

3) Do I leave my Flow-Super on for winter? How do I store it? 24:02

 

4) Is it possible to build a bee bivouac point? what should it be built out of? Or would a swarm trap hive be sufficient? 37:37

 

5) My wife and I will begin extracting spring honey, we're keeping track of the moisture content of each bucket. We are concerned about the water content of the honey which is between 16-18%. Are we making too big a deal out of the moisture content? 50:52

 

6) SHOUT-OUT for a beekeeper who has some interesting innovations and features built into his Long Langstroth Hive. 57:45

https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 220 August topics.

Thank you for joining me for another episode of The Way To Bee

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/lLLSmyK6CLk

 

Time stamps and related topics below have been generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) I was wondering if you could talk about the insulated covers that you make for your five-frame resource hives, what kind of glue do you use? 4:13

2) I just did an inspection on my hive. I want to remove my queen excluder for the end of the season so my queen can go up. I discovered 3 Queen Cups on one of the frames. 2 of the cups were open, the other had what appeared to be royal jelly. I could not see larva, only jelly. Should I be concerned about this discovery? 9:03

3) My 9-frame deep Observation Hive swarmed on July 27th. Bees have started bringing in pollen with no sign of eggs on the outside frame. If I continue not seeing eggs, when would you recommend ordering a new mated queen? 13:16

4) When bees abscond do they bivouac like they do when they swarm? 14:46

5) I do inspections every 14 days, weather permitting and the bees are building comb on the foundation. During my inspections I'm having trouble seeing anything but the mesh of my veil. I got the Guardian Bee Apparel vented jacket and the circular veil. Any suggestions? 17:38

6) What kind of ants eat honey bees? 23:41

7) Does honey made from Anise Hyssop taste like black licorice? 26:30

8) What do you think about flipping the feeder shim and putting sugar bricks or fondant directly on the top bars? 28:00

9) Have you ever done any research on the new varroa mite treatment developed in Israel called ToBe Hive Master? 34:53

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 219, removing mold from bottom trays and more...

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video: https://youtu.be/VPk3fc5-Jls

The following list of topics and associated video time-stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) How Quickly does the Blythewood Pollen Trap Fill Up? Do you think the bees realize that the pollen is being removed? 3:49

2) As I get older, I plan to build a horizontal hive, is there a reason I couldn't design the main hive box to accommodate some flow frames? 11:23

3) Do you put robbing screens on your hives to prevent robbing this time of year as a practice? 13:41

4) We have started our summer dearth, and I have begun feeding. If someone is open feeding in the vicinity do you think it would help suppress robbing? Or do you think it would stimulate robbing? 20:56

5) We have very few nectar sources here in SW Oregon. I planted golden rod but the bees have ignored it. Any ideas why my bees are ignoring the Golden Rod? Any other plants you suggest? 27:44

6) After I've treated with Oxalic Acid vaporization, I still have half a bag left. Is there a "best if used by" or expiration date for the oxalic acid? 39:27

7) I grafted my own queens and now I have 6 nucs that I want to try to overwinter. I'm not sure exactly how I want to do it? 43:21

8) I am seeing spots of mold on the inspection tray. Is there anything else I can do? 52:00

9) How do you wash your extractor and uncapping equipment. I try to feed it back to the bees but many die. I don't want to waste the honey. 58:08

10) What cameras to you use for the surveillance of your hives? Are there any tips you can offer? 1:03:54

11) I have all medium frames, I would love to build a horizontal hive to save my back. What's the science behind the deep frames? 1:10:54

 

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 218, there is a new bug bite and sting treatment, and much more!

Welcome to another episode of Backyard Beekeeping topics, this is the audio track from today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/MDCNEWLDops

 

Topics and associated time-stamps linked to the video are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) I see a lot of beekeepers freely swapping resources from one hive to another. Is there no concern about disease cross contamination? 12:35

2) I'm wondering if you can provide some tactics, techniques, and procedure for conducting hive inspections during a dearth. 17:52

3) I always thought after a swarm, the new queen would emerge and kill all other queens. Can you discuss this subject again? 30:11

4) I have a ton of uncapped honey in my hives this year, and with the heat and humidity these last few weeks I suspect the bees are having a difficult time dehydrating the nectar into cappable honey. 38:32

5) Remove the bug sting and welt - use Bug Bite Thing! 46:50

6) Will the Apimaye Hive allow for a Flow-Super to be put on top? 53:45

7) How do you deal with semi-full, semi-capped Flow Frame Supers when reducing hives for winter? 56:35

8) Would you talk about diagnosing the state of a hive using all the various different things that fall onto the bottom board? 1:04:09

9) Regarding your swarm capture with your grandson, if you had caught the queen and forced them all into one of the two hives that they rejected they would have probably swarmed out quickly. Was the entrance of the chosen hive facing the same direction as the ones they rejected? 1:12:00

10) How and when can I swap out frames that came in my two nucleus hives from May? They were well used and need to be replaced. 1:19:54

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Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 217, are plastic frames better than wooden frames?

Welcome to another episode of Backyard Beekeeping topics, this is the audio from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/ElWwFdGVuX4

 

For more information, I invite you to visit my website:  https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/fredsfowlhoneybees.html

This list of topics and associated video time-stamps have been generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) I have seen a queen in my hive, but she wasn't laying. Is it too late in the year to re-Queen my hive? 6:07

 

2) I'm a new beekeeper. I see you have a video comparing a couple of plastic foundations, what are your thoughts on full plastic frames. 16:12

 

3) Regarding feeding sugar syrup vs dry sugar. Why not switch to dry sugar feeding for the majority of the year? 27:38

 

4) Here in my location we have had 18.7 inches of rain from June 1st to July 23rd. The bees have been bringing in very little pollen. I have added Global Pollen Patties, did I do the right thing by adding the pollen patty? 40:43

 

5) I have a Layens Hive that's almost full of brood and honey. The entrance is in the middle with options for entrances at either end. How do I move the entrance from the center to an end? 47:50

 

6) I would like to know your thoughts on the Apimaye Hive now that you've had it for a year. 52:55

 

 

Frederick Dunn Interviews Cory Stevens regarding breeding Queen Honey Bees from treatment free stock.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/HmwHaxfy994

Kamon Reynolds Interview, two Honey Bee Educators Comparing Notes and sharing about bee keeping practices.

Today I finally catch up with long-time friend and honey bee educator, Kamon Reynolds.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/0O-Ppt_k0qg

See my entire interview series here:  https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/interviewsyoucanwatch.html

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 216 proper grease for a honey extractor and more...

Welcome to another episode of backyard beekeeping topics. This is the audio track from today's YouTube:

https://youtu.be/7vHc3VVaTN0

https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/mystore.html  for merchandise :) 

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

1) I understand that spotted lantern flies produce something called honey dew. I also understand this will cause the honey the bees make to taste terrible. Do I need to be concerned about the bees moving it around in the spring? 3:22

2) My question is regarding honey extractors. There is a ball bearing at the bottom of the drum where the shaft sits on it. What type of lubricant should be used in the hole where the ball bearing sits? Concerned about contact with food/honey. 12:06

3) I have two types of cans sugar. One is white and the other is tan in color. Would it be safe to use the brown sugar for syrup for our bees? 16:38

4) I have hives in an urban setting, I've made splits and made use of artificial swarms. My bees are dismantling queen cells. I'm not sure what's going on. Any suggestions on what I should do to make my bees happy? I can't have swarms due to local populations possibly becoming alarmed. 24:22

5) Is it acceptable to brew antiviral ganoderma lucidum (Mushroom Tea) for my bees? 34:01

6) Do you continue to inspect each and every hive every 7-10 days throughout the entire summer? 37:58

7) I'm having an issue with a top bar hive. The queen is producing brood on every single frame and it's 25 bars. Should I make an excluder? Split them? Wait for fall? 43:53

8) Does a worker abdomen get larger once her ovaries become active and make her more recognizable? Possibly indistinguishable from a virgin queen? 50:05