The Way To Bee

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

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

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 214, is there a way to count mites on bees without killing them?

This is the audio track from today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/WqhB00C4p-8

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

1) You mentioned that you have an inner cover without the vent notch. Did I get that right? What does this do for moisture and air flow? 3:21

2) Do varroa prefer nurse bees over the working foragers? Do the nurse bees go up and feed in the rapid round feeder? 18:47

3) I bought a bag of seeds from Eden Brothers pre-spring but never go them planted. Will they be fine for next Spring? 26:34

4) I bought a Varroa EasyCheck and in the directions it talks about CO2 mite checks. Have you done this? Did it work? Does it kill the bees? 30:31

5) My husband was a Master Beekeeper for over 35 years. One morning he was stung on the lip and he went into anaphylactic shock. 45:36

6) I found a larva on the landing board of my hive. Later on I noticed two dead varroa mites next to it. Maybe the queen is VSH? 51:13

7) We are in the process of building a Long Langstroth hive based on your plans. Thinking ahead to making legs and wondering if the hive should be level or have a slight tilt as the common Langstroth Hives have? 54:48

8) I have an observation hive, and have a question about pollen storage. I noticed they store dry pollen and wet pollen. Does the dry pollen have a much longer or indefinite shelf life? 1:03:40

9) Sometimes swarms hang onto locations outside and make comb and if no one messes with them, they stay there. Why is that? 1:07:51

10) Why do bees occupy an intermediary location to bivouac? I wonder why the scouts don't identify an share the location of the new location prior to departure? Why don't scouts figure it out and fly directly there? 1:11:14

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 213, how to increase the population of small colonies by mixing your bees.

Welcome to another episode of beekeeping topics.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/4rCAlQuqL4o

 

This list of included topics and associated video time-stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes.

1) I'd like to know how to inspect a hive without killing bees. 7:11

2) Can I mix bees from two different hives? For example, making weaker hives stronger by adding bees. 20:41

3) I always thought keeping hives close to/directly on the ground wasn't a good idea. But I see videos of people putting their hives on the ground. Is this a method of catching a swarm advised? 32:55

4) Can you share about the new water wall? Mist or Fogged? 43:48

5) I was watching Naked and Afraid today, one participant was a beekeeper who smoked the entrance. He said they can't bend their abdomen to be able to sting you (when smoked). Is this true? 48:17

6) We must be in a dearth. My colonies are not allowing drones into the hives. Is this normal behavior? 51:37

7) It's been very hot here lately, I've noticed that my bees are bearding which is no surprise. But I have seen little activity with one particular hive, should I be worried? 57:55

 

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Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 213, Queen Excluders, is there a right side up?

Welcome to another episode of beekeeping topics. This is the audio track from today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/K0S-qhsxpyg

 

You can show your support for this podcast by shopping here:  https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/mystore.html

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

1) Can you explain why some metal queen excluders are labeled "This Side Up"? 3:56

2) I am hoping that you can discuss the Demaree Split on your Friday Way to Bee Channel. 13:00

3) My hive entrance is covered in bees at 11 pm, at 67 degrees and 81% relative humidity. Why are they not inside? 28:07

4) Bees are collecting on the front of the hive, even though there is plenty of space. What are your thoughts? 33:30

5) I'm building a Long Lang Hive. Is there a benefit to having it deeper than your plans? An opportunity for some cut-comb? Do you think this would be worthwhile? 34:54

6) When introducing a queen to a new hive, is it recommended to remove all attendant bees? 42:05

7) When a hive absconds, or exits in times of danger, how is it they all can leave when at most times 40% of the hive are young nurse bees? 48:07

8) I was going to harvest a super this weekend. It has rained daily for the last four days. Is there a risk that the moisture content in the honey is higher because of all the rain and humidity? 55:08

9) Since Better-Comb is synthetic wax, is it more resistant to wax moth damage over regular beeswax? 58:51

10) I'm having problems with two colonies. One lost its queen so I combined that hive with a queenright colony. Then no evidence of eggs or larvae. I hate to loose all the bees. Will they accept a cages queen? 1:02:31

11) I would like some advice on queen marker pens/numbered queen marking disks. Where can I buy these and what adhesive should be used? 1:08:10

12) My queens are never just laying in the brood box. I have eggs above the queen excluder and below the queen excluder. I would prefer to keep the queen only in the brood box. Any advice would be very much appreciated. 1:12:58

Interview with Dr. Robyn Underwood about honey bee management and some other interesting topics related to entomology.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video interview.

You can follow the entire video series of interviews right here: https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/interviewsyoucanwatch.html

 

Thank you for watching, and I hope you will enjoy this discussion.

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 212 how to render beeswax in a fryer and more.

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

Topics and associated video time stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

 

2) I'm interested in learning more about your experience with BeeWeaver Queens. 5:40

3) Should I pull some supers, or leave then on and just add more? 15:06

4) I have a BeeSmart designs insulated inner cover. Ants have tunneled into it. Do you think expanding foam could be used to repair it? 24:45

5) Question, what certification makes a Master Beekeeper? 29:00

6) I have one hive and will be adding a second one. Question, how far apart should they be? 42:09

7) I purchased Bettercomb to support two nuc hives we are to receive in mid June. Are some of the bettercomb cells larger for drone brood? 47:49

8) I have one hive that is particularly aggressive. It is my largest and most established hive. I replaced the queen. Even after 30 days, they are still aggressive. What could possibly be going on? 52:14

9) What would happen if you were to combine a laying worker hive with a healthy hive? 57:41

10) If a swarm already has a queen, why would they go to a QMP noodle? 1:02:00 11) Is the High Price of Apimaye hives worth it? 1:06:49

12) Is a 5 QT Crock Pot a good size for a 3 Hive Setup? If so, what are the steps for processing wax with bee parts? 1:16:47

13) Is juicing water melon or plumbs and feeding this to the bees rather than Sugar Syrup more natural for the bees? Will it be less inclined to cause dysentery? 1:24:26

14) I purchased a 5-Frame Nucleus Hive in April. Bees seem to be doing great. I've done sugar shakes and drone mite counts with zero mites. Should I treat with OAV anyway, since it doesn't seem to hurt the bees? 1:30:00

15) Have you experimented with headlamps to better find larvae in foundation? My hives are shady and my eyes aren't getting any better. 1:33:20

Backyard Beekeeping Questions And Answers Episode 211

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/5GeF-INaW6s

 

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Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode # 210 what do I think of screened bottom boards and more...

Welcome to another episode of backyard beekeeping topics. This is the audio track from today's YouTube video: https://youtu.be/URxHZ0qSaA8

 

Question and video time stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) One of my two nucleus hives is lagging behind the other, should I be concerned about the weaker colony? 3:55

2) I have several leftover frames that had unripe honey in them. Are they safe for bees? Would the residual fermentation ruin my honey crop? 10:16

3) I have a very hot hive, we cant even work it. I tried to find the queen but couldn't. What are your thoughts, is there a cage or pheromone? 12:39

4) Would moving frames from a white hive into one that is treated with Eco Wood cause a big problem for my young colony? 18:12

5) Why do you want your nucleus hive to have a screened bottom board, aren't you against screened bottom boards? 20:20

6) The place I purchased my bees from said that no bees are pure bread anymore, so does it really matter what type I get when ordering? 29:50