The Way To Bee

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers episode 191, back from Hive Life, do bees show resistance to Oxalic Acid Treatments? And more...

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Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 190, Winter Drones? Feeding 1:1 sugar syrup during warm spells?

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

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 189, should you heat your bee hive? How to tell what box my queen is in?

Welcome to another episode of Backyard Beekeeping topics, this is the audio track from today's YouTube:

https://youtu.be/yYil7Dl5sCg

 

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

Pinned by Frederick Dunn

@W4R34G7E 

 

 

1) My bees are being robbed by a nearby feral colony in a tree. Can I just leave the robbing screen on all the time? 3:50

2) I lost both of my hives suddenly this year. The hives were weak in September and we had an extremely cold November this year. Should I use a hive heater? Could you recommend one? 11:08

3) Can I wrap an electric blanket around a hive so I can do an Oxalic Acid Treatment? Can you think of reasons why this is a bad idea? 18:07

4) I was just trying to determine the suggested bee vacuum. 21:53

5) I want to replace a queen, but if I split the hive how do I know where she is? Both brood boxes are full of bees and inspections are hard to do. 27:05

6) Do you know of a set of instructions that can be placed on a label for how to de-crystalize honey? 35:16

7) As far as being sure that I have enough beeswax on my frames, do I paint the wax on, or can I rub a brick of wax across the frame? 43:23

8) It appears that you frequently wear a new bee suit. Do you wash those and do they stay that clean? 50:20

9) I'm getting my hives this spring. I have lots of dragon flies. Can you think of ways to control them? 53:59

10) Do bees still do cleansing flights in the dead of winter? It can get to -7 here, I find dead bees 6 feet in front of the hive in the snow. 58:40

11) It was stated to me to use food-grade salt around my hive to kill off the small hive beetles as they try to pupate. thoughts? 1:01:41

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 188, modifying the nucleus hive box, and more...

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/3_SX6uPrEJg

Topics and time-stamps are below, generously provided by:

Adam Holmes

1) Do honey bees take to waxed foundation that has been stored for a while, slower than newly waxed foundation? 2:40

2) I just learned that the carpenter who built your favorite nucleus for BetterBee has passed away. Very sad. 5:00

3) It appears that you have changed your mind on slatted rack usage. What are your thoughts now? I'm thinking they will help with hot days. 19:39

4) It seems one advantage to insulated hives if you want to do OA Vaporization, the bees cluster is not as tight. What are your thoughts on this? 23:37

5) I'm starting in spring with two nucleus colonies. In this video, you referenced Dr. Thomas Seeley, saying he had researched the subject of hive configurations. Which book can I find that information in? 41:00

6) I had heard that toxins become dissolved in beeswax, so I burned up the old brood comb that I was retiring. I heard beekeepers saying that the oldest, blackest, dirtiest comb can be rendered into beautiful yellow was. 28:27

7) Being that a hive is plastic, could it get too hot in the hive? 34:45

8) Some time back, you said that small and tall is a good configuration for bees. 5 frame nucs. I was thinking, for those not vested in extraction equipment, how to add a Flow-Hive Super? 38:00

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 187, how varroa choose their host, alarms may keep bears out.

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

Interview with the Editor of the American Bee Journal, Eugene Makovec. Learn more about one of America’s Premiere Beekeeping Publications.

Welcome to another interview in my series of interviews with experts. 

This is the audio track from this YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/NHRzYLzu8AI

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode # 186, Is old pollen any good? And much more...

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Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 185, how to feed nucleus hives and more...

This is the audio track from Today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/YZWdHWjzmfc

Video topics and time-links have been generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) How many dead bees is normal in winter? 2:45

2) I have a small nucleus, 5 frames up, and 5 frames down. Do you have feeding recommendations since nothing fits on the smaller size? 5:49

3) My hives are in almost continuous shade, I'm wondering if it's worth getting a sun-tracking mirror? 17:59 4) Could you give your thoughts on oxalic acid soaked sponges? 23:40

5) I still have wet frames after extraction, and can't put them back on the hives at this time. Alternative ways to store wet frames safely. 26:35

6) Do you see any problems with using Oxalic Acid Vaporization with Hive Alive fondant packs on? 34:20

7) Do you do a late season varroa mite cleanup with Oxalic Acid Vaporization? 36:00

8) One of my queens squeezed through the queen excluder and lay eggs in my Flow-Super. Will the extraction system will still work? 42:10

9) Have you ever had a problem with your bees collecting honey-dew from spotted lantern flies? Is there a way to tell? 53:57

10) I have had bees for three seasons, and have had one OK year. Could it be that my area just won't support honey bees? 1:07:16

11) I have two hives under attack from yellow jackets. One is strong and defensive, other has yellow jackets walking right in. What can I do? 1:12:55 12) What are your thoughts on plastic chicken coops? Would you give us chicken lovers a few examples of plastic coops you could stomach? 1:19:08

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 184, Thymol entrance treatment, when to put your fondant on, and more...

This is the audio track from today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/2EXlUUNYLAQ

Topic List and associated time links are generously provided by -

Adam Holmes

1) Have you heard of a product called HiveGuard? It uses thymol for mite control. 3:15

 

2) Do you ever, or should you ever open the pest management tray under Flow-Hives in winter? 9:22

 

3) My friends are complaining that my honey is too sweet. Do you have an explanation why? 13:16

 

4) I'm thinking of getting a BeeWeaver Queen next year. Is there any danger I can be bringing in Africanized Genetics? 17:49

 

5) How do you keep sticky propolis off of your camera equipment? 20:30

 

6) Can a hive make it through winter with little or no stored resources? 26:15

 

7) I saw on the Weather Channel the University of Maryland states honey bees have a 50% lower life span from what it was in the 70s. 32:11

 

8) I am picking up all new hive equipment and hives this winter at the Hive Life Conference. How do I store the hives and frames until spring? 44:45

 

9) Here in New South Wales, we have to remove honey when treating with OA for mites. How do I get bees out of my Flow-Hive Super? 47:35

 

10) I have questions about condensation in Observation Hives. Do you do anything about that? What are your thoughts? 54:01

 

11) I hear everyone say that moisture will condense and kill your bees. Are you saying the only opening to the outside is your single entrance? 59:25

 

12) I would like to try grafting queens this spring. Everyone says to use one or two day old larvae, why don't eggs work? 1:04:22

 

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 183, can you use CO2 to count varroa mites? Final preparations for winter, and more.

Welcome to another episode of backyard beekeeping topics. This is the audio track from Today's YouTube:  https://youtu.be/fNoXVB7aZAg

 

Video time stamps and links have been generously provided by Adam Holmes

 

1) Have you completely transitioned to Hive Gates and Wooden entrance reducers, and have you replaced the copper screening? 2:41

2) I have been seeing information that says the PH of Sugar Syrups are too high when compared to nature's nectar. Also one person is spraying frames with vinegar solution, claiming that it's helping with varroa control. Would this possibly have something to do with PH? 6:51

3) I'm thinking of switching to the CO2 Method of mite testing. What are your thoughts about this? 13:54

4) I have been reading a lot about small-cell foundation frames. Have you used them, do they really produce smaller bees and do you think they are effective in helping to control varroa mites? 27:50

5) I have hives going into winter with two queens, do you see any issues with this? 33:10

6) Is it possible for a hive to be honey/nectar-bound going into winter? Is this something not to be worried about? 41:15

7) How do you use Apiguard in our Layens Hives? 45:41