The Way To Bee

Interview with Dara Scott, the Creator of the World’s Leading Supplement for Honey Bees, managing nosema in your hives with HiveAlive.

Today's Podcast is the first of a series, Fred Interviews Experts.

Frederick Dunn's first guest in the series is Dara Scott, the creator of HiveAlive honey bee supplement.

 

See the Youtube Here:  https://youtu.be/3FFvXm8w4O0

If you're wanting to find out where you can get it, follow this link:

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

Backyard Beekeeping Questions And Answers Episode 144 with Frederick Dunn clearing entrances in winter and more.

This is the audio track from The YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/Gz1aj1r1lb4

 

Topics and associated video time links are generously provided by:

 

Adam Holmes

1) My Mom found a massive die-off in one of her hives with many bees still moving. I suggested leaving some of them on the landing board so they can crawl back in. Am I on the right track? 2:17

 

2) I think I may have killed my bees due to a rookie mistake. I put DE around the hive bottom lip. I feel that it did them harm eventually. 17:35

 

3) I opened a hive and could see a cluster down in there. Later on, it appeared that bees from another hive were going in and possibly robbing them. Do I close it up because I think it's dead? 26:30

 

4) I have a colony that didn't make it through winter. what's the best process for reusing, cleaning, and preparing the boxes and frames for a new colony? 36:05

 

5) Will plastic frames in brood boxes interfere with the thermo-regulation of a Winter Cluster? 50:06

 

6) I have been noticing very many dead bees on landing boards after very cold nights, but not on the milder nights. Any thoughts on this? 55:31

 

7) If I place a number of capped honey frames in a freezer, how can I thaw them out without risking condensation and adding moisture to the honey? 57:54

 

8) I will be receiving two packages of bees this April. Members of my Bee Club recommend OA Vaporization the same day I hive them. What's your opinion on this practice? 1:02:16

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 143 with Frederick Dunn Clear View Veil and more!

Welcome! This is the audio track from today's YouTube video: https://youtu.be/oyiyhi3-yL8

 

Thank you for Bee-ing here! You're invited to also visit my chickens and honey bees website:  https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/thewaytobee.html

 

Time stamps and topic list have been generously provided by:

Adam Holmes

1) I'd like you to talk about the flow-version of the clear view veil. I think old eyes may benefit. There was an insert window at the Hive Life. 1:47

 

2) I'm hoping to split my colonies this spring, I would like your opinion regarding moving the queen with the split, or leaving her behind. 8:23

 

3) I'm considering building an observation hive. How much maintenance do you perform? What other features are good additions? 21:21

 

4) I'm planning to add medium supers on my brood boxes for winter food. Should fondant be placed on top of brood box, or medium super? 35:36

 

5) I would like to know if you offer your hive artwork to other beekeepers? 42:24

 

6) When I pull extra frames of honey to feed back during a dearth, can I freeze frames and for how long? 46:45

 

7) There is a new video out that showcases a unique way of beekeeping. The guy uses 5 gallon plastic bottles. Lots of other claims. Do you think this method would survive a winter climate? Have you ever tried it? 51:45

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 142 Three recommended beekeeping books and more!

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

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 141

This is the audio track from Friday's YouTube Presentation.

Topics and time links are below:

Courtesy of:

Adam Holmes

1) Is it possible to feed Mann Lake Pro-Sweet during winter? Even when it's below freezing? 1:17

 

2) It this a good plan for my first bee hive setup? 16:33

 

3) Can you explain how I can keep my bee hive numbers low? For example, I'd like to keep it to 3 or 4 hives if possible. 24:24

 

4) If I press comb together and it touches the cells face to face, will the bees be able to chew through that? 31:50

 

5) I've been told that giving bee hives a tap to see if they are still alive is wrong. What's the best way to tell if they are alive? 34:28

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Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 140 be careful with Oxalic Acid Vaporizers and more!

Welcome!

This is the audio track from today's YouTube presentation:  https://youtu.be/UmwU7BiU5Mk

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 139 does honey ever spoil? And so much more!

Welcome to another episode of backyard beekeeping questions and answers with Frederick Dunn

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/62CMi41uMKA

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  Thank you for being here!

Itemized topics are below and have been generously provided by:

Adam Holmes

1) Do you have a video that will tell me if my bees are doing OK without opening the hives? 1:10

 

2) I'm hearing lots about Hive Alive Fondant. Is this emergency food tastier to the bees than their own honey stores? 4:57

 

3) What can you do when water content is too high when you harvest the flow-frames? 13:30

 

4) Does a dark colored hive cover contribute to temperature variation that can increase activity inside the hive? 20:30

 

5) Do Magnets affect honey bees? 25:16 6) If I uncap the drone brood and pluck it out, will the mites come out with the drone? 29:51

 

7) Can I use 1/4" hardware cloth for a mouse guard and will the undertaker bees be able to drag dead bees through it? 33:39

 

8) Is there an study for adding a chemical compound that would be consumed by the bees and kill varroa mites when they bite the bee? 39:21

 

9) I'm putting a 10 frame hive body together for bees I expect in spring, with better comb, do I fill the entire box with BC, or should I leave foundationless frames in-between the BetterComb? 41:39

 

10) Could you speak more about Drone Congregation areas? 46:40

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 138 with Frederick Dunn, lots of wintering questions

This is the audio track from today's Youtube video:  https://youtu.be/0Sg_8GP_pTQ

 

Today's topics are listed below with video time-links, provided generously by:

Adam Holmes

1) When your honey bee colony goes brood-less, do the varroa mites die? 1:30

 

2) Will you go over various bottom boards and why you choose each one? When do you switch them? 8:17

 

3) I know that you insulate the top of your hives. Is it true that bees only have a hard time in winter, is when they are very cold for an extended period. Can they handle 1 week, maybe 2? 16:27

 

4) Do you put out syrup for the bees if the temperatures are going to be high enough for them to forage? 30:08

 

5) We are expanding our apiary, I noticed that you used Lyson adjustable stands, is there a reason that you moved to iron T-Posts? 34:47

 

6) Will honey bees clean out the poop left behind in the cells by varroa destructor mites? 42:28

 

7) I was thinking of putting up a swarm trap with better-comb, Tom Seeley said pieces of comb was not advisable in his article. Will wax moths or small hive beetles destroy it? 46:05

 

8) We are planning to move a hive this winter, over rocky terrain. Can you recommend a good way to secure it? 53:00

 

9) I'm being told that bees won't lay comb on the plastic frames unless they are pre-waxed by using melted beeswax, is this the case? 56:25

 

10) How close can my hives be to my chickens, would free-range chickens eat the bees, or would the bees attack the chickens? 1:00:43

 

11) What are the top 3 reads for beginning beekeepers when opening a hive? 1:06:21

 

12) If I put fondant on, is it better than honey or the syrup, and will this cause the bees to starve because they won't go back down to the honey stores? 1:09:28

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 137 with Frederick Dunn

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/gRiQXQUln9M

Topic links generously provided by:

Adam Holmes

1) Would you place fondant on a colony that is nearly honey bound? Will the store the fondant or just use it instead of their honey stores? 2:16

2) How many times a year do you check for mites, and is sugar shake the only method you use? 10:48

3) I was wondering if you can discuss the double screen boards used to split hives? Can they be used in reverse to combine colonies? 16:06

4) How do you feel about clipping the corners of the plastic foundation to create Pass-Throughs for the bees? 28:47 5) Concerning Layens Hives, you talked about turning Langstroth comb 90 degrees. I was considering doing this with foundation, but noticed hexagon orientation would be different. 31:36

6) I have been wondering about bee-space lately. Do bees walk up the frames, or do they walk up the walls? What is the optimal gap size between the bottom of the frames and the screen/bottom board? 42:32

7) If I have only one hive with very few workers, softball sized, and a laying queen, what is the best way to rebuild the population quickly in winter? 46:50

8) I recently noticed many bee abdomens on the landing board? it's not too cold for shrews to eat them. Any advice as to how to get rid of shrews? 54:44

9) I've ben told that letting a colony re-queen itself can often result in a more aggressive hive. Is this true? 59:52

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 136

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

https://youtu.be/4xaxk8wEhHk

 

Thank you so much for listening!

Topics and time-stamps are generously provided by:

Adam Holmes 

 

 1) When I start with a swarm, or package of bees, can I start them in a 8 or 10 frame regular hive, or do I need to purchase a nuc? 3:49

 

2) When you do the queen excluder test with the queen being caged for varroa control, could I use a drone frame in that cage, or would that impact the colony's relationship to the queen? 15:00

 

3) Would you mind explaining how you go about doing your splits? 25:04

 

4) If I order package bees, would you suggest BeeWeaver, Saskatraz, or some other line? 32:08

 

5) If you have bee stock that you like and know is good. Could you raise more drones and flood the area with your selected genetics? 39:39

 

6) What do you think about having a hole in the front of the flow box that is elevated? 49:08

 

7) Regarding your varroa mite control plan, if the mite scoots into a cell with a larva just before it's capped, will the Oxalic Acid Vapor still kill it? Or would you have to alter your application schedule? 53:31

 

8) What do you know about Texas 5000 bees? I've heard you talk about BeeWeaver bees, which are pricier. 57:12

 

9) We are feeding dry sugar and at times slipping in some fondant, does giving them fondant stimulate them for brood production, or is it just emergency backup feed? 1:05:13

 

10) If I hang drawn comb with larvae already in it, and change the orientation for a Layens Hive, will this damage the developing larvae? 1:10:03

 

11) If I use the BeeSmart Design insulated inner cover, do I still have to tilt the hive forward, or does it work better level? 1:17:00

 

12) Whatever happened to the waxed plastic frames you had that prevented small hive beetles from hiding in them? 1:20:15

 

13) Is a steel queen excluder better than a plastic one? 1:23:53

 

14) Can you go over some of the basics about your Observation Hive? Do they mind the light? How can you keep one in an un-heated space? 1:28:15