The Way To Bee

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 115, making your own queens and more.

Thank you so much for joining me!

This is the audio track from The Way To Bee YouTube question and answer series.

See the video here:  https://youtu.be/s2Pgsoxh2c0

 

Time stamps and topic links are provided courtesy of: 

Adam Holmes 

 

 

1) What do you think of using Elmer's glue to seal up small hive beetle hiding places, AND, would it be a better idea to mow and trim at night when bees aren't flying? 4:46

2) Curious about your take on using the Checker-boarding technique to prevent swarming? 10:46

3) I had a flow-hive colony swarm as I was told not to use the second brood box before adding the flow-super. Did I do the right thing? 16:29

4) I would like to make some new colonies from a 3 year old queen as she's very good. How can I do that when they don't make swarm cells? 23:27

5) Please describe how you keep extra nucleus hives in order to have emergency queens ready to go? Please describe the procedure. 29:13

6) Is there a reason that the entrance on a Long Langstroth Hive can't be on the short end instead of the long side? 39:07

7) I started with two hives in February and now have 8 hives. I will be changing to long hives and want queens with traits that include expanding a colony horizontally instead of vertically. How would I go about finding such queens? 41:24

8) Have you published your Long Langstroth Hive plans yet? 46:29

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 114, why don't the bees fill my Flow-Super? and much more!

Welcome to the audio recording of today's YouTube Video!

https://youtu.be/fnHZDpn4j0s

 

 

Time links below are provided courtesy of Adam Holmes

 

1) I know you can purchase Ross Round frames for chunk honey, but is there a way to do that without special equipment? 1:36

2) I have two queen cells in my hive and they are both capped. I squished the one along the bottom and left the supercedure cell to buy some time. Should I let nature take its course, or is it time to make a split? 4:53

3) Our local crop duster is going to dust. My bees are bearded on the outside of the hive, what can I do to keep them from flying during dusting? 10:14

4) Can you give some information regarding what you think it happening with my hive? Lots of resources and I found the queen, but no eggs, what's going on? 12:56

5) I see that there are multiple sizes for Layens Hives. I plan to build my own, how many frames should I be able to include in the hive? 16:31

6) When it comes to Flow Hives, I can't find any information regarding harvesting wax from them. Isn't this also a valuable commodity for flow hive owners? 19:22

7) I need to inspect my hive, and the problem is that they are bearding on the outside. Can I go ahead and inspect? 23:29

8) What happens to bees that are producing wax, but the hive doesn't need new wax such as with the Flow Hives? 25:18

9) Tried numerous different strategies for getting my bees to work the flow-frames and store honey in them. Nothing is working. 26:31

10) My plan is to have and keep only two hives! I do not want more than that. I don't want a lot of gear and have limited space. I just want to enjoy my bees. How do I keep it at two hives? 34:35

11) Bee Weaver Queens are now back in stock: (tell them Frederick Dunn sent you!) These are my favorite treatment free stock: 40:52

12) I recently captured a swarm, now it's in two parts and won't leave the side of a tree. I did not observe the queen during transfer into the hive. Any suggestions? 41:23

13) When should I remove the entrance reducer from my hive? What size should it be? 46:40

Backyard Beekeeping Question and Answers episode 113 with Frederick Dunn

Welcome to another episode of Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers!

Time stamps and question links are provided by:

Adam Holmes 

 

1) How soon after receiving a nucleus colony of bees should I be doing a mite-check? 1:25

 

2) Can you explain more about cutting back hives without splitting them? 9:31

 

3) I received my first sting after not keeping bees for 10 years and experienced a strong reaction, should I be keeping bees? 17:07

 

4) I plan to do an Oxalic Acid Vaporization treatment in a Hoover Hive, do you see a problem with the heavy waxed bottom board? 21:51

 

5) We've recently been having discussions about the difference between using HBH with sugar syrup VS smoking the hives for inspections. Can you explain that a little more? 25:36

 

6) Can you explain more about how you prepare hives for transport? Comments about formic pro for mite control. 34:28

 

7) What's your take on the new fungus strain that's effective against varroa mites in honey bee colonies? 43:35

 

1

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 112

Welcome to another episode of questions and answers related to backyard beekeeping.

This is the audio track from the YouTube Video found here:  https://youtu.be/6Lm-xJ90mfk

 

Video and topic time stamps are provided to you courtesy of:

Adam Holmes 

 

 1) Why do you only use BetterComb in brood boxes, why is that? 1:50

 

2) Would you discuss swarm traps. I blew it by not having my swarm trap where my bees are going to be kept. Now I have to move them 2 miles or several feet a day. 8:16

 

3) I introduced a new Queen Honey Bee on Monday. My mentor suggested they were ready for me to release her into the hive. What are your feelings about this? 14:10

 

4) My bees are not building new wax comb. Are we being way too impatient? We don't have one flake of new wax. 18:32

 

5) I can use better comb in a medium super right? 24:52

 

6) How do you feel about clipping Queen wings as a swarm management strategy? 25:39

 

7) Is there a known diameter that allows a single honey bee to pass through? 30:42

 

8) I had queen cells hiding down in and under my slatted rack! 33:00

 

9) Would you mind mentioning Dr Samuel Ramsey to your viewers? 38:12

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode number 111, just two inspections a year?

This is the audio extract from Fred's YouTube Video Episode 111:  https://youtu.be/w8FDtGItcWw

 

learn more at www.TheWayToBee.com

The time stamps are provided courtesy of:  Adam Holmes

1) You've talked about skunks in the bee yard, what about raccoons, possums, or other animals? 1:46

 

2) Is there an update on the HyfeGate evaluation? I can't make a facebook page to join the group. 5:59

 

3) In Australia we have to check for mites as part of the early warning even though we don't currently have them. Is the bottom board a good way to check for mites? 11:03

 

4) If I lift the inner cover and frames are stuck to it, can that hurt the queen? 17:04

 

5) There is a swarm high in a tree with lots of branches in the way. I set up a nuc box in the tree hoping that will draw them in. 19:10

 

6) I am interested in learning minimal maintenance beekeeping. 25:35

 

7) I am making a split and have a new Queen coming, how early can I release her from her cage? 34:35

 

8) Wanting to know more about deformed wing virus in bees and comb. 42:19

 

9) Do you have any favorite honey bee skin balm recipes? Any favorite ways to use old wax? 45:22

 

10) I have a long hive, removed 24 out of 28 frames. What do I do with the frames? 48:38

 

11) I hived a swarm, does this behavior mean there is a virgin queen that hasn't mated? Should I order a new queen? 52:18

 

12) I have questions about how many feeders to put into a recently hived swarm box. What about the useless nurse bees? 56:18

 

13) I put new bee frames with bees inside my observation hive. I noticed the bees are not increasing. How do I increase the brood? 1:02:31

Backyard Beekeeping episode 110 what I use for record keeping, my favorite app.

This is the audio track from my current YouTube video.

See the entire video here:  https://youtu.be/hTOxfMt4gd4

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 109

This is the audio track from Frederick's Youtube video that posted today May 7th 2021

See the entire video here:  https://youtu.be/7BZLIGIAPZU

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers episode 108 package fails and more!

This is the audio track from today's Youtube video:

 

Time stamps are provided courtesy of:

 

A C

8:20 1) I went to the BeeWeaver website to order the survivor stock that you mention in your videos, they are offering only Italian/Carniolan hybrids, are those the ones?

 

12:27

2) I am scheduled to receive two packages in May, is it ok to treat them with oxalic acid a few days after putting these in the hive? 26:15

 

3) My Saskatraz bees made it through winter and are alive and flying. I am concerned as I noticed no drones. Do bees still bring in pollen if the queen is missing? 31:27

 

4) If I want to speed up production in my flowhive while keeping the queen excluder in place, can I drill a hole in the front of the Flow-Hive cover? 37:07

 

5) When workers serve the Queen in the hive, is that a lifetime role, or do they graduate to other jobs like the others? I read that a bee's lifespan may have less to do with chronological age and more to do with flight time. 43:50

 

have Spirulina in the background on the shelf. I tried using it, the bees don't seem to want it. Have you tried it? What application did they consume?

Show less

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 107 electric fences could be bad for your bees!

This is the audio track from this YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/Azg0n2Ib8yI 

 

Time stamps are provided courtesy of  Adam Holmes

1) Is it possible that my hive was taken over by a four year old queen? 2:09

 

2) When waiting 3 days to re-queen a hive, do you have to worry about them building emergency queen cells? 6:40

 

3) What are the favorable traits of the BeeWeaver Queens? Compared to Italians? 14:23

 

4) How long can I leave a queen in her cage? When will that become a problem? 22:55

 

5) My hive seems to be dwindling and making drones. Some cells have eggs halfway down. What do you advise? 27:45

 

6) Have you ever heard of Eco Wood Treatment? 30:48

 

7) Curious to know if bees scout a swarm trap before they swarm out? 39:33

 

8) Are standard Lang Medium Supers compatible with the Flow Hive Brood Box... want to stack one. 44:31

 

9) Why are my bees already giving drones the boot? Is this normal? 46:05

 

10) Should I smash extra queen cells to prevent after-swarms? 49:44

 

11) I'm buying a nuc, but it is only available as a medium frame, I have deep boxes, what can I do? 55:55

 

12) I have a 9 x 9 bee yard and electric fence at 15 x 15 feet, 3 foot offset. I'm trying to figure out how to orient the hives. 59:33

 

13) Would you notice a drop off in pollen being brought into the hive during the days leading up to a swarm? 1:07:17

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 106 how far away should you place your swarm traps and more!

Welcome to my Podcast, this is the audio track from the YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/O6BeI8X_OTk

 

www.TheWayToBee.org  

 

Time stamps and question list provided by:

Adam Holmes

1) My package of bees will probably be arriving in the rain, can I install them in the pole barn and then move them outside later on? 3:45

 

2) You recommended painting the interior surface of the gable style hive covers, does it matter if we shift or change out covers, will the bees notice/care? 13:30

 

3) Why aren't there any pre-drawn plastic cell frames for beehives other than the flow-hive frames. 18:17

 

4) When you inspect your hive, do you inspect every box? Only Brood? Which one? 20:20

 

5) I need to feedback honey frames that have Honey B Healthy in the honey, the bees are ignoring it, can't find it. I have scratched open the cappings and it caused robbing. 22:15

 

6) Do you swap out the insulated covers with gable wood hive covers in summer, or to you keep them the same all year around? 28:44

 

7) How far should my feeding station be from my hive? My Swarm Trap is 250 ft from the same hive. How far away should swarm traps be? 36:40

 

8) How are none of the bees investigating the Flow and not contaminating the jar? 51:40

 

9) Verify the clearance of your rapid round feeder, the inner cover may not allow the bees to get to the feed. My cone has a notch that allows it to get too low and the bees can't pass. 55:44