The Way To Bee with Frederick Dunn

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 100 with Frederick Dunn

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

This is the 100th episode of the YouTube series:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n94_gFHvc3w

Time stamps and question summary is coming soon!

Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 99, How to keep a newly hived swarm from absconding, and more!

This is the audio portion of the full YouTube:  https://youtu.be/qh_kZGQcoQg

Pinned by Frederick Dunn

Questions and Time-Stamps are listed below, courtesy of Adam Holmes 

 

1) How do you safely handle frames? As you inspect? 3:30

 

2) How do you keep from harvesting unripe honey with your flow-hive frames? 14:19

 

3) Do you pull hives apart and clean bottom boards in spring? 23:30

 

4) How long do you wait to transfer a newly trapped swarm from trap to hive? 25:21

 

5) I purchased Hoover Hives, there is space in the 8-frame box for a 9th frame. Is there a reason not to put a 9th frame in the box? 29:12

 

6) You have said to make sugar syrup by weight instead of volume, did you have unsatisfactory results when using the volume method? 34:05

 

7) Why not have a medium as your brood box? 41:36

 

8) When do you start changing feeds from emergency to 1:1 etc. 44:21

 

9) I'm going to start an observation hive, I've got a ton of questions. 50:37

 

10) Do you clean / replace bottom boards in spring? Would you consider mixing dry spirulina with dry emergency sugar? 59:51

 

11) Do you think the Asian Giant Hornet could fit through a Hyfe Gate? 1:02:32

 

12) I'm getting my package bees next month! Should I use lemongrass oil drops, peppermint, lavender oil? 1:06:36

 

13) What feeder do you use to feed in spring? Would the super be added immediately after my 8 frame flow hive is full? 1:12:41

 

14) I'm a treatment free beekeeper, one of my colonies has some crystal bits in the brood cells, will the bees clean that up? 1:14:40

 

15) A guy that has had bees for 20 years told me today that he just buys new bees every year. 1:19:56

 

16) I was wondering if you could talk a little more about the BeeWeaver Bees? How is their temperament? I have read that they can be hotter than other bees. 1:23:12

Show less

Episode 100 May be a LIVE-Chat Session!  Undecided at the moment.

Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 98 winter feeding and did my honey bees starve?

This is the audio track of the full youtube video:  https://youtu.be/QVvdwGrZPXM

You are invited to share and learn from one another at The Way To Bee Fellowship:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/3062274013832702

Support The Way To Bee and wear something that will start a beekeeping conversation:  https://freds-fine-products.creator-spring.com

Time stamps are provided by Adam Holmes 

 

1) Can I put a bar of beeswax in the hive as a resource for the bees? 3:30

 

2) How do you reduce the size of a hive going into winter? 5:33

 

3) How do you determine the size of your brood boxes? You seem to favor one deep and one medium. Can you talk about the factors that go into that decision? 8:45

 

4) What is the point of the slats in the slatted rack? Wouldn't a 5cm shim work? 13:37

 

5) I feed 2:1 sugar syrup and pollen sub patties. My bees starved to death and did not appear to have touched the dry sugar. Is there something better than dry sugar to use in winter? 17:25

 

6) What is the difference between summer worker bees and winter workers that live so much longer? Is it metabolism? 29:45

 

7) I will be receiving packages in mid-April. Once both boxes are full, I was thinking of putting a Flow-Super on one and a Ross-Round super on the other. any thoughts? 34:00

 

8) Every day lots of bees come out of our hives and die. Lots of poo, so could it be dysentery? Probably thousands have died in the last two weeks. 40:05

 

9) I have 4 Layens Hives and want to switch them to Long Langstroth Hives I just built. The problem is that it won't be far, between 3 to 6 feet. 45:14

 

10) What is your favorite smoker? Or Which would you recommend? 50:22

 

11) I'm trying to find more information on how to feed spirulina to my bees. When do you usually feed pollen patties? Should I wait another week or two? 55:35

 

12) I have a local beekeeper selling nucleus colonies, but can't get them to me until the first week of June, is this too late? 1:10:15

 

13) I cleared the entrances of my hives and most, if not all, had their tongues out. Is this an indication of starving? 1:14:17

 

14) What are the positives or negatives to using a canvas inner cover compared to wooden inner covers? 1:15:59

Show less

Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 97 Let's talk about honey bees!

This is the audio version of the YouTube beekeeping question and answer video episode 97 by Frederick Dunn

Episode questions and time links will appear below in the future. Thanks for listening! 

 

https://youtu.be/IzUUvMw970E  This is the associated video. 

Tim stamps are courtesy of Adam Holmes

1) Considering the HyfeGate, got me thinking about my own hive designs. I wonder why you allowed 1.5" of open space at the bottom of your Horizontal Long Langstroth Hive? 2:44

 

2) I was hoping you could give a shout out to Heroes to Hives: 15:50

 

3) I'm getting two packages of Saskatraz bees this March. When would you test or treat for mites? I only have quickstrips. 19:08

 

4) With spring right around the corner, I'm wondering about feeding my bees. If they have plenty of leftover from their winter stores? 26:02

 

5) I have 32 colonies and so far every one has made it. I have been feeding them dry sugar. They have not consumed their winter stores, I feel like they do not have enough space for laying. What would you recommend? 30:20

 

6) Inspired by your anti-wasp entrance, I have SHB issues and am wondering if I could close my hives at night, or how to reduce the SHBs from getting in. I've seen 30 an hour on hot humid evenings. 36:40

 

7) What is your take on hive insulation to help the bees in all seasons? 45:50

 

8) How long after hiving a nuc and a swarm should I continue feeding? 59:47

 

9) I was going to leave grass beneath my hives, but have concerns that a mower would upset the bees: 1:02:20

 

10) My new hives are Layens design. I was planning to treat with oxalic acid vapor through a port hole. Would this work or should I consider another treatment? 1:04:54

 

11) I remember you mentioned that you picked up a Layens Hive. Did you get the insulated version? Will you be able to raise it high enough for the skunks and still be able to lift the frame out reasonably easily? 1:13:41

Bee Keeping Questions and Answers Episode 96 how to STOP wasps from robbing hives and more!

Welcome!

This is the audio version of today's Youtube video, Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 96

It's  long one!  

Time links below are courtesy of Adam Holmes 

 

1. Could we mix salt and sugar as an early spring supplement? 2:00

 

2. Will wax moths take over drawn comb in my swarm collection boxes? 6:04

 

3. I have left over honey from last year that crystalized, will the bees still use it? 10:26

 

4.Thoughts on an alternative bottom board configuration to combat wasp 17:32

 

5. Can you explain why people suggest starting with 2 haves? Should I source bees from Randy Oliver? 36:32

 

6. I need to replace an existing hive, any advice for swapping frames and their order? 42:57

 

7. If someone caught a late season swarm could they fill drawn comb with honey and paint melted wax to cap them? 48:24

 

8. How do I go about replacing old comb and setting up a schedule for that? 52:37

 

9. You mentioned a queen could fly up to 9 miles to be mated, source? 55:25

 

10. If you were to redo your long lang what would you different? 59:35

 

11. Thoughts on marking and clipping queens? 1:02:53

 

12. I have 3 hives, I want to requeen to provide a brood break and reduce swarming. Can I rotate the queens to other hives? 1:08:25

 

13. Will long wire snake camera disturb the bees and interfere with their winter survival? 1:13:49

 

14. Can I save bees I find in the snow? 1:19:05

Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 95 are you ready for spring? Get your watering stations ready to go!

This is the audio track from The Way To Bee on YouTube

Backyard Beekeeping Questions Episode 95 you can view the entire episode here: https://youtu.be/txkVNKiqI4k

Do you have a question? Here is the form:  http://www.fredsfinefowl.com/thewaytobee.html

Time stamps generously provided by Adam Holmes

 

1) Could you place drone combs to hyper produce them and mate with Saskatraz queens as they make new ones? 1:34

 

2) Does the variety of honey bee change the flavor of the honey they produce? 11:28

 

3) How important is the space you leave above the frames and below the cover boards or inner cover? 18:13

 

4) How do you keep a queen bee alive when you remove her from the hive and want to replace her? 26:58

 

5) When is a good time to replace a deep with a medium super, and also replace the spacer boards with frames? 29:58

 

6) When you catch a queen from the swarm, can that queen bee worked in the same bee yard? 35:02

 

7) I live in South Australia and our summers are hot, suggestions for what I can do to help my bees with watering? 38:10

 

8) What's your opinion on feeding Direct Feed Microbials (DFM)? when do you feed it? 46:40

 

 

Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 94 are you ready for spring? Don't feed everything at once.

This is the audio track from Friday January 22nd on YouTube episode 94 

Better Comb Synthetic Beeswax by BetterBee, is it good or bad? Should anyone use it?

Welcome! This is the audio from a YouTube video that was published on January 21st of 2021

See the video here:  https://youtu.be/DbEe_Rr6YRU

 

Further evaluation of BetterComb is necessary as there are many unanswered questions still. 

 

If you use it, clearly identify frames and keep track of any hives with synthetic comb.

Thanks for listening.

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 93 Should you feed pollen going into winter? And lots more!

This is the audio version of my Backyard Beekeeping Question and Answer video on YouTube at Frederick Dunn

Time links courtesy of Adam Holmes

 

1) You've mentioned in the past that some bees are slow to take to the flow-hive supers. Do you think that some behavior/breed traits would also be responsible for bees not taking to Better-Comb for brood production? 2:17

 

2) This is a suggested method for deterring bears from entering your honey bee Apiary. It's a good concept, but I can't vouch for the effectiveness... yet! 16:28

 

3) I have two hives, one is strong, the other weak. Can I combine a package of bees with the weak colony in spring? 23:45

 

4) My Question is about winter emergency feeding. I spilled some dry sugar down onto my bees, did this cause any damage? Best time to put pollen patties on? 31:17

 

5) Can you tell me about the pros and cons of swarms? 47:02

 

6) Should I treat my bees for mites in the spring? When is the earliest to treat for mites? 53:04

 

7) Can the bees dispose of moldy honeycomb, or should I dispose of them? 59:20

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 92

The topic time stamps for each topic have been provided by  Adam Holmes 

 

1) My bees are flying out and dying in the snow, should I close up my entrance temporarily to stop this from happening? 2:20

 

2) Can I let the sugar syrup run down in my rapid round feeder and just add dry sugar to it? It will be slushy. 8:15

 

3) I was stung on the nose tending my feeder! What is the Best Pain Remedy?! 11:48

 

4) Do bees guard against pests better with entrance reducers? What about copper mesh? 15:47

 

5) I have a Layens Hive from Dr. Leo. I know I need to feed, but how? 22:10

 

6) Viewer from Wroclaw Poland recommends using cell phone to take dictations instead of filling out a log when tending bees. 29:20

 

7) Is there a pattern regarding how bees make vent holes in comb, and is it the same for all frames? 31:10

 

8) Do different sized landing boards make a difference? 34:50

 

9) Did you manage to test Permacomb? 42:36

 

10) How does the Queen Know to lay a Queen Egg in a Queen Cell, and a Drone Egg in a Drone Cell? 45:30

 

11) Why don't your bees clog screened bottom boards? Does that mean they want an open bottom? 48:53

 

12) I have six colonies in Chile, one of them is far more aggressive. What might be the cause? 54:20

 

13) What are your thoughts on using a cage to break the brood cycle? 1:04:20

 

14) One of my hives is being robbed every time the weather warms up, I don't seem to be able to stop it. 1:13:02

 

15) What is the best line of bees for a new beekeeper in Rhode Island? 1:17:38