The Way To Bee

Beekeeping Q&A 261 preventing queen losses, and assessing non-productive colonies

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction 06:10 My honey was at 20.5% can I put it in my convection oven to dry it down?

10:48 When should I add a second deep if the bees aren't warming the space they are currently in?

15:05 I have a hive that appears queenless on day 10 or 11 after swarming. Can I use QMP to test if they have a queen or not?

25:17 Made a split, the split has eggs, the original colony doesn't. Any thoughts on this?

33:27 I tried to put my $40 queen into the Queen Isolation Cage, but she did a 180 and flew off. I tried putting the wooden queen cage inside the QIC and it was tough to get out later on. What are your thoughts on this?

49:52 I used double-bubble as insulation on top of my hives until ants moved in. I've removed all Double-Bubble, have you seen anything like this?

56:42 If you have a queenless colony, what are your thoughts on combining them with pheromones rather than the paper method?

01:03:25 Will 2:1 Sugar Syrup help a colony accept a new queen when she arrives?

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 260 recorded during a LIVE chat.

This is the audio track from today's LIVE Q&A Session:  https://youtube.com/live/SQpoSv-X2Xs?feature=share

 

Today's CHAPTERS: 00:00 introduction  (Contributed by Adam Holmes)

06:10 Thoughts on moving my very successful resource hive into a full 10 frame hive box?

11:28 Is diatomaceous earth safe to use near bees? 13:34 What is the best indication of swarm season?

18:05 I've collected several swarms in my bee vac that had several shb in the bivouac. Do you know how common this is?

21:13 How many times in a row would you treat with OA?

28:04 I had a nuc die. There were partially emerged brood that died with their tongues out. What might have caused this?

43:03 What is your favorite bee escape for getting bees out of a honey super?

53:05 Special Guest How is your hive doing?

01:00:55 Can I move a frame of brood from a stronger hive into a weaker hive? 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 259, The Way To Bee

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Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 258 swarms and more swarms...

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Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 257

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Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 256 strong nectar flow and swarms.

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Report a Honey Bee Swarm, Or Register as a Swarm Collector. FREE Honey Bees BeeSwarmed.org

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This is a FREE registration service for beekeepers who wish to obtain free local bees while providing a valuable service to the public.

A casual Interview with Dr. Thomas Seeley about his New Book, Piping Hot Bees & Boisterous Buzz-Runners.

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CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction

01:54 Books by Dr. Seeley

02:29 Young Thomas meets his first honey bees in a walnut tree.

04:28 The first bee book that Tom owned.

06:20 Tom Seeley gets a job at the Dyce Lab, cutting the grass etc.

08:35 The First Master Beekeeper Program in the U.S.

10:35 Burning Hives! American Foul Brood

12:02 A Raccoon named Vega

14:32 Tom meets his future wife on Appledore Island.

18:26 Tom uses his woodworking and technical skills to build his own gear.

20:16 Detecting CO2 in Bee Hives.

25:15 How bees vent their hive.

26:30 How small entrances benefit honey bees.

28:50 The many benefits of Observation Hives.

30:39 Dyce Lab Observation Hives with long entrances.

31:41 Hive top ventilation.

34:04 How Tom selected his summer helpers at the Dyce Lab.

35:49 Radios helped with field reporting.

36:43 Various dances and associated frequencies.

37:11 How honey bees hear.

39:00 The Shaking Signal

39:50 Grooming Invitation

46:00 How video improves observation, and accurate measurements.

53:10 How fast does a swarm travel?

53:54 How does a swarm know what direction to go?

57:55 Swarm Collection Boxes.

58:56 Swarms prefer boxes with comb inside.

01:00:18 Water studies inside the Glass House.

01:04:20 Water spreading bees.

01:07:00 Bees don't want a top entrance.

01:10:10 How do comb builders determine cell wall thickness?

01:11:48 Tom and Robin encounter defensive bees while on their honeymoon.

01:18:13 How does Tom Seeley set up his own hives at home?

01:26:20 Closing Thoughts from Tom.

01:27:40 Nature Based Beekeeping, a better way of saying Darwinian Beekeeping.

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 255 Swarms, Absconding, Splits and all that spring management brings.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/bFlBX_skqtE?feature=share

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction

02:50 Pollen count, where to find that information.

03:57 My bees won't go above the queen excluder.

04:50 High Swarm Risk, what are some weather triggers?

05:39 Mite Treatment, newly installed packages and more.

08:01 How do I deal with deformed wing virus? 09:00 What do I do about chalk brood?

10:59 Packages VS Swarm Captures, Mite Loads.

16:57 Will you be making nucleus hives from swarms this year?

18:43 Using frame feeders as place holders while you wait for new queens to mature.

20:24 How to remove old brood comb without losing the brood that's on it.

22:59 Weird colonies without queens, but pollen is coming in, no eggs or brood.

26:39 Please explain the difference between deformed wing virus and K-Wing.

28:02 How do I stop swarming with the Demaree method?

32:20 Do you use mini mating nucs?

35:26 What's the time-line for verifying a new queen is working out after a split?

38:54 What's your advice, method, for splitting a hive?

42:25 Supercedure, should you allow it?

46:30 High Mites in Swarms, more than 100 counted.

48:34 Where can I get good breeder Queens?

49:30 What percentage of honey should be capped in a flow-frame before harvesting?

51:09 Are you going to try top-bar hives?

51:55 Do you have any tips for those beginning with Flow-Hives?

57:00 Why do Bees Abscond? 58:22 Should we feed a light hive now?

01:01:52 Laying queens are unable to fly, how do they abscond?

01:07:33 Package bees arrive during bad weather, what do I do with them?

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 254

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/01c4KdiZ0uM

This is the topic list with corresponding time-stamps, generously provided by:  Adam Holmes

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction

03:35 Why use a 5 frame nucleus hive instead of a 10 frame brood box a a resource hive?

11:50 Lots of dead bees around my swarm trap, is that normal?

17:18 Tried the Swarm Reacher, the queen did not climb onto the frame.

21:45 What if I direct water from my A/C unit to my birdbath for the bees?

26:50 I've had several large swarms go into a swarm trap and not stay. They just don't fit.

35:28 Any thoughts on washing your bee suit to remove alarm pheromone from your suit? I wonder how long the alarm pheromone remains?

41:04 Plan of the week, fluff segment.