Our Beekeeping Equipment
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มี.ค. 2019
- Paul Kelly, Research and Apiary Manager along with Apiary Assistants, Wendy and Stephanie, show some of the accessories, modifications and specialized equipment used at the Honey Bee Research Centre.
Frequently asked questions: hbrc.ca/faq/
A descriptive transcript is available here: www.uoguelph.ca/oac/system/fi...
For more videos, check out the University of Guelph's Honey Bee Research Centre You Tube channel at this link:
/ @uoghoneybeeresearchce...
Filmed and Edited by Alex Guoth.
We would like to thank Québec beekeepers Marie-Hélène Majeau and Susan Kennerknecht for translating our videos into French. We are very grateful for their help with this project. (To view translation, click on settings then subtitles)
Nous aimerions remercier deux apicultrices du Québec, Marie-Hélène Majeau et Susan Kennerknecht pour la traduction de ces vidéos en français. Nous leur en sommes très reconnaissants. (Pour accéder à la traduction française, sélectionnez paramètres et ensuite sous-titres)
Thank you to everyone for watching and supporting our videos! If you have any questions about our videos, please check out our list of FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on our website, which can be found at honeybee.uoguelph.ca/videos/frequently-asked-questions/
How to do internship in your University in beekeeping?
Now I understand the inner cover and why you need the upper entrance thank you as always, excellent teacher
Thanks again Tom!
Props to your “stage assistants” as well. Great video with much desired clarity and ingenuity. A joy to watch!
I agree! Stephanie and Wendy were great in the video. Thanks for your kind thoughts Debby.
You are the best and most pleasant teacher I have ever heard!
Well gee, that's an awfully nice thing to say. Thanks Life on Sibuyan.
What a nice and friendly fellow!!
I’m learning from each of your videos.
I can’t believe there are haters giving you thumbs down.. just evil ppl.
Thank you.
Hi There Keen Coyote. Thanks for your nice thoughts!
I'm definitely going to make a two wheeled platform like you use. Would be a real back saver. Thanks for the idea!
Thanks Paul for the info! I've always wondered about your equipment and really appreciate your detailed explanation. Thanks again for the video!
You are very welcome. Thanks for the encouragement!
I invested in that canvas last year and am very pleased with it. Love that there’s not any burr comb to scrape off the top of the frames.
Thanks for the testimonial Primitive Daisy! Nice to hear from you again.
Thank you so much! We learn a lot from you guys! You rock ;) Greetings from the heart of South America-Paraguay 👋🐝👌🏻
Paraguay! Well that's along way from Canada. Great to hear you find our videos helpful. Go Bees!
Thanks a lot for sharing. All your videos are well made and educations. I enjoy every single one of them!
Awe shucks! That's a nice thing to say. Thanks.
forgot to thank y'all for such wonderful resource.
You are most welcome bila48!
I enjoy your videos they have helped many times! I just ordered some Buckfast Queens for mid summer to re Queen. Read so many good things about them. Thanks!
Thanks for your support Bill. Good luck with your Buckfast stock!
I love how You've modified the wheelbarrow. You could also show of Your toolbelt which is another practical masterpiece.
Hi Wess
Thanks. I make and sell the belts as a sideline business so it wouldn't be appropriate to do a U of G video on the topic. Devan Rawn did a video on them and also many more great videos. see dancingbeeequipment.com/products/bee-belt for sales info.
Excelent video and explanations! Thanks!
Well, thank you Gustavo!
Thank you for the video I really enjoyed it and I'm getting some of that canvas to go on top of my house thank you very much.
Our pleasure Michael!
Great video - I think I'll snaffle some of those ideas.
Thanks!
Help yourself Pat! Thanks :)
I started using canvas inner covers but i am harvesting the Propolis by soaking them in alcohol. I just started using the Propolis Tincture to spray my plastic frames instead of waxing them , it worked.
Thanks. That is interesting.
I really like that wheel barrow!
It's incredibly valuable. We have 3.
Always good stuff thanks
:) Thank you!
Wow. Really good ideas
Thanks!
I'll try your canvas inner cover idea. I have a feeling it'll be an SHB breeder, but I like to try & know for sure rather than assume & guess. Thanks for all you do for all of us! Best, @HoneyOnWales
Hi Drew
Our pleasure! I've wondered how our inner covers will work when we get small hive beetles too. I know a lot of beekeepers with beetles that use feedbags for inner covers and they don't seem to have problems. We'll see!
Excellent- thanks
Thanks Again SM!
Thanks for sharing grate tips .
Konrad
You are very welcome. Thanks for your support.
I am following with great interest the materials you post and I would very much
like a more detailed material about the treatments you make for bees.
Thank you !
Hi Alin
We haven't done videos on treatments as the materials used are different in different locations and I don't want to give inappropriate advice. It's better to find out what is recommended where you live. Thanks for letting us know you have found our videos of interest Alin.
Your videos are a great help to me. Thank you All!
You did not talk about the piece of equipment you all carry & what I think is one of the most important, your tool belt. I will look thru all your videos for more info on it.
- Do you make them? If so, where can I get the materials?
- Do you buy them? If so, from where?
I’m in Campbell, California, USA.
Thanks again for the education, much appreciated.
MikeTheBeeGuy
Hi Mike
Nice to hear our videos have been helpful!. I make and sell the Bee Belts. You can learn more about them and order them from Dancing Bee, Innisfil Creek or Backyard Bee Supplies. These are Canadian bee supply stores that will ship to the US.
I haven't done a video about them because we produce the videos at my workplace and the belts are a sideline for me. Don't want a conflict of interest.
best online video resource there is . thanks for posting .... noticed you skipped the fancy stool you often use :)
Hi a spencedr
Thanks! That is very kind. That was an oversight skipping the stool. The stool plans are available on our website. www.uoguelph.ca/honeybee/education-events.shtml
Thanks
:) you are welcome!
Paul, thank you so much for the effort you and your team have put into these videos. Great content! Do you have plans for building the Langstroth hives with the modifications you use? I have looked at the bottom board and screen, work stool plans, but would love some guidance on your cut lists and how you use lumber efficiently for maximum production. Thanks!
Hi Nicholas
Great to hear you appreciate our videos. Those are good suggestions but to be honest I doubt I'll ever get to them. My own construction notes are dashed off quickly and rarely of much use later. Real plans take a lot of time to draw up and aren't my forté. Cheers Nicholas.
A really helpful video, I had wondered about the inner covers and then the question of ventilation also arose. These are not typical of most commercially available hive boxes. Providing a large surface for bees to propolize certainly sounds beneficial and it also eliiminates the building of bridge comb, maybe a bit more natural than a standard inner cover. Do you ever have issues around moisture build up. One quick suggestion, a simple quick introduction like "I'm Paul Kelly of xxxx and I'll be working with Stephanie and Wendy today to demonstrate or show xxxxx at the beginning of every video. Thanks again!
Hi Charles
No significant moisture issues. When they are new we can get some moisture in the cloth and this can mold. After they are completely propolized this problem goes away. Bees are fantastic at dealing with temps and humidity. An upper entrance for winter is our only required assistance.
....and the wraps and insulation seen in 'Feeding Bees and Overwintering".
thanks thanks thanks
:) :) :)
very detailed video :)
I was wondering what is the height of the supers?
Always enjoy your vids, so much to learn. I’m looking online for the canvas and found wax coated or plain cotton canvas. Which do you use?
Hi Henry
Thanks!
We use untreated 18 oz cnavas. See our FAQ 4.2 on the following link for more.
honeybee.uoguelph.ca/videos/frequently-asked-questions/
I utilized the canvas this past year for my top cover. It worked well to keep ants and wax moths out. For winter here in Wisconsin, I have had to go back to standard inner covers while bucket feeding them syrup. Is there a way to continue using the canvas in winter? I’ll have Candy boards and moisture boards on each hive, so I’m not sure how to use the canvas. Thx for your informative videos! 🐝
Hi Daisy
You are welcome! Glad to be able to help. We use the canvas inner cover year round. We don't feed with buckets, use candy boards or moisture boards so it's possible to leave them on.
How do you use the numbers and queen I d tags to track everything? Can you explain. I am going to do a good bit of queen rearing. Looking to setup tracking.... can you help?
When you add the screened bottom board on do you screw it to the solid bottom board?
We use 2 x 4" screws to go through the bottom board, the screen bottom and into the box.
I really enjoy these videos. Do you have to unscrew the bottom board when adding the screen section for varroa? Do you leave the screen section on year around? Thanks for taking time to education.
Hi Peyton
On most colonies we leave the screen on all year. Nice to hear you enjoy our videos!
How about measurements for that wheel barrel? Love the design.
Hi BB
I don't have plans but you can see some pics on our website the give you some construction ideas. I get a bit carried away when I build things so most others will find a simpler way. It sure works well. We have 3.
@@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre Thank you. It's the season where people are throwing out their wheel barrels. Easy build.
This is a great idea and I’d like to try it but I also use jar feeders on top of the inner covers. Do you only use entrance feeders with this approach or something different?
Hi Mark
You could see our video 'feeding bees an overwintering' for a good description of how we feed.
I have honeybees and I enjoy your videos. Your honeybees seem to be very gentle and I am wondering what kind of honeybees do you show on your videos?
Thanks for all the great videos! What is the purpose of screwing the bottom board to the brood box? Does that not interfere with checking for swarm cells (tipping the box to check from below)?
You are welcome!
We move our colonies around for different reasons. I like to have the bottom boards fastened to the brood box to prevent surprises while moving. That's the only reason. If your hives stay in one site there is no need to do this.
@@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre I see. I Think I'll use that method for my nuc boxes in the future. I don't move hives much, but it would be handy for mating nucs to have the bottoms fixed to the box. Thanks for the tip!
@@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre I took your method as inspiration and screwed the bottom boards to my nucs this summer, and I'm glad I did. So much easier to move them about. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for all the tips.
About that Canvas, can I have any technical keywords so I can search for it in my country?
#8 (18oz) "Duck" cotton canvas. For us, in metric countries. It's all fabric above 600 g/m2. Basically canvas used for sail making, painter's "favoured" or (non synthetic) tarps.
I found some at walmart or a fabric store.
Burlap works as well. You can soak the burlap in flour water. Helps discourage the bees from chewing and makes rigid-ER.
@@kevinorr6880 thank you for the advice. I have been using burlap but bees keep showing on it.
I tried using the canvas as my inner cover. I made one mistake and cut the canvas to the dims of my 10 frame deep. When I did my hive inspection 2 weeks later the canvas had shrunk. I should have cut it at least 1" bigger all around. How much bigger do you leave your canvas to make up for shrinkage?
That' s more shrinkage than I've seen. We cut the same width as a box and only a 1/4" longer.
Paul,
Great videos. One question about your brood boxes. You said in an earlier video you only use single brood boxes but I notice in the background to this video almost all you brood boxes are doubles. Is there a reason these are two deeps instead of one? Thanks for all the beneficial information and sharing your experience.
Hi There
Nice to hear you appreciate our videos. Yes I see what you mean in the background. We had some extra brood chambers so put them on those colonies as a second brood chamber and later split them off to make up more hives.
Thanks for the response and your time. It would make an interesting video on the criteria you use to determine which colonies get a second brood chamber and which do not as well as when it is removed and made into a second colony and whether this would be done as a split with the introduction of a new queen. Thanks again for all your videos and help for bee keepers everywhere.
I like your video it is very informative and scientific, the idea of the plastic tarp is very interesting but I am bee keeper in northern Iraq the region is hot 0 to 45 degree centigrade between winter to summer do you recommend to use this tarp in such hot weather ? what about ventilation is it necessary ?
Hi Rezgar
Thanks for your comment. Our inner cover is made of 100% cotton canvas so it's not plastic. I can't say what would be best in your area. You should see what other local beekeepers do. Our temperatures get to 35 C occasionally but never 45C.
I'm an Alabama it gets pretty hot during the summer time around here would you recommend the canvas cover here? What do you think it would restrict the airflow too much?
We get up to 30 degrees C here in the summer. (86F). I can't say how well it would work at temperatures higher than this.
Good video. Where do you get the #18 ounce canvas from?
How did you settle on locating the upper entrance 1-7/8" from the top?
It is a bit arbitrary. That's as high as I can drill the hole without hitting the metal frame rest. I think higher is better since we are trying to help bees void excess moisture in the winter.
Makes sense thanks!
Would you recommend pollen patties or dry pollen feeders?
I don't use either. Bees work for me!
For free canvas hang out at a nearby marina and ask for old sails from sailboats, super heavy canvas material (daycron) and you are recycling it.
Good tip Guy! Thanks.
Does the canvas suitable in hot (sometimes wet) tropical countries? I live in Indonesia which is very close to the equator.
I think i will try to use it here in Brazil too. Here its also tropical weather
I don't know how well it would work in other climates but I can't see a reason why it wouldn't.
Jim Carroll very good tipa thank you
Hello in the homeland! Thanks.
Did you guys dip bottoms in paraffin wax only. Or was it a mix with other waxes?
What size do you cut the canvas? I cut to fit and it’s shrank to the point of barely covering frames
What source do you use to by your 18 ounce canvas?
www.bigduckcanvas.com/8-18oz-duck/8-84-cotton-canvas-duck-18-oz-natural/
Hi Mr. Paul!
Would you like to explain why don't you drill ypper entrances in your honey supers? Won't the bees need them to expell moisture from nectar?
We use bee escapes so the extra entrances would be a problem. Bees can do very well at expelling moisture from their bottom entrance. Have a look at a bee tree -one entrance at the bottom. Bees were doing great before we came along :)
@@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre
What if I drill an upper entrance in the super and cover it with a mesh screen.. that would work? 🤔
N.B. I totally agree with you. Nowadays bees are spoiled 😅
I tried using a clean canvas inner cover this winter and it ended up molding. I have a condensing hive though, with no top ventilation, and the canvas was not protected with a coat of propolis either.
From my experience , I would say that canvas is not a good idea with a condensing hive, as mold will grow in canvas that stays damp for an extended period of time.
I have no experience with condensing hives.
We occasionally get a small amount of mold on our inner covers in their first year. Bees clean it up and add propolis over time.
Hello, Mr. Kelly. What is your source of the 18 oz # 8 duck canvas? Also , what price should one expect to pay per yard of the canvas.Do your canvas inner covers match the top dimensions from the outside measurements of the hive or the inner dimensions of the supers/hive bodies? Thanks.....Glenn
this was the link they had in another video www.bigduckcanvas.com/number-8-18oz-cotton-duck-canvas.html
Hi Glenn and G
Cut the canvas to the width of your hive box and about 1/4" longer than the length.
Mr.Kelly, I've chosen where I will purchase the #8 cloth from. 1 thing they caution is the percentage of shrinkage. how much extra width and length do you consider per dimensions of any size box?
Hi Carl
Cut it 1/4" longer and the same width as the box. Shrinkage matter less on the width.
Other than price and no burr comb, what are the other reasons for using the canvas inner cover? Where can I get them?
Hi Jon see our FAQ #1 on this link honeybee.uoguelph.ca/videos/frequently-asked-questions/
Where can one buy the canvas for inner covers?
This is the website they recommended in another video, I forgot exactly what size piece I ordered but there was virtually no waste. Just measure the size you want to cut it to and do the math for several pieces. The size at this particular link was just a random size I pulled up.
www.bigduckcanvas.com/8-18oz-duck/8-84-cotton-canvas-duck-18-oz-natural/
Where do you purchase that type of canvas? Is that painters canvas?
Can you use an entrance reducer while using the screen bottom board? Im not keeping bees right now but im very interested in starting
Yes
Paul Thanks so much for your videos. I am in my second year of beekeeping and you have taught me a lot. I notice in some of your videos that you put the queen in what I think is called a hair roller cage. I have seen (and used) the ones meant for protecting queen cells like in a incubator etc and these all have a flip cap on one end and the other end is open for where you insert the queen cell like on a Nicot system. In your videos I can't quite see if that is what you are using or if you have one that has a permanently;y attached closed end. Could you please comment on this and advise where you get them if not using the Nicot type. Thanks so very much Larry Arnold North Carolina
Hi Larry
Good to hear we have been able to help you with your beekeeping. I modify a Nicot cage by inserting a wooden queen cell base from Walter Kelley Bee Supplies. The base is held in place with a #4 screw and is a perfect fit . you could likely use a short peice of dowel. I include them with my Bee Belts. dancingbeeequipment.com/products/bee-belt The picture in the ad show the cage detail. I asked Nicot if they'd consider making a cage with a closed bottom but they weren't interested.
Cheers Larry.
Not having an inner cover, how do you give emergency feed such as sugar or fondant in the late winter if the bees need it?
He uses a top feeder. But another keeper on YT added a 3/8 shim on his migratory cover so he could feed pollen/fondant.
We feed enough in the fall that we don't need to consider emergencies or spring feeding.
As a research institution, have you ever experimented with polypropylene hives? I’d like to see some actual research on their use on a northern climate.
Hi There
No we haven't done any work with poly hives. They are fairly popular in
the Scandinavian countries. I like the standard, tough, wooden Langstroth hive. We can always add insulation or indoor winter to keep bees in these hives in colder climates.
Size of canvas top cut to allow for shrinkage? what dimensions?
A bit bigger than the box Hole, perhaps?
Same width as box but 1/4" longer.
Do you put an opening in your canvas inner cover?
No. It covers the entire top of the hive.
I looked on the website for the screen bottom boards instructions but couldn’t find them. Can you help?
www.uoguelph.ca/honeybee/education-screened-bottomboard.shtml
Thanks!!
Can you give me a link to your website please
www.uoguelph.ca/honeybee/ is the link to our home page.
I live in Western, Kentucky and I am a hobby bee keeper, presently 8 hives. I have been using single 8 frame brood boxes for several years. I have purchased and cut my #8 duck but before I make the jump to doing away with my inner covers I have a couple of concerns.
How warm does it get in the summer months in your location?
Is that 7/8” drilled hole in the brood chamber sufficient ventilation with several honey supers on when it reaches into the 90’s Fahrenheit?
Thank you for your time.
Larry Wedding
Hi Larry
It gets pretty hot here in the summer. I'm more used to Celcius but it does get up to the 90's Farenheit in the summer. Yes the upper entrance hole in the brood chamber is all we have in the summer. You won't notice much difference in using the canvas inner covers.
@@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre I use a sugar board on my hives in winter as well as a quilt box filled with cedar shavings. Should I put a Stoper in the ventilation hole in the winter?
@@larrywedding2512 I'd leave the upper entrance open. It helps prevent condensation in the hive.
I’m a little confused about the bottom board … At 05:49 on video, bottom board is screwed to brood box but it has to be removed and rotated 180 degrees to do a varroa mite count (06:30) …. Isn’t it hard to remove the bottom board since it is at the very bottom (!) ….. and you would have to tip the brood box (and supers, if any) to get access to the screws?
Would it be possible to screw the bottom board AND screen to the brood box and leave it there permanently? The block at the back would keep excess cold out during the winter. I appreciate any guidance you can provide. Thanks. P.S I’m in Ontario too.
Hi Cate
We leave the screen bottom board on all the time so there is no conversion.
@@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre Do you screw both the bottom board (flipped to back) and screen board to the brood box? Thx
Yes Cate. with 4" screws.
How do your inner covers work for expelling moisture through the top?
I started using the very same fabric last year and I can tell you they don't release or absorb moisture at all but then that's one of the reasons for the top entrance. My biggest complaint is that when you flip them over they would often times stick to the top cover because of the propolis
How do you insulate your hives if at all?
I'm in Central Virginia so it's not terribly cold. Inner cover comes off for winter, I put a vented 3" shim on top with screen stapled to the bottom and fill it with wood shavings. Later I'll put an empty super below the shim so I can add dry sugar. I will find condensation on the bottom side of the top cover but the wood shavings are always dry.
Hi Joe
Sounds like that works for you. Thanks for sharing your techniques.
Hi Landon
You could see our video 'feeding bees and overwintering' to see what we do for winter preparations.
For those interested in making of Paul's Hive Stool, here's a Sketchup file bit.ly/2VuYdEw
Thanks Mirogster!!! That was an unexpected surprise. You are stretching it a bit with the legend stuff... but that gave me a laugh. Your support is much appreciated.
@@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre That was my humble attempt, to give back something to you and the community :) For making all those videos & sharing the knowledge. Thank You Paul and all folks at UoG!
I would be very interested in buying one of your UoG T-Shirts. If you sold them it could be a great fund raiser for you. Please let me know how I can get one. Thanks.
Hey Vin
We have a small staff so shipping/ handling and exporting costs eliminates any potential for this to be viable.... for now. We will consider this again though.
With solid bottom board and canvas, did u guys have problem with ventilation during hot summer time?
That's what I was thinking about too. I use screened bottom boards all year. I'm in East Texas. I really like the canvas inner covers (Great idea!), but I wonder if that hole will release enough moisture. I'm sure that the canvas absorbs some of it too.
It seems that it's working for Ontario's climate good enough. And after some time it is "properly propolised" :D
It doesn't get hot up here. I only have to turn on the AC about 2-3 weeks, if that gives you an idea.
@@buildingwithtrees2258 It does, thanks!
Dan Ski canvas is made out of cotton so I assume it’s breathable
Omg 11th COMMENT. WOOP WOOP
Would 10 oz cotton canvas work?
The heavier the better so 10 oz should be fine. Bees chew through light canvas.
Hi Stephane
I made a mistake. #8 duck or 18 oz canvas is best. 10 oz would be pretty light and may get chewed through.
@@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre thank you guys for the quick reply.
How do you keep from getting stung wearing shorts and a T shirt? I guess he isn't going to tell me. Lol
I do get stung sometimes but we have nice bees and I prefer to be comfortable. :)
Genetics Genetics Genetics
watch Thor Island video and absorb how to work alongside stinging insects.
Gentle bees and proper technique and you don’t get stung.
Please use a lavaliere
Hi Helen.
We have one, I thinks it's a good one. We haven't found that it's any better than the boom mike on a really windy day ,as was the case this day.
Sorry! but what Is crisco ?
Vegetable shortening.