Hi Joe I find it very therapeutic watching you with a cup of tea even though I have apiary work to do 😁 In this video you mention your tube viewing numbers. You will have many, many 👍more than you think watching you via TV because if I watch you on TV on you tube through our play station box I cannot press a like or comment there and we are not added to your viewing numbers.
Hello Joe: I'm writing to you from Louisville, KY. Our weather generally isn't too much different from weather in your area. I had what I believe are two fairly strong hives & one weak hive. Anyway, I took advantage of the fairly mild weather we had today & opened up a couple of hives to check on them. Opening the weak hive first, I found it to be a dead out. About 1 1/2 - 2 cups of bees, all lifeless. There were maybe 100 or so scattered & dead on the bottom board. But the majority of them, including the queen were clustered up toward the top of the 2nd 8 frame box in between two frames. Many had their bodies, head first completely submerged in the comb with the others clustered on the frame covering them. Now there was several frames of honey contained within the hive. But I did not see much in the way of pollen stores. I have been giving them summer pollen patties & they had been consuming them. I started switching over to winter patties when we had a warm day about 2 weeks ago. I noted that this weaker hive did not have strong numbers, but they seemed to be moving around the hive on the upper frames fairly well. But with the recent colder weather we have been having here lately (40 degrees and below), I have not been in the hives. I have sugar boards on top of the frames of all 3 hives. It appears they all have been feeding on them as well. I also have cut & installed 2" insulation boards to surround the hives & hold them into place with 2-1" cargo straps per hive. I had been treating the hives with oxalic acid on a regular basis until the bees stopped flying. So I don't believe there to be a mite problem & I see very few hive beetles. Also, there did not appear to be any signs of any moisture problems or condensation buildup within the hive. The other two hives seem to be thriving from the limited view I can get of them.This is only my second year of beekeeping & I really enjoy it. Watching & learning from your videos has been a big help in guiding me through the sometimes challenging process. I value your opinion & the knowledge you display in your videos, they are priceless. Any thoughts or suggestions regarding this limited description I have provided here in this writing? Thanking you in advance for any advice you may be able to offer this somewhat befuddled beekeeper wanna be... Sincerely JGA.
I found that 10 lbs test fishing line the bees chew it and when you open up the hive there cut fishing line every wheres.. I will use 20 test now.. it wire from an old electronics motor..
It's nice to get those frames together if you've got nothing better to do over winter. The fishing line I've seen before. I may try that this winter as a weekend project. I've always used full foundation but it's expensive. I'll buy foundation and cut it up into starter strips and see how it works for me. The other thing about starter strips is to place them between existing drawn frames, or so I've been told. Thoughts?
Thanks Joe for all the valuable insights and information. I'm in middle Georgia and somewhat new to beekeeping. You've saved me from making a number of mistakes and I've been had more success this year by listening to your advice. Thanks again, you're special to the beekeeping community. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Merry Christmas 🎁 Joe And Thanks for the Video. I enjoy the live chats. Keep up the good work. I know you do a lot of work on your videos so other people can learn and you definitely deserve more Thanks and tribute than I can give. Take Care Bob A
Just a suggestion, instead of wax strip put lollypop sticks or a thin strip of wood or a barbecue skewer which I stick on with a hot glue gun and they all work just as well as a wax strip!!!!! You have a saw so you can make strips of wood the thickness of a lollypop stick.
I always look at winter as my downtime, but then I realize I'm just as busy in the winter building frames and boxes as I am in the summer taking care of the bees LOL. Thanks for sharing.
Hey joe thanks for all you vidios/ tips !! an merry Christmas to you ! I couldn't imagine the time doin 1000 frames that way , i just bought 1000 deep frames assembled with cell rite waxed foundations for 1.90 each , just sayin ,thats alot of work. Happy beekeeping 🐝
I missed you Joe, thank you for the tip on the frames, I will start doing them like that as I like it better then my way last year. I just did one x and that caused me many worries as I pulled frames out. Merry Christmas dear man, I hope your holiday is filled with joy and laughter.
Merry Christmas Joe. This video was very helpful and will save me a lot of money from buying those premade frames. This is the first time I have seen someone wire with 2 Xs like that. I'm going to have to try that. I bet you are building boxes too.
Joe I can't ever imagine you being bored, you're always doing something. Thank you for the video. I hate to admit but I learned the hard way that fishing line saves your drawn out frames. Have yourself A Merry Christmas sir.
Joe, Thanks for the video. I like the idea of the double X configuration. I did couple dozen founationless frames lsst year but the bees built mostly drone comb. Wondering why? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
You need to put them in the middle of the brood nest. Sometimes in the spring on a good flo they will make drone comb because they are wanting to swarm.
Thanks Joe, I really enjoy your videos. Do you end up pulling the starter strip cleats later for new wax? If so, do you end up being able to reuse the cleat? What size staple for the cleat?
When did you change from the single fishing line cross to the double? You have an earlier video of just one cross of fishing line. I've been using that without a problem on my deeps. Using fishing line with my honey supers always results in a blow out. So I need to cut and strain.
Question,i have a hive that is all med boxes,2 brood of medium frames,How would i change this over to deep like my other hives and when can i do this,thanks
I would take a deep box and put it between the two mediums with the queen and brood in the bottom box when they move up to the deep take the bottom box off.
I have been buying my sugar at Wal-Mart here in WV, they charge $9 for 25lbs it was around $8 price went up for canning and baking season. I was thinking along the lines of pallets or something of the sorts.. Thank you
Do you have a good paper pattern PDF file for frame parts, I don't have any bees yet I'm hoping I can save up for a package, but I need a pattern for the frame parts
Hi Joe
I find it very therapeutic watching you with a cup of tea even though I have apiary work to do 😁
In this video you mention your tube viewing numbers.
You will have many, many 👍more than you think watching you via TV because if I watch you on TV on you tube through our play station box I cannot press a like or comment there and we are not added to your viewing numbers.
Hello Joe:
I'm writing to you from Louisville, KY. Our weather generally isn't too much different from weather in your area. I had what I believe are two fairly strong hives & one weak hive. Anyway, I took advantage of the fairly mild weather we had today & opened up a couple of hives to check on them. Opening the weak hive first, I found it to be a dead out. About 1 1/2 - 2 cups of bees, all lifeless. There were maybe 100 or so scattered & dead on the bottom board. But the majority of them, including the queen were clustered up toward the top of the 2nd 8 frame box in between two frames. Many had their bodies, head first completely submerged in the comb with the others clustered on the frame covering them. Now there was several frames of honey contained within the hive. But I did not see much in the way of pollen stores. I have been giving them summer pollen patties & they had been consuming them. I started switching over to winter patties when we had a warm day about 2 weeks ago. I noted that this weaker hive did not have strong numbers, but they seemed to be moving around the hive on the upper frames fairly well. But with the recent colder weather we have been having here lately (40 degrees and below), I have not been in the hives. I have sugar boards on top of the frames of all 3 hives. It appears they all have been feeding on them as well. I also have cut & installed 2" insulation boards to surround the hives & hold them into place with 2-1" cargo straps per hive. I had been treating the hives with oxalic acid on a regular basis until the bees stopped flying. So I don't believe there to be a mite problem & I see very few hive beetles. Also, there did not appear to be any signs of any moisture problems or condensation buildup within the hive.
The other two hives seem to be thriving from the limited view I can get of them.This is only my second year of beekeeping & I really enjoy it. Watching & learning from your videos has been a big help in guiding me through the sometimes challenging process. I value your opinion & the knowledge you display in your videos, they are priceless. Any thoughts or suggestions regarding this limited description I have provided here in this writing? Thanking you in advance for any advice you may be able to offer this somewhat befuddled beekeeper wanna be... Sincerely JGA.
Just sounds like there were not enough bees but no way to be sure.
I found that 10 lbs test fishing line the bees chew it and when you open up the hive there cut fishing line every wheres.. I will use 20 test now.. it wire from an old electronics motor..
It's nice to get those frames together if you've got nothing better to do over winter. The fishing line I've seen before. I may try that this winter as a weekend project. I've always used full foundation but it's expensive. I'll buy foundation and cut it up into starter strips and see how it works for me. The other thing about starter strips is to place them between existing drawn frames, or so I've been told. Thoughts?
It is best to put them in between drawn frames.
I enjoy your videos, and I appreciate anyone who doesn't talk when they don't have anything to say.
Thanks Joe for all the valuable insights and information. I'm in middle Georgia and somewhat new to beekeeping. You've saved me from making a number of mistakes and I've been had more success this year by listening to your advice. Thanks again, you're special to the beekeeping community. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Merry Christmas Joe. Learned a lot from you. Second year bee keeping up in Michigan
Merry Christmas 🎁 Joe
And Thanks for the Video. I enjoy the live chats. Keep up the good work. I know you do a lot of work on your videos so other people can learn and you definitely deserve more Thanks and tribute than I can give.
Take Care
Bob A
^^ Agreed 💯
Thanks for the video and Merry Christmas Joe.
Joe thanks for the videos and the chats. Merry Christmas
Just a suggestion, instead of wax strip put lollypop sticks or a thin strip of wood or a barbecue skewer which I stick on with a hot glue gun and they all work just as well as a wax strip!!!!! You have a saw so you can make strips of wood the thickness of a lollypop stick.
I always look at winter as my downtime, but then I realize I'm just as busy in the winter building frames and boxes as I am in the summer taking care of the bees LOL. Thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas Joe , i appreciate your videos...........
Thank you for videos! Merry Christmas to you Joe!
Merry Christmas Joe! I love the chats. Look foreword to the next one.
Nice tips on the frames.. 👍
Hey joe thanks for all you vidios/ tips !! an merry Christmas to you ! I couldn't imagine the time doin 1000 frames that way , i just bought 1000 deep frames assembled with cell rite waxed foundations for 1.90 each , just sayin ,thats alot of work. Happy beekeeping 🐝
Merry Christmas to you and your family Joe.
Would you use the same procedure on medium frames? Appreciate the recordings of the live chats.
Merry Christmas!! Love your videos 😊
Great video Joe, Merry Christmas!
I missed you Joe, thank you for the tip on the frames, I will start doing them like that as I like it better then my way last year. I just did one x and that caused me many worries as I pulled frames out. Merry Christmas dear man, I hope your holiday is filled with joy and laughter.
Merry Christmas Joe. This video was very helpful and will save me a lot of money from buying those premade frames. This is the first time I have seen someone wire with 2 Xs like that. I'm going to have to try that. I bet you are building boxes too.
Marry Christmas to you to
Merry Christmas Joe.
Great video! You know you will soon have 2 more opinions that will be questioning every move you make and one will be a young lady. Good Luck!
Joe I can't ever imagine you being bored, you're always doing something. Thank you for the video. I hate to admit but I learned the hard way that fishing line saves your drawn out frames. Have yourself A Merry Christmas sir.
Merry Christmas Joe!!!
I enjoy the bee chats. Keep 'em coming!
Merry Christmas Joe !
😀
Merry Christmas Joe
Could you make a video showing exactly how you turn a 5 frame nuc box into a double 2 frame mating nuc from start to finish? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
LaReina Olson i would appreciate this video too
The new web page looks good Joe!
I love the beach hats joke you can coming. Sorry I missed the last one
Am building frames today....winter work.
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you don’t have to be, Busy as a Bee
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Is it still a good idea to use the fishing line with starter strips even in honey super medium boxes?
It's just what ever you like.
@@LittleBitsHoneyBeesjoemay does the fishing line allow for honey frames to be put in a honey extractor?
@@aanadyia4582 yes but you have to still be careful with them.
Joe,
Thanks for the video. I like the idea of the double X configuration. I did couple dozen founationless frames lsst year but the bees built mostly drone comb. Wondering why?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
You need to put them in the middle of the brood nest. Sometimes in the spring on a good flo they will make drone comb because they are wanting to swarm.
Merry Christmas Joe. Thanks for all your videos, you've taught me a lot. Where can I find your chat videos?
Go to playlist chats
Thanks Joe, I really enjoy your videos. Do you end up pulling the starter strip cleats later for new wax? If so, do you end up being able to reuse the cleat? What size staple for the cleat?
Sometimes I pull it sometimes I just cut the old wax out and put new fishing line in.
When did you change from the single fishing line cross to the double? You have an earlier video of just one cross of fishing line. I've been using that without a problem on my deeps. Using fishing line with my honey supers always results in a blow out. So I need to cut and strain.
Question,i have a hive that is all med boxes,2 brood of medium frames,How would i change this over to deep like my other hives and when can i do this,thanks
I would take a deep box and put it between the two mediums with the queen and brood in the bottom box when they move up to the deep take the bottom box off.
Good ideal and when could i do this ?
early to late spring I don't know were you live here in Indiana it would be late April
Joe
Merry Christmas
Hi skinny beeman, any tips on growing my channel 😀
Hey Little Bit. Named my kitten that before i found ur video s. I get a lot of tips on common sense from watching the SkinnyBee Man.
Does fishing line stretch like wire does, it seems that it is a forever job tightening wires, cause the wire has stretched loose.
If you get fishing line tight it dose not loosing up.
@@LittleBitsHoneyBeesjoemay Thanks Joe I will try some cause I have miles of old line in the shed, having replaced line every year.
Do you apply any glue to your frames before stapling?
I do not.
Where do you buy large amounts of sugar? Looking for the deal.
I have been buying my sugar at Wal-Mart here in WV, they charge $9 for 25lbs it was around $8 price went up for canning and baking season. I was thinking along the lines of pallets or something of the sorts.. Thank you
Hey Joe,
How about a link to your website.😊
littlebitshoneybees.com
Do you have a good paper pattern PDF file for frame parts, I don't have any bees yet I'm hoping I can save up for a package, but I need a pattern for the frame parts
Sorry I do not I buy all my frames.