When you first started this series, I thought it was a cool idea to show how a colony gains weight over the season. Now I realise this is more a twin case study in how to manage a hive(s) over a season with accurate measurements to boot. I've seen mobs of TH-cam videos of beekeepers doing hive inspections, and solving problems in a hive, but this is the first series I've seen tracking colonies over a season, and I'm only just now realising what an awesome idea this is. Thanks for all your efforts in making these videos, I will be watching your progress closely from the southern hemisphere to help me through the winter doldrums.
Thanks a lot. That was the idea, so when certain situations come up with these hives (swarming, supercedure, high mites, etc.) everyone will have an idea of the history and what may have led us to that point.
Hello from Billings, Montana. Thank you for your video. I am new to keeping bees. I set up two hives in mid April from two four frame Nucs purchased from a local apiary. Last week. June 15, 2020. I returned from work at 1200. The temp was in the mid 80’s after several days of rain and one of the hives swarmed into a tree nearby at about 35ft up in a branch. A friend and I geared up and climbed and cut and lowered the branch but on the way down a ball broke off. I didn’t realize it was the queen. She flew to another tree about 50ft up. At this point we just waved goodbye. I had read on a website that you should leave the bees alone the first year. After watching your videos. I realize that was a mistake. I went into the hives and thoroughly inspected. Not too sure what I was looking at but found a few empty cups. I also put a queen excluder and supers. I have two brood boxes on each and they are almost full. I realize I after your videos that I should be in the boxes inspecting them every 7-10 days. At this point in the season do you think that the swarm will cause the hive to fail this winter or will there be time to recoup. Also in the hive that I think swarmed there is a gram in the brood box that is really strange. It has several stalactites of come in the middle of the frame in the middle of the box. Should I remove that frame? Do you think now is too late to start a split of the hive that didn’t swarm? Thanks I appreciate your work. God bless you for your time, effort and wisdom.
Hi devan, these videos are perfect for someone like me to follow and see how you treat the hives as season progresses. The only difference with mine is I started packages this spring. I asked you about a month ago what you thought about splitting a package. You and everyone else I asked said it’s not the best idea and I understand why. But I did anyway. I got 3 packages and split one of them to try it out. One of the splits is outdoing a full package. It has bout 12 frames of bees whereas a full package is at about 9 frames. The other full package has about 14 frames of bees. I guess it all depends on the colony. I hope I don’t have to buy anymore bees because I plan on doing some splits and also making up as many nucs to overwinter as I can. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks again.
Devan, also curious to hear your take on what you would have done had you seen queen cells on those frames. Thanks for making and sharing these videos.
It is remarkable how far behind the east is in terms of weather. In Victoria it seems that we are 4 weeks ahead. A case in point I've already had a number of swarms and splits. I'd like to hear more about bees being inclined to swarm. Is there any truth to the idea that if your only source of bees are swarms that you may be selecting for swarming bees? Nice work.
Ya, fair enough. I'll try to make on this weekend if I have time. In the meantime check out my buddy Paul's video here th-cam.com/video/-GD0oKQSB-c/w-d-xo.html But, In my defense, I have done my usual swarm management in these videos. "Before you see something", the way to prevent swarming is to add space to the colonies and make sure the brood chambers are in good condition with lots of room for the queen to lay.
Devan Rawn , Thanks for the reply. I've seen all of your videos. I probably haven't been able to put the swarm management techniques in some sort of systematic organization, and you have great skills with that. I was hoping you could set me straight
Thanks for all the information in your videos, I’m a second year bee keeper, started with 2 hives, now I have 8, (all came from one single hive), I have 3 on 10 frame single brood, 4 on eight frame single brood, and one on a 5 frame nucleus hive, Hand you ever keep 8 frame hives? Will it be better to add a second brood frame before adding suppers? Thanks
I've never kept 8 frame hives, so I'm not sure how much extra work it would be. Tough call, maybe go with 2 brood boxes until you're confident enough to just take a shot on your own.
Looking good when do you do your hygiene testing and is there a set time you look for on killed brood to be removed , Thanks for sharing will be utilizing your single brood chamber tech. After we get our queens and split our two new hives .
Hygienic testing can be done any time, we typically try to avoid doing it during a strong honey flow because that can actually skew the results to the positive side. The test takes place over a 24 hour period. Last year I did it in August and plan to do the same this year.
Really enjoy your videos. Always informative. You may have told us in past videos, I can't recall but can I assume that you are using solid bottom boards?
these hives actually have a screened bottom board, with a solid board underneath it so it's not like the screen is wide open to the ground below. And it creates a drawer for a sticky board to slide in. I custom made these ones to come out the sides. I think I'll show it in the next video.
Thanks for replying. I've seen bottom boards similar to the one you are describing used with trays of vegetable oil or diatomaceous earth to control shb.
I have answered this countless times in the comments section, so I suppose I should do a video about it some time this summer. I breed my own bees and make no claims about their breed/race/sub-species. I breed for qualities that suit my climate and management style with a long-term goal of disease resistance. Too many people are far to focused on a branding given to their bees without understanding the traits they actually have.
When you first started this series, I thought it was a cool idea to show how a colony gains weight over the season. Now I realise this is more a twin case study in how to manage a hive(s) over a season with accurate measurements to boot. I've seen mobs of TH-cam videos of beekeepers doing hive inspections, and solving problems in a hive, but this is the first series I've seen tracking colonies over a season, and I'm only just now realising what an awesome idea this is. Thanks for all your efforts in making these videos, I will be watching your progress closely from the southern hemisphere to help me through the winter doldrums.
Thanks a lot. That was the idea, so when certain situations come up with these hives (swarming, supercedure, high mites, etc.) everyone will have an idea of the history and what may have led us to that point.
Devan Rawn , Genius!
Hello from Billings, Montana. Thank you for your video. I am new to keeping bees. I set up two hives in mid April from two four frame Nucs purchased from a local apiary. Last week. June 15, 2020. I returned from work at 1200. The temp was in the mid 80’s after several days of rain and one of the hives swarmed into a tree nearby at about 35ft up in a branch. A friend and I geared up and climbed and cut and lowered the branch but on the way down a ball broke off. I didn’t realize it was the queen. She flew to another tree about 50ft up. At this point we just waved goodbye. I had read on a website that you should leave the bees alone the first year. After watching your videos. I realize that was a mistake. I went into the hives and thoroughly inspected. Not too sure what I was looking at but found a few empty cups. I also put a queen excluder and supers. I have two brood boxes on each and they are almost full. I realize I after your videos that I should be in the boxes inspecting them every 7-10 days. At this point in the season do you think that the swarm will cause the hive to fail this winter or will there be time to recoup. Also in the hive that I think swarmed there is a gram in the brood box that is really strange. It has several stalactites of come in the middle of the frame in the middle of the box. Should I remove that frame? Do you think now is too late to start a split of the hive that didn’t swarm? Thanks I appreciate your work. God bless you for your time, effort and wisdom.
I'm in my 4th year as a beekeeper and I'm really enjoying this series, thanks.
between you and BarnYard bees I have learned a ton thank you.
Every week, thank you! Great information as I continue to learn from you as for single brood box management.
Hi devan, these videos are perfect for someone like me to follow and see how you treat the hives as season progresses. The only difference with mine is I started packages this spring. I asked you about a month ago what you thought about splitting a package. You and everyone else I asked said it’s not the best idea and I understand why. But I did anyway. I got 3 packages and split one of them to try it out. One of the splits is outdoing a full package. It has bout 12 frames of bees whereas a full package is at about 9 frames. The other full package has about 14 frames of bees. I guess it all depends on the colony. I hope I don’t have to buy anymore bees because I plan on doing some splits and also making up as many nucs to overwinter as I can. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks again.
Awesome, I'm glad that worked out for you. And I'm glad you decided to experiment.
Thanks for the great info...1st. year and we've learned a lot from you!
Thanks
great video for beginners such as myself!
Looking forward to warmer weather and that nectar flow to watch them put on some weight!!
You and me both!
Good work there Devan.
Please tell us though, what would be your plan of action should there be a queen cell?
Micheal Crawford some form of artificial swarm
Devan it would be interesting to hear what you would do if you see certain signs of swarming.
Great videos I look forward to the next one!
Devan, also curious to hear your take on what you would have done had you seen queen cells on those frames. Thanks for making and sharing these videos.
Concerns about plastic queen excluders?
It is remarkable how far behind the east is in terms of weather. In Victoria it seems that we are 4 weeks ahead. A case in point I've already had a number of swarms and splits. I'd like to hear more about bees being inclined to swarm. Is there any truth to the idea that if your only source of bees are swarms that you may be selecting for swarming bees? Nice work.
I'm sort of jealous, but I like the break that our long winter gives. And the seasons here change very quickly.
Would like to see a video talking about swarm management, before you see something.
Thanks for the help
Ya, fair enough. I'll try to make on this weekend if I have time. In the meantime check out my buddy Paul's video here th-cam.com/video/-GD0oKQSB-c/w-d-xo.html
But, In my defense, I have done my usual swarm management in these videos. "Before you see something", the way to prevent swarming is to add space to the colonies and make sure the brood chambers are in good condition with lots of room for the queen to lay.
Devan Rawn ,
Thanks for the reply. I've seen all of your videos. I probably haven't been able to put the swarm management techniques in some sort of systematic organization, and you have great skills with that. I was hoping you could set me straight
Thanks for all the information in your videos,
I’m a second year bee keeper, started with 2 hives, now I have 8, (all came from one single hive), I have 3 on 10 frame single brood, 4 on eight frame single brood, and one on a 5 frame nucleus hive,
Hand you ever keep 8 frame hives?
Will it be better to add a second brood frame before adding suppers? Thanks
I've never kept 8 frame hives, so I'm not sure how much extra work it would be. Tough call, maybe go with 2 brood boxes until you're confident enough to just take a shot on your own.
always informative, keep those vids coming.
Looking good when do you do your hygiene testing and is there a set time you look for on killed brood to be removed , Thanks for sharing will be utilizing your single brood chamber tech. After we get our queens and split our two new hives .
Hygienic testing can be done any time, we typically try to avoid doing it during a strong honey flow because that can actually skew the results to the positive side. The test takes place over a 24 hour period. Last year I did it in August and plan to do the same this year.
Really enjoy your videos. Always informative. You may have told us in past videos, I can't recall but can I assume that you are using solid bottom boards?
these hives actually have a screened bottom board, with a solid board underneath it so it's not like the screen is wide open to the ground below. And it creates a drawer for a sticky board to slide in. I custom made these ones to come out the sides. I think I'll show it in the next video.
Thanks for replying. I've seen bottom boards similar to the one you are describing used with trays of vegetable oil or diatomaceous earth to control shb.
Good work bro
Thank you for the video
Are they the same
Question; Are both weighed hives Italians?
Nope
Are you alive ?
Russians?
I have answered this countless times in the comments section, so I suppose I should do a video about it some time this summer. I breed my own bees and make no claims about their breed/race/sub-species. I breed for qualities that suit my climate and management style with a long-term goal of disease resistance. Too many people are far to focused on a branding given to their bees without understanding the traits they actually have.