Getting started in Beekeeping with an Observation Colony

Today we talk about how easy it is to start an observation colony in beekeeping! If you are looking to keep bees with zero interaction, you can maintain an observation colony and watch your bees rather than working them.
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[@johnwyant1187]

Love the chickens hanging out while you mow

[@SecureAcresNaturalBees]

Chickens are great and the eggs save a lot of money!

[@johnwentzel6890]

A good subject to address. Thanks

[@SecureAcresNaturalBees]

Thanks for watching!

[@JoyAZrebiec]

Awesome

[@Swarmstead]

Hands off colonies sound good to me. They'll do what they gotta do.

[@SecureAcresNaturalBees]

Keeping an observation hive is also keeping a treatment free colony!

[@18Bees]

Brother it's so true. I've got a lot of swarm boxes out there that I forgot about 2 or 3 years ago and they are filled with bees...no frames and doing great. Now they are swarm generators for my any empty log beehives. Thanks for continuing to talk about this.

[@SecureAcresNaturalBees]

It's certainly easy! Now I just need to empty out a log and catch a colony on the inside!

[@Dan.Parker]

Hey cool to hear. I was curious what is the diameter of the logs you used to make a hive?

[@18Bees]

@@Dan.Parker morning. Typically I use 20 to 24” wide. The cavity diameter is always around 14” all the way down. Log height around 4’

[@user-qb7qs5el4w]

👏👏👏👏🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@SecureAcresNaturalBees]

🐝🐝🐝

[@gallowaylights]

00:02:41 No pollination contact needed? 😂

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Small boxes quickly get crowded and crowded colonies swarm. Here in NH, it's no surprise that your bug suit was made here, we have bugs. We don't have many feral bees. We have lots of bears. We can not have bees for very long without an electric fence, period. If you have bees in a box for any length of time during the non-winter months, the bears, which can smell bee brood from more than a mile away, the bears will visit your bees. Their calling card is usually a busted box and frames licked clean of honey and brood. Once a bear learns were that bee brood is, even the electric fence may not stop them. If you do leave a bee box, an 'observation' hive, out, protect it with an electric fence, at least here in NH, where we know about bugs and bears. Be safe, protect your bees, you owe them at least that.

[@SecureAcresNaturalBees]

That sounds terrible! We have a lot of loud dogs that tend to keep the wildlife away.

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

@@SecureAcresNaturalBees Not really too bad, we just have the learn how to coexist with them. The best way is to have all things that attract bears and other critters secured. As for the bugs, well they feed the birds, frogs and fish. Have a great day, Brice

[@kevinkessell3540]

I know that you used to fill the hive with frames in the spring. How do you get them to build down on the frames? My bees are building about half way down across the frames except for the 1st 4-5 closest to entrance.

[@SecureAcresNaturalBees]

When given enough time they will complete the frame with comb. Just make sure your hive is level and they will eventually finish it up. Sometimes it can take a while.