this is so helpful. I only put my NUC into the brood bo 2 weeks ago and all ten frames are nearly full! So excited. Thank u so much Cedar and Co for this amazing thing.
I was really disappointed with my flowhive, hardly any honey this 1st year. I got 2 small jars! Lots and lots of bees and a professional bee keeper come to visit and said they just don't like the hive.
Cedar boughs will solve mite problems..not only in hives but hen neat as well. Just cut some and lay next to it. Put hives under cedar trees work great.
I've always been intrigued by bee keeping and your design has giving me the final push to get into it. Our deluxe model is on the way. Thanks for the inspiration.
4:38 You can wire up the frame and let them draw comb naturally, they will build around the wire and your brood comb is well secure. 6:30 Close the hive up at night and move the hive at night, or yes move it 1m at a time. 18:00 Place your super when bees spew out of the top once you open your inner cover, if you get a volcano of bees coming up and out to inspect, then hive is strong and full.
My grandfather was a beekeeper he always told my mom when you move a hive you move them at night but put something on the flight deck so they look around before they fly out. So they don't get lost and get their barings.
And bee's when out collecting Pullen one they come back to the hive they show the next set of bee's going out where the flowers are that are full of pollen. They do a dance/ and show them the directions to take to find the pullen
I have been wanting to get into bed keeping, and after seeing the hive I’m more excited than before. We’ll probably be ordering a couple of these soon.
My guess for buttercotch honey is most likely flowers that have diacetyl (used for butter or butterscotch flavour) two examples are: Fagraea racemosa(false coffee tree) and the Polyalthia longifolia(indian mast tree)
Great video, I’ve wanted to raise bees since I was 15 years old(30 now) and I think it’s time a start thanks to this video I feel more confident in starting out!
Hey Brendon, oh that is so wonderful to hear :) Here is a page on getting started: www.honeyflow.com/pages/getting-started-beekeeping?_pos=1&_sid=e14ad5529&_ss=r Feel free to email us at info@honeyflow.com and ask for some more beginner beekeeping support resources. - Danika
"The bees, the universe and everything." Is that answer also 42? Thank you for the great vid. I ordered my first Flow Hive a couple of days ago and am excited to get started. I bookmarked this video to help me get started right. Thanks again, Damon (Idaho, USA).
I think you empty the tube once the window shows them full and make sure to empty ALL the way and not just take a little bit out or it will over flow ? Heard then talking about that on earlier page
Hi Team, I am living in Malaysia at the moment, I am in worm farming and always wanting to learn beekeeping but I didn't have bees. So, how and where to start? Here is my story, at my regenerative farm, one day I was resting at my usual spot after couple hours for something to drink and eat. Guess what, there was a beehive right under my wood staked table. It is kind mother nature heard my request and guided to me. Now, I want to start this new adventure and willing to learn everything. Thanks for your advices. HLE
So I am researching bee keeping to see if I want to get into it. My question is why do you not use a an Endoscope for inspections? It would seem you could reduce the amount of disturbance to the hive while doing inspections.
Not everyone has an endoscope just lying around also opening the hive gets the bees used to you being around also,the scope may nick a row of brood tearing their young
been interested for a few years now and I think I will be starting one up this year... My biggest worry is, I'm in UK... not the hottest of climates and very rainy most of the year. Will then hive be ok to survive in colder climates and how do you go about keeping your hive warm and fed in the winter times when there are fewer to no flowers about and temperatures drop as low as -5 in worst case scenarios? I'd hate to start a hive to only watch them grow and then die in the winter each year. Thanks and appreciate your help... Great work and product!
Hey Sam, Thanks for your message and interest :) We do have lots of UK Flow beekeepers - Jamie Oliver is actually a great one to follow on social media for it as he often talks about the different climate-specific tips and tricks to managing his Flow hives in the English climate. You can also find a list of our beekeeping clubs and Flow ambassadors in the UK on this map and directory: www.honeyflow.com/pages/bee-club-directory And our Connect With Locals section of our online community forum could be a supportive place too: forum.honeyflow.com/c/connect-with-locals/23 And any further questions please don't hesitate to email us at info@honeyflow.com :) I hope this helps! - Danika
Hi Tanya, the bees normally stick the boxes together with propolis. They are also very heavy when full of bees and honey and so don't usually get blown over in the wind. Animals can knock over the hives so best keep them away if there's a danger of that - Sam
Do you just put the cover over the hive when should you put the super on? ,also when the hives are full bee wax do you take that one out clean the comb off then put the frame back in ? Should the super be slightly slanted so honey flows to the front when your filling your honey jars ,then take out the say wood that was used to slope so nothing gets in? What is the ratio for water sugar ,feed Does the super slightly slanted honey flow to tubes When you get your nuc 10 frames will that fit in my brood box ,I have a 7 ct also curious how to the females know to go up to the super and the queen and drones stay to bottom? Does the water feeder that can go inside goes in the brood box? Do the female go down there to drink?
The roof goes on the brood box and then goes on the super when you put this on top. The Flow Frames get built out with comb the bees reuse this comb, uncapping, resealing and refilling after a harvest. You wont need to clean them unless you are putting them in storage and a pest gets to them. Yes there is a slope built into the Flow Hive for harvesting, the front to rear slope is able to be present indefinitely, it doesnt impact on the colony. A side to side slope would risk cross comb though so it is important to ensure this is level. -Kieran
Try to find a split or nuc colony from a bee keeper, may be close may be far away. I had to travel 200 miles to get one. I'd make sure that you have a shipping date on your hives before you get the nuc, as it might get over crowded and split on you before your hive arrives. Have the nuc where you want your hive to be for at least a day so the bees know where home will be. Then you can add the frames to your flow hive. I'd have a smoker, suit, and gloves as well as a hive tool as well. You'll have to check if varroa mites are an issue in your area, if so you'll need to settle on a way treat them before your winter arrives.
We have 2 dogs that we let loose in our fenced in yard. What kind of interaction can we expect and would there be problems? They are both medium sized dogs and I am sure they will get up and snoop around. I see flowhives on Amazon. If I do this, i want to make sure I have your new type, laser cut units as seen in your videos. Is anyone duplicating your hives? Thank you.
Hi Joe, there are many backyard beekeepers that have dogs in their home and yard. If your dogs are 'interested' in the hive you can place a fence around the hive. This way your dogs will not accidentally knock the hive or disturb the bees as much and they will be less likely to get stung. We have a limited selection of genuine Flow products available through Amazon (www.amazon.com/flow), but there are many fakes making their way onto the market :( You can also find all of our Flow products available directly from our online store: www.honeyflow.com/ Please email info@honeyflow.com if you have any questions - Leah.
BEE careful :) with dogs. I have a crazy German Shephard that tries to eat the bee's just visiting our bird feeders and water. I'm wanting to get a smaller one of these EVEN shared video with hubby ;) I just need to fence in one side of the hill side so Shephard can't jump wall to get to bees
I saw a video claiming that if I try to harvest a flow frame before it is fully capped and bees are still working in the chambers I will maim all the bees in the chambers. They stated that you had to pull and inspect every flow frame to make sure it was fully capped before harvesting it. Is this true? Will I injure bees that are still in the chambers when I turn the flow key?
I wondered the same, I think that video was referring to the first one they made, I think they upgraded it so it doesn't do that now. Search flow hive honey,, a guy reviews the flow hive and its all good.
hey there :) The bees definitely need the hive to be in a lot of sun more so than too much shade, as lots of pests and diseases thrive in the shade. Ideal would be morning/most of the day full sun, and some afternoon shade is fine. You can always add shade clothes etc in hotter months as needed. See more info on factors to consider for locating your hive: support.honeyflow.com/where-to-locate-your-flow-hive/ - Danika
Mr. Cedar i wanted to ask you which staining coat type would you prefer for to keep the flow hive nice and durable for very long periods of time please sir?
Do you need to keep the flow give 2 in the "harvesting" level at all times, or just when you are harvesting? It seems to be a very steep slant. I'm worried water will spill in through the hive entrance when it rains.
I have a question about the color of hives. Some hives are the natural wood color and some are painted white. Is there and advantage to painting a have white?
In order to extract the Honey from the Flow frames, would it not be beneficial to do the extraction in a separate Flow Hive box ? , as you did with the few Frames you removed, also pin pricking the capped cells with a pin roller, to facilitate a better Honey flow out of the Cells ?, You did it a bit scratching with the Hive Tool, but not opening many Cells.
Hi its best to harvest the Flow Frames on the hive as they have been designed in this way, the bees keep the temperature at about 35ºc/95ºF which keeps wax soft and honey liquid. There is enough of an allowance in the honey trough and tube that you dont need to disturb the capping. Doing so could lead to honey leaking out of capping instead. -Kieran
I have a aquaponics glasshouse full of flowering plants, we wanted to have the entrance close to a hole in glasshouse so they can get into glasshouse as well as the rest of the garden, any thoughts or ideas on glasshouses and bees
I'm interested in keeping a hive in the garden for the bees to come home to Do I need to maintain their hive or can I set and forget I'd like to set up and leave the bees to go about their lives
I certainly suggest looking into other hives cause this is too much I’m starting myself I got everything bees and all for less than $600 and this hive is more than that last I checked
Some honey bees can be left to their own devices and do whatever, there are honey bees in the wild. Most bees you’d get online wouldn’t do so well left on their own though, get some local bees and a top bar hive. They should be fine if you treat them for mites twice a year.
@@Ornatetooth0475 but then you still have to buy the equipment for extraction. That's fine if you have several hives, but if you're only wanting one this is a good option.
@Yo Mama You say that they're not worth the hassle, but turning a key seems like a lot less hassle than pulling out frames, replacing them, cleaning out the frame, straining it, centrifuging material, extracting the dead bees and wax, then filtering the honey. It seems like a lot of hassle not to have a flowhive, so what exactly are the cons of having one?
@@Nanamowa lol, what? Go watch jeff horchoff pull some honey and learn how it's done. Hell, even if you're doing crush and strain by hand, all you need are pantyhose, a bucket and your frames of honey. Do you even know how to bees?
Learn about beekeeping before you start. And dont for a second think you need a flow hive. Not until you see the hobby works well enough to spend that kind of money on something you might not even like.
Hey Kenneth, Did you inspect the Flow frames first? It could have been so otherwise yes. A little bit of leaking (a teaspoon or two) isn't out of the ordinary but any more and it could be down to harvesting too soon. You can't tell from the outside observation windows alone whether the frame is ready for harvesting or not so you do need to inspect if you're not sure. To troubleshoot any further please email us at info@honeyflow.com and we'd be happy to go through it with you. - Danika
Hi there, probably best to check with local beekeepers for their advice, we are in a sub-tropical climate and as such do not need to overwinter our hive - Sam
Great review. Could you show on a video how the roof is meant to sit on your flow Hive. I have noticed that the wooden latch when the roof is on will not lock the flow Hive harvesting window. Is that meant to be like that?
Hey Ron, Thanks for getting in touch :) Hmmm, I'm not totally sure what you mean - could you send us an email at info@honeyflow.com with photos/videos illustrating your issue? - Danika
Hi VB, The starter pack does come with a Queen Excluder, in terms of balls hitting the hive, I guess you could pop a fence around it but perhaps not throwing them too close might be easier :D - Sam
I have a six frame flow hive, it's full. Top and bottom. I just bought a second six frame flow hive. Can I just take half the brood and half the flow frames and put it in the new hive ?
Hi Jacqueline, Our smallest is our Flow Hive Hybrid which is still the same footprint as our classic 6 Frame Hive. Beekeeping with a Flow Hive is exactly the same as with a conventional hive. It’s still important to inspect and maintain your hive in the same way - only honey harvesting differs. - Sam
Hi lev - it's best to check with local beekeepers on your climate, as we are in a sub-tropical climate and as such harvest most of the year running only one brood box per hive typically at Flow HQ Apiary. - Sam
I’m up in Cairns, I have Native bees all over, they occupy the walls of my house, once renovated and pulled off walls, honey went everywhere. Would those native bees occupy a Flow Hive if I put it near their entrances to my wall hives?
Hey Wayne, It is a tricky question as the answer depends on so many factors, but please see it answered here: support.honeyflow.com/how-long-does-it-take-before-i-can-drain-the-honey-from-the-flow-hive/ I hope this helps :) - Danika
Hey Kyle, It really depends on your local climate - the best beekeeping practices vary from region to region so we can't recommend enough the importance of consulting your local beekeeping community. Here's an online directory of Flow related beekeeping clubs/ambassadors that hopefully has someone on it near you - otherwise just search for your nearest beekeeping club. www.honeyflow.com/pages/bee-club-directory There's also a great section in our community forum called Connect With Locals where you can confer with other Flow beekeepers near you. forum.honeyflow.com/c/connect-with-locals/23 I hope this helps :) - Danika
You can add an additional brood box for honey comb, or you might look at getting a Flow Hive Hybrid which has timber frames alongside Flow Frames. -Kieran
Ever since I found out about flow hive I wanted to try it. However, I would like to beekeep Asiatic honey bee because they defend themselves better against predetors such as wasps. I was wondering if flowhive could be used with these bees or are there certain modifications needed.
Joe Blazer where can I watch the answer? I asked a question to know the answer and you informed me it has been answered but I can not find this answer.
@@camojoe83 Where can I watch the answer? I asked a question to know the answer and you informed me it has been answered but I can not find this answer.
@@sung-yulpark3258 they didn't answer you, he's being sarcastic. I noticed he's leaving many bitter comments about the flow hive and the expense of them. I prefer everything as natural as possible, but when I see so many people getting into keeping bees that normally wouldn't, how can that be anything but a wonderful addition to preserving the colonies? Everyone does things different, we learn as we go. If it works for you and your blessed to be able to afford it, wonderful. I see them working well in videos of bee keepers. I think they were raising the kind you want to raise. I do wish they'd lower the price. I don't think I can afford one, but I'd like to do a video reviewing one if they sent it to me. God bless 🐝🌻💯💪😀👍🦋🌻🐝❤️
I have heard people claim flow hives are lower stress, so don't cause Japanese bees (whatever they are) to swarm so much in distress... Have you made any experience last year?
Hi Rubie, I believe in the northern hemisphere this direction is considered a good one as the bees will get a lot of sun... however keep in mind hives have existed in such a vast array of locations/orientations and will adapt to most! There are other important considerations such as prevailing winds etc. For more detail on the things to consider please see the article below: support.honeyflow.com/where-to-locate-your-flow-hive/ I hope this helps :) Danika
For what it’s worth my friend is helping me do bees and he always does the nuc with only the brood box. Once the brood box gets filled out and healthy he adds the super. He does keep a close eye on it to make sure they don’t run out of room.
it is really important to start with just a brood box, only add the Flow Super when the bees reach about 80-90% bee population in the brood box, which is visible as a thick carpet of bees on top. -Kieran
Hi Edin, We are currently refining our shipping processes to many countries, and will need some additional information from you to assist you with a quote or order. Please email us at info@honeyflow.com with what you would like to order including the quantity and I will assist you with the quote, purchase and shipping process. Please include the following information: Your full name, shipping address and telephone number. All our Flow products are available on our website here: www.honeyflow.com/collections/all We look forward to hearing from you again soon - Sam
Please could you comment about using flow hive in a colder climate, eg Yorkshire, UK. Are there people over here who are using flow hives successfully?
Hey Ruth, Thanks for getting in touch :) Yes, absolutely - we have Flow beekeepers in many such climates over the world. We strongly recommend getting connected with your local beekeeping club to get the best climate-specific advice, tips and tricks for your region. Here is our online directory of Flow-connected clubs and ambassadors, hopefully there's someone near you on it: www.honeyflow.com.au/pages/bee-club-directory There's also our online community forum, that even has a section called 'Connect With Locals' which can be a great way to reach out to other Flow beekeepers near you : forum.honeyflow.com/c/connect-with-locals/23 Here's an article on overwintering your hive in colder climates: www.honeyflow.com.au/blogs/beekeeping-basics/how-to-overwinter-your-beehive th-cam.com/video/4QjBtY3xlZc/w-d-xo.html Here's a couple of articles from our FAQ pages that are relevant too: support.honeyflow.com/can-i-use-flow-in-cold-or-freezing-conditions/ support.honeyflow.com/wintering-your-flow-hive/ I hope this helps - also you can always email us at info@honeyflow.com for further help :)
Hey Michael, Please see this article for your question: support.honeyflow.com/how-long-does-it-take-before-i-can-drain-the-honey-from-the-flow-hive/ I hope it helps! - Danika
I've been watching a lot of videos from different people on bees, so a question came to mind. Do you or is there a plan to make flow frames that will fit and work in a European style horizontal hive? As a disabled Veteran, the horizontal hives seem to be a better fit later down the road as their design eliminates having to lift heavy Langstroth style boxes. Just thought I would throw that out there and see what you think.
Hi Kenneth, there are some horizontal hives and top bar hives made to the Langstroth depth and length, if you are looking at getting one of these you can put Flow Frames inside this, with some modification to the hive. At this stage there is no plan to change the size of the Flow Frames. -Kieran
Hey :) Hmmm, we wouldn't recommend this as it would kill off all of the raw medicinal properties of it. Sometimes if you harvest a bit too early it can be a bit runny so best to only do this if you really need to, in the event of it being ivy/rapeseed blossom honey that will crystallise if left longer. Nothing wrong with the occasional batch of runny honey though! - Danika
Hello how to prevent to bees swarm out of Flow hive? Is Flow hive sutible for europe Winter time? Thank you for your answer. I Wish you have good day and all the Best.
Hey David, here's an article we've written on swarm prevention: www.honeyflow.com.au/blogs/beekeeping-basics/swarm-prevention Yes, we have Flow beekeepers throughout Europe and similar winter climates :) We always recommend joining your local beekeeping club to find out the best practices specific to your unique climate. However here are two articles on overwintering and using Flow in freezing conditions. support.honeyflow.com/can-i-use-flow-in-cold-or-freezing-conditions/ support.honeyflow.com/wintering-your-flow-hive/ I hope this helps! - Danika
Hi Irene, Sorry for the late reply. Here's a video of how to transfer a nuc to your hive - I hope it's not too late! th-cam.com/video/fYbciqkH5-Q/w-d-xo.html For quicker responses please email us at info@honeyflow.com - Danika
Enjoyed your presentation from Canada. Just starting with bees this spring. There is a lot of controversy here re treating and not treating bees. Do you have any opinion on that subject. Thanks
How I control the bee colony when I don't wont the bee colony go to big in and for my hive ? how I cover this bee hive in the winter time here in Canada and how much airflow I need to my bee hive in the winter time ?
Hi my Name is Agegnehu from ethiopia flow hive technology is very intresting. i like but it is applicable to all types of honey bee specific or not. How about wax production.
Hi Agegnehu, A Flow Hive is designed to be used with honey bees, there are a few different types of honey bee, Apis Mellifera is a Western honey bee, but some success has been had with other species of honey bee also. Apis Mellifera Scutellata can be problematic as these bees are a lot more aggressive, so it would require extra care and perseverance to work with them. You are not able to harvest wax from Flow Frames, you would need to follow conventional practices to harvest wax. -Kieran
Hey Gwynn, It's hard to give a specific answer as it depends on your climate, weather, unique colony and its health/history etc, but please see this page that addressed the question: support.honeyflow.com/how-long-does-it-take-before-i-can-drain-the-honey-from-the-flow-hive/ - Danika
Hey Genevieve, Please see this page that addresses how to transfer your new colony into the brood box: support.honeyflow.com/how-can-i-move-my-flow-hive/ Good luck setting up your new hive :) We have lots more info on the same FAQ page above, as well as an online beekeeping course that might interest you, with a free one month's trail - thebeekeeper.org Good luck! Danika
You can follow local practices that you would normally follow for feeding. An in hive feeder or feeding prior to winter might be best in colder climates. -Kieran
I put a queen bee and 4 worker bees in my new auto flow hive. I went to check on the hive which was placed at my friends acreage a few weeks later. I saw bees flying around the area, but the hive was completely devoid of bees. Why did they not like the hive and move to somewhere else?
You mention the word "auto" this is generally linked to fake hives, is it possible you purchased counterfeits as the plastic used in these is not going to be the same food grade quality that we offer, as well as the overall intricate design not able to be fully replicated. support.honeyflow.com/fake-flow-hives/ -Kieran
Someone posted something about bees not liking plastic. Is that plastic in the extractor area? Or have you used something else to make that? Thanks. Thinking of buying but still know very little about it all.
Hey Deby, thanks for your question. The Flow frames themselves are made out of the highest quality, food-grade plastic, yep! Plastic has been used in beekeeping (usually in foundation for brood frames) for generations without any issues. We have found that in some cases, bees will actually build out the Flow Frames first, especially with our Hybrid Flow Hives, which contain a mixture of timber & Flow Frames for honey storage. If regularly harvested, the bees may not end up building the timber frames out until they are left to fill the entire box. Of course every colony is different… Most bee colonies generally do have a preference for building out their own comb from scratch, which is one of the key reasons we like using foundationless frames in the brood box. At Flow, we really love bees, and their safety is of utmost importance, so we only use the highest quality food grade plastics to ensure their safety. Some reports regarding fakes frames have seen very poor quality plastics used, which are quite toxic, it is so unfortunate that unsuspecting customers have been tricked with these knock offs not realising that our genuine Flow Frames are not only premium quality but also safe for the bees. Here's an article that might provide more information for you on how the Flow frames work: support.honeyflow.com/how-do-the-flow-frames-work/
Just received my double super from another keeper has not been robbed for a year both supers very heavy how long should i wait to harvest as i believe both to be full ?
Hey Ian, Thanks for your question and sorry for the belated reply. It's really hard to advise accurately on such issues without knowing more about your unique colony , climate, weather etc. It's really ideal if you can consult an experienced beekeeper/mentor from your local community for the best on-the-ground advice. Please see our directory of clubs and ambassadors here that might help: www.honeyflow.com/pages/bee-club-directory Best of luck! - Danika
I live in Atlanta, GA and am new beekeeper. I originally wanted to use 2 brood boxes before adding the super. Being in the South the winters are not that long so would it probably be ok to use just one brood box and add on the super? Thanks
Hey Craig, in some climates with high nectar flow, particularly for a short period of time such as in Canada, it can be done, but generally because Flow makes the harvesting process so much quicker this isn't necessary. Please see this short article for more info: support.honeyflow.com/how-many-flow-boxes-supers-do-i-need-per-hive/
We do, however the mechanism works in a modular way so each individual segment can shift during transit. Best to reset before use its a quick process, and you need to reset after harvesting. -Kieran
I bought the original flow hive and have only just set it up. My base board appears to be back to front so the the slope goes in the direction of the entrance . Not sure how to fix it. The landing board is at the opposite side to the entrance. Not sure how to fix it.
Hey Linda, Yes you'll want to turn that around so that the slope is leading the honey down towards the back of the hive where it is harvested. Please email us at info@honeyflow.com or give us a call (02) 88 800 774 so that we can talk you through how to do this. Thanks!
![How to tell when your Flow Hive is ready to harvest 🍯🐝🌻[LIVE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0UMyWfxe2NI/mqdefault.jpg)
This wonderful company has persevered through a great deal of unwarranted criticism to create a blessing for both bees and bee keepers!
this is so helpful. I only put my NUC into the brood bo 2 weeks ago and all ten frames are nearly full! So excited. Thank u so much Cedar and Co for this amazing thing.
I'm so glad!
I have never done bee keeping but just because I saw an ad for this product, I am very excited to start!
Lol me too. Just trying to learn as much as I can first.
So start journey✈️ the bee 🐝keeping
Do not buy from any TH-cam ad. I lost money they are fakes. Go to EBay and buy a imitation for lot less cash.
Me too!
I was really disappointed with my flowhive, hardly any honey this 1st year. I got 2 small jars! Lots and lots of bees and a professional bee keeper come to visit and said they just don't like the hive.
Cedar boughs will solve mite problems..not only in hives but hen neat as well. Just cut some and lay next to it. Put hives under cedar trees work great.
I've always been intrigued by bee keeping and your design has giving me the final push to get into it. Our deluxe model is on the way. Thanks for the inspiration.
Go for it!
How do you know when the honey is ready to harvest? How do you know the frames are full? Do you inspect the honey super before you harvest?
4:38 You can wire up the frame and let them draw comb naturally, they will build around the wire and your brood comb is well secure.
6:30 Close the hive up at night and move the hive at night, or yes move it 1m at a time.
18:00 Place your super when bees spew out of the top once you open your inner cover, if you get a volcano of bees coming up and out to inspect, then hive is strong and full.
My grandfather was a beekeeper he always told my mom when you move a hive you move them at night but put something on the flight deck so they look around before they fly out. So they don't get lost and get their barings.
@Clark Khari bot
And bee's when out collecting Pullen one they come back to the hive they show the next set of bee's going out where the flowers are that are full of pollen.
They do a dance/ and show them the directions to take to find the pullen
Wow, I have learned a lot. Thank you. We are getting our 1st hive at the end of January 🎉🎉can't wait!
Good luck!
I have been wanting to get into bed keeping, and after seeing the hive I’m more excited than before. We’ll probably be ordering a couple of these soon.
My guess for buttercotch honey is most likely flowers that have diacetyl (used for butter or butterscotch flavour) two examples are: Fagraea racemosa(false coffee tree) and the Polyalthia longifolia(indian mast tree)
Very informative and well said I am interested in bee keeping and most important the purchase of a flow hive
I'm very proud of all the information I get and see to start soon my own
Great video, I’ve wanted to raise bees since I was 15 years old(30 now) and I think it’s time a start thanks to this video I feel more confident in starting out!
Hey Brendon, oh that is so wonderful to hear :) Here is a page on getting started:
www.honeyflow.com/pages/getting-started-beekeeping?_pos=1&_sid=e14ad5529&_ss=r
Feel free to email us at info@honeyflow.com and ask for some more beginner beekeeping support resources. - Danika
My bees be home 3/24/2021 I am very excited. Thanks for all the tips.
How is it going?
@@SageandStoneHomestead did my first inspection 5 days after and it was very plesent.
@@lovelymillie1967 awesome!!
love your videos... love the flow hive
What do you put in the bottom of the auto flow box
"The bees, the universe and everything." Is that answer also 42?
Thank you for the great vid. I ordered my first Flow Hive a couple of days ago and am excited to get started. I bookmarked this video to help me get started right. Thanks again, Damon (Idaho, USA).
Did you ever get your hive going?
This is a huge help. Thank you so much
About how long should you leave the honey in the super before harvesting to make sure you’re not harvesting too earlier?
how can i get one
I think you empty the tube once the window shows them full and make sure to empty ALL the way and not just take a little bit out or it will over flow ?
Heard then talking about that on earlier page
Hi Team, I am living in Malaysia at the moment, I am in worm farming and always wanting to learn beekeeping but I didn't have bees. So, how and where to start? Here is my story, at my regenerative farm, one day I was resting at my usual spot after couple hours for something to drink and eat. Guess what, there was a beehive right under my wood staked table. It is kind mother nature heard my request and guided to me. Now, I want to start this new adventure and willing to learn everything. Thanks for your advices. HLE
Hi, can you give some tips on getting started with worm farming?
So I am researching bee keeping to see if I want to get into it. My question is why do you not use a an Endoscope for inspections? It would seem you could reduce the amount of disturbance to the hive while doing inspections.
Not everyone has an endoscope just lying around also opening the hive gets the bees used to you being around also,the scope may nick a row of brood tearing their young
been interested for a few years now and I think I will be starting one up this year... My biggest worry is, I'm in UK... not the hottest of climates and very rainy most of the year. Will then hive be ok to survive in colder climates and how do you go about keeping your hive warm and fed in the winter times when there are fewer to no flowers about and temperatures drop as low as -5 in worst case scenarios? I'd hate to start a hive to only watch them grow and then die in the winter each year. Thanks and appreciate your help... Great work and product!
Hey Sam,
Thanks for your message and interest :)
We do have lots of UK Flow beekeepers - Jamie Oliver is actually a great one to follow on social media for it as he often talks about the different climate-specific tips and tricks to managing his Flow hives in the English climate.
You can also find a list of our beekeeping clubs and Flow ambassadors in the UK on this map and directory:
www.honeyflow.com/pages/bee-club-directory
And our Connect With Locals section of our online community forum could be a supportive place too:
forum.honeyflow.com/c/connect-with-locals/23
And any further questions please don't hesitate to email us at info@honeyflow.com :) I hope this helps! - Danika
You are a super genius !! 🙏. I cannot wait to get a flow beehive. Thank You for your Time Sir
Did you get yours ? I was wondering about getting one but the more info I get the more I want to go the classic way.
How do you stabilize the boxes so they don't blow over in the wind or get knocked over by animals?
Hi Tanya, the bees normally stick the boxes together with propolis. They are also very heavy when full of bees and honey and so don't usually get blown over in the wind. Animals can knock over the hives so best keep them away if there's a danger of that - Sam
Bees are found in the key area and flow hive window at the back. There was supplied a small wood block that the bees moved off.
Do you just put the cover over the hive when should you put the super on? ,also when the hives are full bee wax do you take that one out clean the comb off then put the frame back in ? Should the super be slightly slanted so honey flows to the front when your filling your honey jars ,then take out the say wood that was used to slope so nothing gets in?
What is the ratio for water sugar ,feed
Does the super slightly slanted honey flow to tubes
When you get your nuc 10 frames will that fit in my brood box ,I have a 7 ct also curious how to the females know to go up to the super and the queen and drones stay to bottom? Does the water feeder that can go inside goes in the brood box? Do the female go down there to drink?
The roof goes on the brood box and then goes on the super when you put this on top. The Flow Frames get built out with comb the bees reuse this comb, uncapping, resealing and refilling after a harvest. You wont need to clean them unless you are putting them in storage and a pest gets to them. Yes there is a slope built into the Flow Hive for harvesting, the front to rear slope is able to be present indefinitely, it doesnt impact on the colony. A side to side slope would risk cross comb though so it is important to ensure this is level. -Kieran
I just ordered a Flow Hives and would like to know more about how to start. many thans in advance for all advice. I am in the Netherlands.
Try to find a split or nuc colony from a bee keeper, may be close may be far away. I had to travel 200 miles to get one. I'd make sure that you have a shipping date on your hives before you get the nuc, as it might get over crowded and split on you before your hive arrives. Have the nuc where you want your hive to be for at least a day so the bees know where home will be. Then you can add the frames to your flow hive. I'd have a smoker, suit, and gloves as well as a hive tool as well. You'll have to check if varroa mites are an issue in your area, if so you'll need to settle on a way treat them before your winter arrives.
Most of your hives are a brood box and a flow box, without adding a super. Is there a benefit to keeping the hive small?
how long do the plastic flow frames last?
We have 2 dogs that we let loose in our fenced in yard. What kind of interaction can we expect and would there be problems? They are both medium sized dogs and I am sure they will get up and snoop around. I see flowhives on Amazon. If I do this, i want to make sure I have your new type, laser cut units as seen in your videos. Is anyone duplicating your hives? Thank you.
Hi Joe, there are many backyard beekeepers that have dogs in their home and yard. If your dogs are 'interested' in the hive you can place a fence around the hive. This way your dogs will not accidentally knock the hive or disturb the bees as much and they will be less likely to get stung.
We have a limited selection of genuine Flow products available through Amazon (www.amazon.com/flow), but there are many fakes making their way onto the market :(
You can also find all of our Flow products available directly from our online store: www.honeyflow.com/
Please email info@honeyflow.com if you have any questions - Leah.
@@FlowHive THANKS
BEE careful :) with dogs.
I have a crazy German Shephard that tries to eat the bee's just visiting our bird feeders and water.
I'm wanting to get a smaller one of these EVEN shared video with hubby ;)
I just need to fence in one side of the hill side so Shephard can't jump wall to get to bees
Our dog loves honey so I have hive protected. The bees would be the ones who would survive 👍
nice presentation,,,, enjoyed it an learned à lot
I saw a video claiming that if I try to harvest a flow frame before it is fully capped and bees are still working in the chambers I will maim all the bees in the chambers. They stated that you had to pull and inspect every flow frame to make sure it was fully capped before harvesting it. Is this true? Will I injure bees that are still in the chambers when I turn the flow key?
I would like to know too
I wondered the same, I think that video was referring to the first one they made, I think they upgraded it so it doesn't do that now. Search flow hive honey,, a guy reviews the flow hive and its all good.
Do we have to put wax on the Frames as I was told the bees don’t take to the flow hive
Is it best to keep hive in the sun or in the shade or, does it matter.
hey there :) The bees definitely need the hive to be in a lot of sun more so than too much shade, as lots of pests and diseases thrive in the shade.
Ideal would be morning/most of the day full sun, and some afternoon shade is fine.
You can always add shade clothes etc in hotter months as needed.
See more info on factors to consider for locating your hive:
support.honeyflow.com/where-to-locate-your-flow-hive/
- Danika
Is the brood box not screwed to the super? We have windy days where I live and wonder whether these will be blown over.
Mr. Cedar i wanted to ask you which staining coat type would you prefer for to keep the flow hive nice and durable for very long periods of time please sir?
Do you need to keep the flow give 2 in the "harvesting" level at all times, or just when you are harvesting? It seems to be a very steep slant. I'm worried water will spill in through the hive entrance when it rains.
I have a question about the color of hives. Some hives are the natural wood color and some are painted white. Is there and advantage to painting a have white?
Question. I live in the UK, we have frosts in the winter, will the plastic be ok left out? Is it likely to crack?
Great idea you had there Cedar! How about putting a window or 2 on the brood box?
In order to extract the Honey from the Flow frames, would it not be beneficial to do the extraction in a separate Flow Hive box ? , as you did with the few Frames you removed, also pin pricking the capped cells with a pin roller, to facilitate a better Honey flow out of the Cells ?, You did it a bit scratching with the Hive Tool, but not opening many Cells.
Hi its best to harvest the Flow Frames on the hive as they have been designed in this way, the bees keep the temperature at about 35ºc/95ºF which keeps wax soft and honey liquid. There is enough of an allowance in the honey trough and tube that you dont need to disturb the capping. Doing so could lead to honey leaking out of capping instead. -Kieran
I have a aquaponics glasshouse full of flowering plants, we wanted to have the entrance close to a hole in glasshouse so they can get into glasshouse as well as the rest of the garden, any thoughts or ideas on glasshouses and bees
we have been building the glasshouse for over two years, super excited to finally put the flow hive into place with it
I'm interested in keeping a hive in the garden for the bees to come home to
Do I need to maintain their hive or can I set and forget
I'd like to set up and leave the bees to go about their lives
Lina Di Pietro no you can’t just leave them
You have to inspect them and check on them regularly
I certainly suggest looking into other hives cause this is too much I’m starting myself I got everything bees and all for less than $600 and this hive is more than that last I checked
Some honey bees can be left to their own devices and do whatever, there are honey bees in the wild. Most bees you’d get online wouldn’t do so well left on their own though, get some local bees and a top bar hive. They should be fine if you treat them for mites twice a year.
@@Ornatetooth0475 but then you still have to buy the equipment for extraction. That's fine if you have several hives, but if you're only wanting one this is a good option.
Is there a video for harvesting and cleaning the hive? When and how do you clean it?
Fred Dunn has utube videos on harvesting flow hives. He also discusses cleaning and preparing for winter.
Just scrape anything off that’s not in the frames whenever you’re in there, bees will take care of the rest
@Yo Mama You say that they're not worth the hassle, but turning a key seems like a lot less hassle than pulling out frames, replacing them, cleaning out the frame, straining it, centrifuging material, extracting the dead bees and wax, then filtering the honey. It seems like a lot of hassle not to have a flowhive, so what exactly are the cons of having one?
@@Nanamowa lol, what? Go watch jeff horchoff pull some honey and learn how it's done.
Hell, even if you're doing crush and strain by hand, all you need are pantyhose, a bucket and your frames of honey.
Do you even know how to bees?
You usually only need to clean it before you sell them to the next sucker who thinks flow hives are cool.
Hi I have a Bee hive behind my House if I get The Flow Hive would they move in to it. Or do I need to get a Queen to start it, Advise .
Learn about beekeeping before you start. And dont for a second think you need a flow hive. Not until you see the hobby works well enough to spend that kind of money on something you might not even like.
When I was harvesting I had honey leak out into the tray under the brood box. Was I harvesting too soon?
Hey Kenneth,
Did you inspect the Flow frames first? It could have been so otherwise yes. A little bit of leaking (a teaspoon or two) isn't out of the ordinary but any more and it could be down to harvesting too soon.
You can't tell from the outside observation windows alone whether the frame is ready for harvesting or not so you do need to inspect if you're not sure.
To troubleshoot any further please email us at info@honeyflow.com and we'd be happy to go through it with you. - Danika
When I prepare for winter in the UK, should I leave the super on the top before insulation goes around the sides?
Hi there, probably best to check with local beekeepers for their advice, we are in a sub-tropical climate and as such do not need to overwinter our hive - Sam
Thanks, I purchased one yesterday.
Great review. Could you show on a video how the roof is meant to sit on your flow Hive. I have noticed that the wooden latch when the roof is on will not lock the flow Hive harvesting window. Is that meant to be like that?
Hey Ron,
Thanks for getting in touch :)
Hmmm, I'm not totally sure what you mean - could you send us an email at info@honeyflow.com with photos/videos illustrating your issue?
- Danika
Do you leave the bottom hive alone or can you also harvest it?
We do not recommend harvesting from the brood box, this is the bees nest and doing so would destroy brood. -kieran
does the starter bundle come with a queen excluder?
also how would you stop objects such as balls hitting the classic hive?
Hi VB, The starter pack does come with a Queen Excluder, in terms of balls hitting the hive, I guess you could pop a fence around it but perhaps not throwing them too close might be easier :D - Sam
@@FlowHive thanks :D
Crikey mate, Just keep em in ya pants.
Very interesting! How I can order one?
You can purchase through our website www.honeyflow.com -Kieran
What's happens if the honey ferments? Can you still eat it?
I thought honey never spoils or rot???
Youd get buzzed🐝off of it
Is there a benefit to splitting a hive over adding brood boxes or another super
Now I want to learn much more.
Good stuff, thank you!
I have a six frame flow hive, it's full. Top and bottom.
I just bought a second six frame flow hive.
Can I just take half the brood and half the flow frames and put it in the new hive ?
I am looking for a much smaller flow hive, so it won't be overwhelming. I want wanting it to be super easy.
Hi Jacqueline, Our smallest is our Flow Hive Hybrid which is still the same footprint as our classic 6 Frame Hive. Beekeeping with a Flow Hive is exactly the same as with a conventional hive. It’s still important to inspect and maintain your hive in the same way - only honey harvesting differs. - Sam
I am in Seattle Wa. Is one brood bloc enough? Should I add another brood box, before adding super? Thanks for your time
Hi lev - it's best to check with local beekeepers on your climate, as we are in a sub-tropical climate and as such harvest most of the year running only one brood box per hive typically at Flow HQ Apiary. - Sam
If you move from one town to another do the bees adjust and find the hive - Brisbane to Toowoomba Australia
They do, there is a process to moving bees but if done correctly they will adjust to their new location. -Kieran
I’m up in Cairns, I have Native bees all over, they occupy the walls of my house, once renovated and pulled off walls, honey went everywhere. Would those native bees occupy a Flow Hive if I put it near their entrances to my wall hives?
They could.
If the box is about a football field away from the house, is it OK for the box to face the house or will the lights at night still pose an issue?
About a football field away is ok, usually within around 20m/65feet a bright light can attract bees if they can see it from their entrance. -Kieran
What time period do you recommend when bees start to fill auto hive to harvest
Hey Wayne,
It is a tricky question as the answer depends on so many factors, but please see it answered here:
support.honeyflow.com/how-long-does-it-take-before-i-can-drain-the-honey-from-the-flow-hive/
I hope this helps :) - Danika
do i need multiple brood boxes to winter over? located in south eastern virginia area
Hey Kyle,
It really depends on your local climate - the best beekeeping practices vary from region to region so we can't recommend enough the importance of consulting your local beekeeping community.
Here's an online directory of Flow related beekeeping clubs/ambassadors that hopefully has someone on it near you - otherwise just search for your nearest beekeeping club.
www.honeyflow.com/pages/bee-club-directory
There's also a great section in our community forum called Connect With Locals where you can confer with other Flow beekeepers near you.
forum.honeyflow.com/c/connect-with-locals/23
I hope this helps :) - Danika
Do you still get a honey comb like underneath in the bottom box. Or do you just get honey. I'm a honey lover but I know people that like the comb
You can add an additional brood box for honey comb, or you might look at getting a Flow Hive Hybrid which has timber frames alongside Flow Frames. -Kieran
So where do you put the sugar water in from top of it.?
Yes you can put a feeder in the roof of the hive, there are lots of DIY options too. -Kieran
Ever since I found out about flow hive I wanted to try it. However, I would like to beekeep Asiatic honey bee because they defend themselves better against predetors such as wasps. I was wondering if flowhive could be used with these bees or are there certain modifications needed.
I thought it was really cool that @Flow Hive took the time to answer your question so thoroughly.
Joe Blazer where can I watch the answer? I asked a question to know the answer and you informed me it has been answered but I can not find this answer.
@@camojoe83 Where can I watch the answer? I asked a question to know the answer and you informed me it has been answered but I can not find this answer.
@@sung-yulpark3258 they didn't answer you, he's being sarcastic. I noticed he's leaving many bitter comments about the flow hive and the expense of them. I prefer everything as natural as possible, but when I see so many people getting into keeping bees that normally wouldn't, how can that be anything but a wonderful addition to preserving the colonies? Everyone does things different, we learn as we go. If it works for you and your blessed to be able to afford it, wonderful. I see them working well in videos of bee keepers. I think they were raising the kind you want to raise. I do wish they'd lower the price. I don't think I can afford one, but I'd like to do a video reviewing one if they sent it to me. God bless 🐝🌻💯💪😀👍🦋🌻🐝❤️
I have heard people claim flow hives are lower stress, so don't cause Japanese bees (whatever they are) to swarm so much in distress... Have you made any experience last year?
How do you rotate frames between the brood box and the honey super
In the US I need to position the hive entrance(s) between the south and the east correct?
Hi Rubie,
I believe in the northern hemisphere this direction is considered a good one as the bees will get a lot of sun... however keep in mind hives have existed in such a vast array of locations/orientations and will adapt to most!
There are other important considerations such as prevailing winds etc. For more detail on the things to consider please see the article below:
support.honeyflow.com/where-to-locate-your-flow-hive/
I hope this helps :) Danika
Our Flow hive is on the way! Question: if I’m starting from a nuc, do I still have to wait to put the super on top? Or can I do that right away?
For what it’s worth my friend is helping me do bees and he always does the nuc with only the brood box. Once the brood box gets filled out and healthy he adds the super. He does keep a close eye on it to make sure they don’t run out of room.
it is really important to start with just a brood box, only add the Flow Super when the bees reach about 80-90% bee population in the brood box, which is visible as a thick carpet of bees on top. -Kieran
Hello,
how to buy such a hive and deliver it to Sarajevo, BiH.
Hi Edin, We are currently refining our shipping processes to many countries, and will need some additional information from you to assist you with a quote or order.
Please email us at info@honeyflow.com with what you would like to order including the quantity and I will assist you with the quote, purchase and shipping process.
Please include the following information: Your full name, shipping address and telephone number.
All our Flow products are available on our website here:
www.honeyflow.com/collections/all
We look forward to hearing from you again soon - Sam
Could you please recommend where to get a good buy on glass jars for our honey?
Where are you located Brad? We use CPak
@@FlowHive NYC
@@FlowHive what is C Pak?
Please could you comment about using flow hive in a colder climate, eg Yorkshire, UK. Are there people over here who are using flow hives successfully?
Hey Ruth,
Thanks for getting in touch :) Yes, absolutely - we have Flow beekeepers in many such climates over the world.
We strongly recommend getting connected with your local beekeeping club to get the best climate-specific advice, tips and tricks for your region.
Here is our online directory of Flow-connected clubs and ambassadors, hopefully there's someone near you on it:
www.honeyflow.com.au/pages/bee-club-directory
There's also our online community forum, that even has a section called 'Connect With Locals' which can be a great way to reach out to other Flow beekeepers near you :
forum.honeyflow.com/c/connect-with-locals/23
Here's an article on overwintering your hive in colder climates:
www.honeyflow.com.au/blogs/beekeeping-basics/how-to-overwinter-your-beehive
th-cam.com/video/4QjBtY3xlZc/w-d-xo.html
Here's a couple of articles from our FAQ pages that are relevant too:
support.honeyflow.com/can-i-use-flow-in-cold-or-freezing-conditions/
support.honeyflow.com/wintering-your-flow-hive/
I hope this helps - also you can always email us at info@honeyflow.com for further help :)
How long typically does it take from the start to have honey ready to harvest?
Hey Michael,
Please see this article for your question:
support.honeyflow.com/how-long-does-it-take-before-i-can-drain-the-honey-from-the-flow-hive/
I hope it helps! - Danika
I've been watching a lot of videos from different people on bees, so a question came to mind. Do you or is there a plan to make flow frames that will fit and work in a European style horizontal hive? As a disabled Veteran, the horizontal hives seem to be a better fit later down the road as their design eliminates having to lift heavy Langstroth style boxes. Just thought I would throw that out there and see what you think.
Hi Kenneth, there are some horizontal hives and top bar hives made to the Langstroth depth and length, if you are looking at getting one of these you can put Flow Frames inside this, with some modification to the hive. At this stage there is no plan to change the size of the Flow Frames. -Kieran
Can you boil runny honey to drive off some moisture?
Hey :) Hmmm, we wouldn't recommend this as it would kill off all of the raw medicinal properties of it.
Sometimes if you harvest a bit too early it can be a bit runny so best to only do this if you really need to, in the event of it being ivy/rapeseed blossom honey that will crystallise if left longer.
Nothing wrong with the occasional batch of runny honey though!
- Danika
Hello how to prevent to bees swarm out of Flow hive? Is Flow hive sutible for europe Winter time? Thank you for your answer. I Wish you have good day and all the Best.
Hey David, here's an article we've written on swarm prevention:
www.honeyflow.com.au/blogs/beekeeping-basics/swarm-prevention
Yes, we have Flow beekeepers throughout Europe and similar winter climates :) We always recommend joining your local beekeeping club to find out the best practices specific to your unique climate. However here are two articles on overwintering and using Flow in freezing conditions.
support.honeyflow.com/can-i-use-flow-in-cold-or-freezing-conditions/
support.honeyflow.com/wintering-your-flow-hive/
I hope this helps! - Danika
I am getting my bees on Thursday, how to I put them into my flow hive?
Hi Irene,
Sorry for the late reply. Here's a video of how to transfer a nuc to your hive - I hope it's not too late!
th-cam.com/video/fYbciqkH5-Q/w-d-xo.html
For quicker responses please email us at info@honeyflow.com
- Danika
Enjoyed your presentation from Canada. Just starting with bees this spring. There is a lot of controversy here re treating and not treating bees. Do you have any opinion on that subject. Thanks
We don’t have varroa here in Australia [last varroa-free place on the planet…] so it isn’t a decision we need to make…🤷♂️
How I control the bee colony when I don't wont the bee colony go to big in and for my hive ? how I cover this bee hive in the winter time here in Canada and how much airflow I need to my bee hive in the winter time ?
Hi my Name is Agegnehu from ethiopia flow hive technology is very intresting. i like but it is applicable to all types of honey bee specific or not. How about wax production.
Hi Agegnehu, A Flow Hive is designed to be used with honey bees, there are a few different types of honey bee, Apis Mellifera is a Western honey bee, but some success has been had with other species of honey bee also. Apis Mellifera Scutellata can be problematic as these bees are a lot more aggressive, so it would require extra care and perseverance to work with them. You are not able to harvest wax from Flow Frames, you would need to follow conventional practices to harvest wax. -Kieran
Approximately how long from set up to honey?
Hey Gwynn,
It's hard to give a specific answer as it depends on your climate, weather, unique colony and its health/history etc, but please see this page that addressed the question:
support.honeyflow.com/how-long-does-it-take-before-i-can-drain-the-honey-from-the-flow-hive/
- Danika
Have you sold any of this hives to Sweden?
Do the different sections contain different flavors?
Hi Mark, they absolutely can do depending on what the bees are foraging on - Sam
Hello how do I put the bees in the broad box from the parcel of bees I just received?
Hey Genevieve,
Please see this page that addresses how to transfer your new colony into the brood box:
support.honeyflow.com/how-can-i-move-my-flow-hive/
Good luck setting up your new hive :) We have lots more info on the same FAQ page above, as well as an online beekeeping course that might interest you, with a free one month's trail - thebeekeeper.org
Good luck! Danika
Thank you for interesting video. Hi from Belarus bee's forests! ✊🙏
How You feed them in the West Virginia winter
You can follow local practices that you would normally follow for feeding. An in hive feeder or feeding prior to winter might be best in colder climates. -Kieran
I put a queen bee and 4 worker bees in my new auto flow hive. I went to check on the hive which was placed at my friends acreage a few weeks later. I saw bees flying around the area, but the hive was completely devoid of bees. Why did they not like the hive and move to somewhere else?
You mention the word "auto" this is generally linked to fake hives, is it possible you purchased counterfeits as the plastic used in these is not going to be the same food grade quality that we offer, as well as the overall intricate design not able to be fully replicated. support.honeyflow.com/fake-flow-hives/ -Kieran
If I have 13 8 frame normal hives, what is best way to start the swap? Can i use my feames?
Check out this this link here support.honeyflow.com/modifying-a-langstroth-box-for-flow-frames/
Someone posted something about bees not liking plastic. Is that plastic in the extractor area? Or have you used something else to make that? Thanks. Thinking of buying but still know very little about it all.
Hey Deby, thanks for your question.
The Flow frames themselves are made out of the highest quality, food-grade plastic, yep!
Plastic has been used in beekeeping (usually in foundation for brood frames) for generations without any issues. We have found that in some cases, bees will actually build out the Flow Frames first, especially with our Hybrid Flow Hives, which contain a mixture of timber & Flow Frames for honey storage. If regularly harvested, the bees may not end up building the timber frames out until they are left to fill the entire box. Of course every colony is different… Most bee colonies generally do have a preference for building out their own comb from scratch, which is one of the key reasons we like using foundationless frames in the brood box. At Flow, we really love bees, and their safety is of utmost importance, so we only use the highest quality food grade plastics to ensure their safety. Some reports regarding fakes frames have seen very poor quality plastics used, which are quite toxic, it is so unfortunate that unsuspecting customers have been tricked with these knock offs not realising that our genuine Flow Frames are not only premium quality but also safe for the bees.
Here's an article that might provide more information for you on how the Flow frames work:
support.honeyflow.com/how-do-the-flow-frames-work/
how much space should there be between hives?
Do you continue doing brood box inspections after the super is on?
Yes it is important to ensure your bees are in the best health. -Kieran
Just received my double super from another keeper has not been robbed for a year both supers very heavy how long should i wait to harvest as i believe both to be full ?
Hey Ian,
Thanks for your question and sorry for the belated reply.
It's really hard to advise accurately on such issues without knowing more about your unique colony , climate, weather etc.
It's really ideal if you can consult an experienced beekeeper/mentor from your local community for the best on-the-ground advice.
Please see our directory of clubs and ambassadors here that might help:
www.honeyflow.com/pages/bee-club-directory
Best of luck! - Danika
How come the boxes do not stack together like legos - so they are secure and align themselves naturally?
Use a bungee cord
Can you stop the flow if, say, an emergency came up? Great videos, thanks, Christine in Rhode Island, USA
Great question
I live in Atlanta, GA and am new beekeeper. I originally wanted to use 2 brood boxes before adding the super. Being in the South the winters are not that long so would it probably be ok to use just one brood box and add on the super? Thanks
Go to dirt rooster's forum and learn bees.
Do you ever place 2 Flow Hive Suppers on top of one hive? If you have a large strong Hive?
Hey Craig, in some climates with high nectar flow, particularly for a short period of time such as in Canada, it can be done, but generally because Flow makes the harvesting process so much quicker this isn't necessary.
Please see this short article for more info:
support.honeyflow.com/how-many-flow-boxes-supers-do-i-need-per-hive/
Curious, why don’t you preset the combs in the correct configuration before sending them out? Thx
We do, however the mechanism works in a modular way so each individual segment can shift during transit. Best to reset before use its a quick process, and you need to reset after harvesting. -Kieran
I bought the original flow hive and have only just set it up. My base board appears to be back to front so the the slope goes in the direction of the entrance . Not sure how to fix it. The landing board is at the opposite side to the entrance. Not sure how to fix it.
Hey Linda,
Yes you'll want to turn that around so that the slope is leading the honey down towards the back of the hive where it is harvested.
Please email us at info@honeyflow.com or give us a call (02) 88 800 774 so that we can talk you through how to do this.
Thanks!