Isnt the back of the hive considered the harvest end with the plugs? And dont you want the flow hive tilted in that direction to harvest the honey? And tilted towards the entrance when not harvesting?
Yes on all your questions! When I demonstrated the tilt, I left the hive with the back facing the camera. It, definitely, would have been clearer to have turned the flow super around first.
Great video. TH-cam deleted my beehive build video twice. I appealed it and they put it back twice. Now I set it to private to let things calm down. Not sure what is going on with it.
There is likely a competitor of yours who doesn’t like what you say and so they raise a stink with Google. If they pay more money than you do (marketing, advertising, etc) then guess who wins?
Thank you so much for these great tips. I am just starting with the flow hives , I bought two and when I took one out of the box immediately lost a little plastic cover, ugh. What a great idea to paint them 😀. And the tubes and the way to tilt the box ! The feeders ! Q: what’s the benefit if any of the pitched roof my kit came with?
Great! You'll love your new Flows. Of course, you'll have to get your bees strong and have a good spring nectar flow to get the fun of them. I don't use the pitched roof. I like a flat top, sometimes called a migratory top, so that I can set my 1/2 gal Ball jars on them for feeding. I think I included my feeding system in the video. I've tried them all and this system works the best for me. th-cam.com/video/iGFe5uk_xZA/w-d-xo.html Also, be sure and roll the flow frames with plenty of melted wax so that the bees will take to them easily. Don't be stingy with the wax.
When you say roll the frames with wax, is that just the exterior of each of the seven individual frames? Also, what setup do you recommend - one brood box or two? Love your video and your ingenuity! Starting with bees and plan to use the flow frames and modify a box to fit like you’ve done here. I saw that you only feed when the honey super isn’t on, how do you know when to put the super on? THANK YOU!
Congrats on starting with flow frames! They're new and it will be a while, but eventually they'll replace the old, outdated rob & extract method. When beeks find how much easier and quicker is using flow supers, they'll be dropping the old rob & extract method like a hot rock. To get the bees to start using them, the exterior of the cells need to be coated with plenty of beeswax. So, be generous when you roll on the wax. I recommend keeping your bees in two traditional deeps. During the honey flow the bees will fill the bottom deep with brood and the top deep with honey for their winter feed. You will feed the bees through the spring. Then, you'll stop feeding and put on your flow super when the honey flow starts in your area. So, you'll need to ask some local beekeepers when the honey flow starts where you live.
Do you put your feeder over the honey super when they are making honey? Also did you say you take your honey super (flow frames) off after you drain them?
No. The feeders comes off when I put the supers on. You don't want sugar syrup in your honey. Yes. After I drain the supers and the bees have cleaned them up, I take them off for the winter. I put candy boards on top of the hives to insure that they have plenty of food to get them through until spring.
Please could you tell me where to buy the Chinese version auto flow, I've been searching and can't find it but I'm really interested in getting started in this and I order to buy the Chinese version
Ebay has several sellers. Here's one: www.ebay.com/itm/Upgraded-7PCS-Auto-Honey-Hive-Beehive-Flow-Frames-Beekeeping-Brood-Cedarwood-Box/223888015477?hash=item3420c40075%3Ag%3AxM8AAOSw8adceEbf&LH_BIN=1
Chinese ones work great. No difference. The only thing I’d caution is Chinese materials. China has zero regard for life or causing harm to others. So if they don’t use the right type of plastic in their frames and it leaches chemicals into your honey, they could care less. That’s the only potential problem I see with the Chinese version. Flow is greedy, and I will never support them again. You know they raised money via crowdfunding to start their business. Raised millions more than they needed, and now they still charge insane prices. Very greedy people.
Have you had any issues with using the flow frames in subsequent seasons? Have a flow hive, used it and produced a season of honey. Had to put it down for a season for family reasons and went back to it to use again. I can't seem to get the cells moving and concerned I'll break them. Wondering if you had that experience and if so what did you do to overcome it?
No. I haven't had any issues like that. When the bees use them, they coat the cells with wax. So, I think it must be wax that's holding the frames from moving. What about pouring some boiling water over them to soften whatever is keeping them stuck together?
@@psyched1231 I was thinking of that or a hit dryer - was concerned I'd make it worse by melting wax into places I simply could not get access .... Thanks for your thoughts. Your content is really helpful. Have another question - have you found any particular flow frame manufacturer that made a higher quality product or is your experience they are mostly the same; I been looking at the various manufacturers and there are quite a few in China. Was wondering which ones you have so I could look them up.
@@Mimeault Yes. A hair dryer should work. I think once the frame is warmed up, just move the cells a few times. That should work. I have 5 sets from Australia and 7 from China bought off Ebay. I haven't found any difference in their function.
Man... I wanna go this route with flow frames, but having just watched a video about how China has screwed the US honey market (not to mention other things they rip off) I would rather spend the money with an Australian company.. I really don’t know.lol. I hate to ask this as, but do you think people are justified buying a Chinese rip off just to save a money?
Your decision to go the flow route is great! You'll love getting honey without the pain of robbing and extracting and endless clean-up. If you've done any of this, then you'll love the speed and the luxury of using the flow system to get your honey. If one can afford to spend $500 per super, then I say go for it. I just have too many hives that I want flow on. I paid thousands of dollars to Flow for a few supers, but I needed more and can't afford it. I would definitely pay more for Flow because they did the hard work to invent it. However, it would very difficult to justify 4 to 5 times more than the Chinese supers which I found work just as well. Flow is just way too overpriced and people with limited resources or several hives are left out of luck. Maybe the Chinese competition will inspire Flow to get their prices lowered to a more reasonable level so that more beekeepers can take advantage of this technology.
@@psyched1231 I really do believe Flow are targeting mainly private individuals and amateurs beekeepers who would buy one Hive to put in their backyard or balcony. With that pricetag, it's clearly not a good fit for any professionals or anyone who owns more than 2 hives.
Good concern, but the owners of Flow are greedy SOBs. People fail to remember how they came about. Crowdfunding, raised millions more than they needed. Kept it. Now charge insane prices foe their equipment that usually doesn’t work. I’m glad a few people have got it to work some how, but we have tried everything to get ours to work in our bee club. 6 master beekeepers have been working for 4 years to get something out of the. Flow always tells you to contact this one guy in Philadelphia, but he Doesnt really want to talk to you. Flow gives him equipment so he will talk nice about him. He also has issues with Flow. He just doesn’t publicize it.
Please please please contact me. I really need your help. I am in Lake Worth Florida. The Bee club does not want to have anything to do with Flow hives.. I purchase A flow hive several years ago. I’d really like to get some bees and do it the right way. The people in the bee club. Say you should not feed your bees. The funny thing is I was out in the big yard last month. They lost three hives because they said there is no food there. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. Obviously you know exactly what you’re doing and how to do it the right way so please contact me
I would like to help you, but bees are a local endeavor and you need in-person help to get started right. Good beekeeping has to be adjusted to the flora and the weather where you live. The advice from those members of your club doesn't sound good at all. So, either look for another club or listen in on conversations at the meeting for someone who you would want to get help from. You'll encounter strong resistance to flow from the old timers. They're very unlikely to be open to anything new and flow is a big change. I'd suggest you look for a young, smart beekeeper that is already using flow. One way to find someone is if a local club has a Facebook page. Someone might be brave enough to post about flow there. Don't reply on the site, but PM them. With that old-timer attitude about flow around you, you'll have to keep your head down. :>
psyched1231 Thank you so much that was excellent advice. I’ve had my flow hives for several years but I’ve not been able to use them yet. I did have one hive but Beatles and cane toads took over so the hive relocated. Thank the Lord above they were smart enough to move. This weekend I’m gonna look at your video again and I’m going to make a platform with a 1 inch PVC pipe so it’ll tilt. try to work on the boxes and repaint them so they’ll be ready to go. Thank you again God bless you and please stay safe. Eat lots of honey
@@elizabethsansom6447 I think the video will cover most of what you'll need to best use the flow. You, also, might want to watch some of my other beekeeping videos for other suggestions. In making the platform, use a 1/2" pipe to get the correct angle. Good luck with your new hives.
Our bee club got rid of flow hives because they didn’t work. Had no less than 6 master beekeepers trying everything to make them work over 4 years. Not one drop of honey.
By far the best flow video on TH-cam for larger growers and bee keepers
Awesome! Great TH-cam!
The level of amazing advice and ingenuity you share in this video is mind-blowing. Thank you sir!
I would have too say, this video is the best explain for using flowhive
Isnt the back of the hive considered the harvest end with the plugs? And dont you want the flow hive tilted in that direction to harvest the honey? And tilted towards the entrance when not harvesting?
Yes on all your questions! When I demonstrated the tilt, I left the hive with the back facing the camera. It, definitely, would have been clearer to have turned the flow super around first.
Great video. TH-cam deleted my beehive build video twice. I appealed it and they put it back twice. Now I set it to private to let things calm down. Not sure what is going on with it.
Mike, I have an issue with another TH-cam acct, but I can't find a way to contact them. How did you contact them so that you could appeal your issue?
@@psyched1231 Simply click on appeal. What issue have you got?
There is likely a competitor of yours who doesn’t like what you say and so they raise a stink with Google. If they pay more money than you do (marketing, advertising, etc) then guess who wins?
@@coachmatt216 Possible, I don't pay any money, they pay me so you might be right.
Great tip on coloring the caps.
Thank you so much for these great tips. I am just starting with the flow hives , I bought two and when I took one out of the box immediately lost a little plastic cover, ugh. What a great idea to paint them 😀. And the tubes and the way to tilt the box ! The feeders !
Q: what’s the benefit if any of the pitched roof my kit came with?
Great! You'll love your new Flows. Of course, you'll have to get your bees strong and have a good spring nectar flow to get the fun of them. I don't use the pitched roof. I like a flat top, sometimes called a migratory top, so that I can set my 1/2 gal Ball jars on them for feeding. I think I included my feeding system in the video. I've tried them all and this system works the best for me. th-cam.com/video/iGFe5uk_xZA/w-d-xo.html
Also, be sure and roll the flow frames with plenty of melted wax so that the bees will take to them easily. Don't be stingy with the wax.
The pitched roof gives room for fitting a feeder in the roof as well as ventilation.
Great information, thank you!
When you say roll the frames with wax, is that just the exterior of each of the seven individual frames? Also, what setup do you recommend - one brood box or two? Love your video and your ingenuity! Starting with bees and plan to use the flow frames and modify a box to fit like you’ve done here. I saw that you only feed when the honey super isn’t on, how do you know when to put the super on? THANK YOU!
Congrats on starting with flow frames! They're new and it will be a while, but eventually they'll replace the old, outdated rob & extract method. When beeks find how much easier and quicker is using flow supers, they'll be dropping the old rob & extract method like a hot rock.
To get the bees to start using them, the exterior of the cells need to be coated with plenty of beeswax. So, be generous when you roll on the wax.
I recommend keeping your bees in two traditional deeps. During the honey flow the bees will fill the bottom deep with brood and the top deep with honey for their winter feed. You will feed the bees through the spring. Then, you'll stop feeding and put on your flow super when the honey flow starts in your area. So, you'll need to ask some local beekeepers when the honey flow starts where you live.
Do you put your feeder over the honey super when they are making honey? Also did you say you take your honey super (flow frames) off after you drain them?
No. The feeders comes off when I put the supers on. You don't want sugar syrup in your honey.
Yes. After I drain the supers and the bees have cleaned them up, I take them off for the winter. I put candy boards on top of the hives to insure that they have plenty of food to get them through until spring.
Please could you tell me where to buy the Chinese version auto flow, I've been searching and can't find it but I'm really interested in getting started in this and I order to buy the Chinese version
Ebay has several sellers. Here's one: www.ebay.com/itm/Upgraded-7PCS-Auto-Honey-Hive-Beehive-Flow-Frames-Beekeeping-Brood-Cedarwood-Box/223888015477?hash=item3420c40075%3Ag%3AxM8AAOSw8adceEbf&LH_BIN=1
Chinese ones work great. No difference. The only thing I’d caution is Chinese materials. China has zero regard for life or causing harm to others. So if they don’t use the right type of plastic in their frames and it leaches chemicals into your honey, they could care less. That’s the only potential problem I see with the Chinese version. Flow is greedy, and I will never support them again. You know they raised money via crowdfunding to start their business. Raised millions more than they needed, and now they still charge insane prices. Very greedy people.
Is it available in Algeria?
An old man once told me the easiest color to find in grass or leaves is blue cause there is no blue leaves or grass
Astounding! Thanks!!
Have you had any issues with using the flow frames in subsequent seasons? Have a flow hive, used it and produced a season of honey. Had to put it down for a season for family reasons and went back to it to use again. I can't seem to get the cells moving and concerned I'll break them. Wondering if you had that experience and if so what did you do to overcome it?
No. I haven't had any issues like that. When the bees use them, they coat the cells with wax. So, I think it must be wax that's holding the frames from moving. What about pouring some boiling water over them to soften whatever is keeping them stuck together?
@@psyched1231 I was thinking of that or a hit dryer - was concerned I'd make it worse by melting wax into places I simply could not get access .... Thanks for your thoughts. Your content is really helpful. Have another question - have you found any particular flow frame manufacturer that made a higher quality product or is your experience they are mostly the same; I been looking at the various manufacturers and there are quite a few in China. Was wondering which ones you have so I could look them up.
@@Mimeault Yes. A hair dryer should work. I think once the frame is warmed up, just move the cells a few times. That should work.
I have 5 sets from Australia and 7 from China bought off Ebay. I haven't found any difference in their function.
Man... I wanna go this route with flow frames, but having just watched a video about how China has screwed the US honey market (not to mention other things they rip off) I would rather spend the money with an Australian company.. I really don’t know.lol. I hate to ask this as, but do you think people are justified buying a Chinese rip off just to save a money?
Your decision to go the flow route is great! You'll love getting honey without the pain of robbing and extracting and endless clean-up. If you've done any of this, then you'll love the speed and the luxury of using the flow system to get your honey.
If one can afford to spend $500 per super, then I say go for it. I just have too many hives that I want flow on. I paid thousands of dollars to Flow for a few supers, but I needed more and can't afford it. I would definitely pay more for Flow because they did the hard work to invent it. However, it would very difficult to justify 4 to 5 times more than the Chinese supers which I found work just as well. Flow is just way too overpriced and people with limited resources or several hives are left out of luck. Maybe the Chinese competition will inspire Flow to get their prices lowered to a more reasonable level so that more beekeepers can take advantage of this technology.
@@psyched1231 I really do believe Flow are targeting mainly private individuals and amateurs beekeepers who would buy one Hive to put in their backyard or balcony. With that pricetag, it's clearly not a good fit for any professionals or anyone who owns more than 2 hives.
Good concern, but the owners of Flow are greedy SOBs. People fail to remember how they came about. Crowdfunding, raised millions more than they needed. Kept it. Now charge insane prices foe their equipment that usually doesn’t work. I’m glad a few people have got it to work some how, but we have tried everything to get ours to work in our bee club. 6 master beekeepers have been working for 4 years to get something out of the. Flow always tells you to contact this one guy in Philadelphia, but he Doesnt really want to talk to you. Flow gives him equipment so he will talk nice about him. He also has issues with Flow. He just doesn’t publicize it.
Please please please contact me. I really need your help. I am in Lake Worth Florida. The Bee club does not want to have anything to do with Flow hives.. I purchase A flow hive several years ago. I’d really like to get some bees and do it the right way. The people in the bee club. Say you should not feed your bees. The funny thing is I was out in the big yard last month. They lost three hives because they said there is no food there. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. Obviously you know exactly what you’re doing and how to do it the right way so please contact me
I would like to help you, but bees are a local endeavor and you need in-person help to get started right. Good beekeeping has to be adjusted to the flora and the weather where you live. The advice from those members of your club doesn't sound good at all. So, either look for another club or listen in on conversations at the meeting for someone who you would want to get help from.
You'll encounter strong resistance to flow from the old timers. They're very unlikely to be open to anything new and flow is a big change. I'd suggest you look for a young, smart beekeeper that is already using flow. One way to find someone is if a local club has a Facebook page. Someone might be brave enough to post about flow there. Don't reply on the site, but PM them. With that old-timer attitude about flow around you, you'll have to keep your head down. :>
psyched1231 Thank you so much that was excellent advice. I’ve had my flow hives for several years but I’ve not been able to use them yet. I did have one hive but Beatles and cane toads took over so the hive relocated. Thank the Lord above they were smart enough to move. This weekend I’m gonna look at your video again and I’m going to make a platform with a 1 inch PVC pipe so it’ll tilt. try to work on the boxes and repaint them so they’ll be ready to go. Thank you again God bless you and please stay safe. Eat lots of honey
@@elizabethsansom6447 I think the video will cover most of what you'll need to best use the flow. You, also, might want to watch some of my other beekeeping videos for other suggestions. In making the platform, use a 1/2" pipe to get the correct angle. Good luck with your new hives.
Our bee club got rid of flow hives because they didn’t work. Had no less than 6 master beekeepers trying everything to make them work over 4 years. Not one drop of honey.