John, thank you very much for not only making OTS info more straight forward but sharing your practical experience. QA session is very valuable for newbie like myself.
Great information! We started beekeeping 2 years ago, lost both hives, took last year off and found out about OTS but did not research as much as i should. Bought one package of bees this spring because thats all i could find and afford, will be doing 2 more splits this weekend and if all works, then we will go into winter with 5 colonies. Thanks for this video, this has helped even more!
I just did this yesterday, but didn't have any eggs or larvae in new comb. On most of the notches that I made, it pulled the cocoon down and ruined the cell above it. I hope that a few didn't have that so the bees have something to work with. I'll find out in 7 days, I guess.
They will often choose their own locations to build cells. Notching primarily ups your odds of having cells on multiple frames for easy split creation.
I know this is am older video (great one!) but hopefully you’ll see this question. No issues at all with using OA at that 25 day mark? No problem with that OA vapor disrupting what is presumably a brand new mated queen at that time?
I have a question I caught a swarm in the beginning of July like July 3 and I’m moving the hive out of the tree here soon. Would it be safe to despatch the queen if she is a old marked Queen. Our is it even necessary to dispatch her.
Just moved them from the tree today. They are big. They have drawn out 8 out of the 10 frames already in less then 2 weeks. I’m not sure how many frames have brood. I did not get into the hive. I know after I moved them they were covering the hole top of the box.
1:10:35 Great idea about the book, why not make the 20 minutes video lecture on TH-cam with sharing your thoughts one topic at the time. Less effort then writing the book and keeps valuable experience for next coming beekeepers?! ;)
Yes, I've built and used them before. If going that route, I would strongly suggest utilizing the "horizontal langstroth" path which is a horizontal hive that still uses standard frames. This will allow you to more readily implement OTS strategies with frames interchangeable with any hive.
One of the benefits of OTS queen rearing is the mite control from the brood break. I am wondering about the artificial swarm nuc with the original queen. There is no brood break in that nuc. How do you manage mines in that colony?
There are two times during the season for this brood break. During the second instance around mid to end of June, I dispatch *all* queens, giving all colonies a brood break at least once per year.
I have seen and heard comments about a potential down side to OTS that there is possible for bees to make queen cells from larva older than 1 or 2 days old that this could result in that cell emerge first, kill the younger cells resulting in getting an inferior queen. What is your perspective on this?
A good question. I've been doing this method since 2012 or so without said issue. I'm ruthless with quality of queen/colonies and see healthy and robust bees over time.
I would think that the queens from notching would be more like emergency cells. Wouldn't it be interesting to graft queen cells and time them for placement in the hive that you have notched or not notched that they would make emergency cells from, smash all of their emergency cells and then put in your grafted queen cell. I know it would be more work, but would probably result in better queens.
Actual research has shown little to no difference between emergency and grafted cells which makes sense because they’re both using the same mechanism queenless to produce cells. Swarm cells on the other hand Have Shown a slightly marked improvement over the other two of like 5%, which is still within the error of the study.
Hey John, could you turn the OTS FB group back on, and maybe give a couple of us admin privileges to keep it on topic? I'll shoot you a note on FB with the same request.
Presented on Dec 30, 2024. Continuation of building Varroa Resistent bees. It may compliment OTS in fast breeding of local VHS (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) bees. Do not be a varroa breader ;) th-cam.com/video/dcJO19QHAKE/w-d-xo.html
John, thank you very much for not only making OTS info more straight forward but sharing your practical experience. QA session is very valuable for newbie like myself.
Great information! We started beekeeping 2 years ago, lost both hives, took last year off and found out about OTS but did not research as much as i should. Bought one package of bees this spring because thats all i could find and afford, will be doing 2 more splits this weekend and if all works, then we will go into winter with 5 colonies. Thanks for this video, this has helped even more!
Hey guys! Its Mike from Stoney Hill Farm just checking this out per your advice on Facebook the other day!
I just did this yesterday, but didn't have any eggs or larvae in new comb. On most of the notches that I made, it pulled the cocoon down and ruined the cell above it. I hope that a few didn't have that so the bees have something to work with. I'll find out in 7 days, I guess.
They will often choose their own locations to build cells. Notching primarily ups your odds of having cells on multiple frames for easy split creation.
I know this is am older video (great one!) but hopefully you’ll see this question. No issues at all with using OA at that 25 day mark? No problem with that OA vapor disrupting what is presumably a brand new mated queen at that time?
To date, no, I've not ever had any issues using OA at the 25 day mark, and Queens do just fine.
Great informative video.
Lots of info and coverage of the method.
I have a question I caught a swarm in the beginning of July like July 3 and I’m moving the hive out of the tree here soon. Would it be safe to despatch the queen if she is a old marked Queen. Our is it even necessary to dispatch her.
How many frames are the bees covering? How much brood has she laid?
Just moved them from the tree today. They are big. They have drawn out 8 out of the 10 frames already in less then 2 weeks. I’m not sure how many frames have brood. I did not get into the hive. I know after I moved them they were covering the hole top of the box.
@@TiffinFamilyInvestmentInc. I think I’d lean towards letting this one be?
Do you think I should add another box.
@@TiffinFamilyInvestmentInc. yes and with built out comb in center at least if you have it
1:10:35 Great idea about the book, why not make the 20 minutes video lecture on TH-cam with sharing your thoughts one topic at the time. Less effort then writing the book and keeps valuable experience for next coming beekeepers?! ;)
as backyard beekeper I want to minimize number of suppers pulling up/down. Do you have experience with Horizontal type hives?
Yes, I've built and used them before. If going that route, I would strongly suggest utilizing the "horizontal langstroth" path which is a horizontal hive that still uses standard frames. This will allow you to more readily implement OTS strategies with frames interchangeable with any hive.
@@TheBeeFarm make sense, thank you!
One of the benefits of OTS queen rearing is the mite control from the brood break. I am wondering about the artificial swarm nuc with the original queen. There is no brood break in that nuc. How do you manage mines in that colony?
There are two times during the season for this brood break. During the second instance around mid to end of June, I dispatch *all* queens, giving all colonies a brood break at least once per year.
Do you need to wait a few days after removing the queen before notching? Great video. Thanks.
Nope! Right away and thus, "on the spot" :)
I have seen and heard comments about a potential down side to OTS that there is possible for bees to make queen cells from larva older than 1 or 2 days old that this could result in that cell emerge first, kill the younger cells resulting in getting an inferior queen. What is your perspective on this?
A good question. I've been doing this method since 2012 or so without said issue. I'm ruthless with quality of queen/colonies and see healthy and robust bees over time.
Thanks. I’ll quit worrying about it.😀
Great info John thanks!
You're most welcome. :)
I would think that the queens from notching would be more like emergency cells. Wouldn't it be interesting to graft queen cells and time them for placement in the hive that you have notched or not notched that they would make emergency cells from, smash all of their emergency cells and then put in your grafted queen cell. I know it would be more work, but would probably result in better queens.
Actual research has shown little to no difference between emergency and grafted cells which makes sense because they’re both using the same mechanism queenless to produce cells. Swarm cells on the other hand Have Shown a slightly marked improvement over the other two of like 5%, which is still within the error of the study.
why would you not preserve the Queens you are removing from the hives into a small nuc and sell or give away local to help your fellow bee keepers
I often sell nucs or give away queens. I as often don't have the space or time to do so.
Hey John, could you turn the OTS FB group back on, and maybe give a couple of us admin privileges to keep it on topic? I'll shoot you a note on FB with the same request.
Back on :)
@@TheBeeFarm - yeah it is, and I post there regularly.
Is this why some sell nucs so they don't have to kill the queen ?
Probably so :)
Presented on Dec 30, 2024. Continuation of building Varroa Resistent bees. It may compliment OTS in fast breeding of local VHS (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) bees. Do not be a varroa breader ;) th-cam.com/video/dcJO19QHAKE/w-d-xo.html