Brett, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN AWESOME HUMAN! I completely share the love and enthusiasm for all things bees and I'm a full on new bee keeper(two weeks into it) and loving it. You sharing FREELY the knowledge/experience you have speaks greatly of your character. Thanks again. LOVE ~Tim
You have a very good nature about yourself and you explain yourself very well a good teaching ability. This video is very informative and exactly what new to young beekeepers need to know. Thank you for your efforts in making the videos and taking the time to post them and edit them. As everyone should know we benefit from these you don’t. So thank you very very much two thumbs up to you.
I wish I had watched this yesterday! I’m going to have to get back into 2 of my hives and rearrange frames and probably remove the box I put on them. I knew to do that but it was hot and I was in a hurry. 😊
That was a very informative video. As you were telling all the information I was trying to guess the way to go with this hive . This time I came up with the same answer as you did so I guess it is not hard to teach a old dog new tricks. Thanks for all your video’s and info.
This was exactly the video I was looking for, thanks so much. Your explanations of everything rock!! I am a new subscriber, am sure I will be losing beauty sleep trying to absorb all the information! When you held up the frame to see if we could see the newly laid eggs that was brilliant. Maybe if you could hold the frames still in front of the camera like that whilst you talk that would be even more awesome. I can understand that you were trying to be quick and make an assessment yourself, I really liked your calm attitude and way of handling the bees. Full of gratitude for people such as yourselves sharing this knowledge. Am feeling more confident to have bees again after losing a hive a few years ago that had been weakened by a storm to Asian wasps. I felt like I hadn't been vigilant enough so will now have our bees in a more accessible spot and am arming myself with as much knowledge as possible.
I'm super glad to have helped you regain your confidence! Please feel free to stop back and hit me up with any questions or concerns you might have as you're getting back into the bee bizz.
If I were to do what you did with my bees, they would kill me. I have to fully suit up whenever I go into their hive because they go completely crazy when I do.
I want to checker my frames as well to encourage my new bees to draw out comb. However, I plan on running single brood chambers and I'm worried about chilling the brood if I do this. Is there a consistent outside temperature that should be hit before I do this or some other benchmark? Still getting to mid-50's in the OH evenings.
Good stuff wish you were near by. I’m a newbee and don’t know why they don’t want to draw out my medium box I just added? I tried to give them more room but now ? That decision?
Looks like you have a very health Bracken farm. In South Australia you would think twice walking though that in short pants. I don’t think you would see the snake that may kill you
Second-year rookie beek and wondering what your thoughts are on shingle deep hive management is? We are located in southern Appalachia the mountains of Northeast Georgia. We do sometimes have minus zero winter nights. Thanks.
B&K Bees one more question. I use Screened bottom boards and have been told I need to switch to solid or close off the screen. I though open would be better winter vent. Know a beekeeper in the United Kingdom with very cold winter's that runs screen bottom boards year around and the only time he closes them is during varroa treatment. Thanks again and sorry for multiple questions.
I did a small test last year and had 2 of 4 singles overwinter over open screens. I suggest either having a larger cluster or closing it off. Bees can deal with cold, yes, but it remains true that the smaller the amount of bees, the smaller amount of heat it can create and maintain.
B&K Bees yep the United Kingdom beekeeper has what they call National hives which I believe run 11 frames. And watching his TH-cam videos all 11 frames are Plum full of bees which would be a huge winter cluster. And me running single deeps atop Center blocks that low to the ground with open screen would be rather hard to keep or maintained winter warmth. Thanks once again for your willingness to help us beginners!
Just finding your video and I have to make decision to add another box or not. The hive is overflowing, so much so that they are spilling out of single box. I have 1 super on and half full now. I put a bee escape board on yesterday afternoon bc I thought super was fuller. I went in this morn, not even 24 hrs, and they literally broke my board from the weight of the bees. I went ahead and added another deep but can remove if you think its too late. There were SHB but so Many bees and were defending. Any advice is appreciated.
Keep an eye on the SHB but in general my advice is add the box. Especially in mid July. Keep that box on there and I bet you see them working it hard in the next week or so.
That depends on whether you're going to run singles or doubles, I'd recommend for beginners to run doubles, so no you wouldn't put the excluder between the first box and second, it would be between the first two boxes and the rest.
Start feeding as soon as they can drink it if they need it. If you're starting with packages or nucs early in the season you'll do yourself a favor to keep syrup on them for the entire first full month or so.
I try to select for calm bees. If they're runny, they don't get split, or donate genetic material for grafts or mating. Other than that, just try to be calm, and make sure your bees are queenright.
I just watched one of your videos and you claim you don't insulate the boxes either. Don't mean to pestering with all these questions, but you are from Michigan as I am.
Have you ever had them draw out and move up to the top box and basically abandon the bottom. Frames are drawn nicely but zero brood and little stores. Top box is booming
Most of you bee guys do these things then never come back and update how successful it was or wasnt or whether your decision was faulty and why. I need input. Thxvm
Brett, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN AWESOME HUMAN! I completely share the love and enthusiasm for all things bees and I'm a full on new bee keeper(two weeks into it) and loving it. You sharing FREELY the knowledge/experience you have speaks greatly of your character. Thanks again. LOVE ~Tim
You have a very good nature about yourself and you explain yourself very well a good teaching ability. This video is very informative and exactly what new to young beekeepers need to know. Thank you for your efforts in making the videos and taking the time to post them and edit them. As everyone should know we benefit from these you don’t. So thank you very very much two thumbs up to you.
Thanks man, I really really appreciate you saying that.
I wish I had watched this yesterday! I’m going to have to get back into 2 of my hives and rearrange frames and probably remove the box I put on them. I knew to do that but it was hot and I was in a hurry. 😊
That was a very informative video. As you were telling all the information I was trying to guess the way to go with this hive . This time I came up with the same answer as you did so I guess it is not hard to teach a old dog new tricks. Thanks for all your video’s and info.
This was exactly the video I was looking for, thanks so much. Your explanations of everything rock!! I am a new subscriber, am sure I will be losing beauty sleep trying to absorb all the information! When you held up the frame to see if we could see the newly laid eggs that was brilliant. Maybe if you could hold the frames still in front of the camera like that whilst you talk that would be even more awesome. I can understand that you were trying to be quick and make an assessment yourself, I really liked your calm attitude and way of handling the bees. Full of gratitude for people such as yourselves sharing this knowledge. Am feeling more confident to have bees again after losing a hive a few years ago that had been weakened by a storm to Asian wasps. I felt like I hadn't been vigilant enough so will now have our bees in a more accessible spot and am arming myself with as much knowledge as possible.
I'm super glad to have helped you regain your confidence! Please feel free to stop back and hit me up with any questions or concerns you might have as you're getting back into the bee bizz.
If I were to do what you did with my bees, they would kill me. I have to fully suit up whenever I go into their hive because they go completely crazy when I do.
Very helpful! Thanks for posting.
Mark C thanks for watching, brother.
Super informative thanks !
I'm learning a lot from your videos.
Thanks for the walkthrough!
Really helpful. Thanks brother.
Learning about bees.
Thanks.
Great video lots of good tips for me. Thanks. Just subbed.
Very peaceful and relaxing lookin area.👍
It is. We are in the Manistee National Forest and I wouldn't rather live anywhere else for 8 months a year.
B&K Bees aroostook county maine here👍
Nice instruction. Please give us an update on that hive.
Great video
Erik Scott thanks, man.
Can you add another box in September
But ur bees are so darn calm u don't need it😄
I want to checker my frames as well to encourage my new bees to draw out comb. However, I plan on running single brood chambers and I'm worried about chilling the brood if I do this. Is there a consistent outside temperature that should be hit before I do this or some other benchmark? Still getting to mid-50's in the OH evenings.
Don't split the brood.
That is impressive that you use no insulation, I hope you won't mind if I ask you for advice.
Good stuff wish you were near by. I’m a newbee and don’t know why they don’t want to draw out my medium box I just added? I tried to give them more room but now ? That decision?
There's probably not enough nectar/sugar flowing in. Feed 'em or wait for a nectar flow.
Looks like you have a very health Bracken farm. In South Australia you would think twice walking though that in short pants. I don’t think you would see the snake that may kill you
No dangerous snakes around here. I love snakes so I think that's unfortunate.
Second-year rookie beek and wondering what your thoughts are on shingle deep hive management is? We are located in southern Appalachia the mountains of Northeast Georgia. We do sometimes have minus zero winter nights. Thanks.
I live in Michigan and overwinter singles every year. Make sure they're healthy and heavy and you should be good.
B&K Bees one more question. I use Screened bottom boards and have been told I need to switch to solid or close off the screen. I though open would be better winter vent. Know a beekeeper in the United Kingdom with very cold winter's that runs screen bottom boards year around and the only time he closes them is during varroa treatment. Thanks again and sorry for multiple questions.
I did a small test last year and had 2 of 4 singles overwinter over open screens. I suggest either having a larger cluster or closing it off. Bees can deal with cold, yes, but it remains true that the smaller the amount of bees, the smaller amount of heat it can create and maintain.
B&K Bees yep the United Kingdom beekeeper has what they call National hives which I believe run 11 frames. And watching his TH-cam videos all 11 frames are Plum full of bees which would be a huge winter cluster. And me running single deeps atop Center blocks that low to the ground with open screen would be rather hard to keep or maintained winter warmth. Thanks once again for your willingness to help us beginners!
Just finding your video and I have to make decision to add another box or not. The hive is overflowing, so much so that they are spilling out of single box. I have 1 super on and half full now. I put a bee escape board on yesterday afternoon bc I thought super was fuller. I went in this morn, not even 24 hrs, and they literally broke my board from the weight of the bees. I went ahead and added another deep but can remove if you think its too late. There were SHB but so
Many bees and were defending. Any advice is appreciated.
Keep an eye on the SHB but in general my advice is add the box. Especially in mid July. Keep that box on there and I bet you see them working it hard in the next week or so.
When you add the second box, do you put a queen excluder on?
That depends on whether you're going to run singles or doubles, I'd recommend for beginners to run doubles, so no you wouldn't put the excluder between the first box and second, it would be between the first two boxes and the rest.
Do you use candy boards to feed in the winter?
No. I used to, but now I just feed them enough during the fall.
When do you start feeding and how do you it?
Start feeding as soon as they can drink it if they need it. If you're starting with packages or nucs early in the season you'll do yourself a favor to keep syrup on them for the entire first full month or so.
Hi, how come your bees arent flying all over you as you check the hive? mine are everywhere!!
I try to select for calm bees. If they're runny, they don't get split, or donate genetic material for grafts or mating. Other than that, just try to be calm, and make sure your bees are queenright.
I just watched one of your videos and you claim you don't insulate the boxes either. Don't mean to pestering with all these questions, but you are from Michigan as I am.
Yep, I've kept bees in Newaygo County, Michigan for my whole career. Now I live in the UP, in Baraga.
Have you ever had them draw out and move up to the top box and basically abandon the bottom. Frames are drawn nicely but zero brood and little stores. Top box is booming
Tom Hall you can certainly reverse the boxes.
Most of you bee guys do these things then never come back and update how successful it was or wasnt or whether your decision was faulty and why. I need input. Thxvm
There's nothing in ur smoker😄
Why are u not being stung at all?!