Thank you so much for this vid !! I'm a newer bee keeper and those myths are everywhere .. I've followed your advice and cleaned up my mistakes.. Now on to winter..
If I waxed foundation heavy this spring but never got it into a hive, is the wax still good this coming spring or do I have to remove old wax and re wax or just Wax over the old wax.
Hi @David thank you so much for all the content you make. It is a great help. One thing that I need help with, is when to know when to stop feeding the 1:1 syrup with honey b healthy and amino-b booster. Do I keep feeding all the way to when I need to use the winter b kind boards or is there a point that I switch it to 2:1 sugar water syrup with the added additives that I just mentioned and then move to the winter b kind? I have hives with only one brood box and I live in Southern Ontario Canada. Please advise. Thank you kindly in advance
David, I’m on day 3 of a robbing. Put screens on day one, wet towels. Day 2 i covered with sheets and screens. Day 3 i completely closed the hives and added sheets. Still swarming around my hives. Sny tips on getting rid of them?
If bees swarmed in July and requeened themselves successfully, do I still need to do a mite count? The new queen started laying very quickly after the swarm, she really hit the ground running.
David, do you use a variety of treatments (apiguard, apivar, OAV, etc.) for mites? I am near Philly, in South Jersey. In most FB Bee groups groups they literally scare you to death if you are not treating for mites and warn of the quick demise of hives unless they are being treated for mites very regularly. I have three different yards and with 8 colonies total (4 colony yard, 3 colony yard, 1 colony yard) My mite counts on 8/10/2024 were: *4 colony yard - 9 mites / 2 mites / 0 mites / 0 mites (unfortunately I washed the queen in the first "9 mite" colony, but it did cause a brood break - she was the only 2023 queen) *1 colony yard - 1 mite in this colony (2024 queen) *3 colony yard - 0 mites / 0 mites / 0 mites - no mites conted in any of these three colonies (all 2024 queens) I used OAV - three treatments around August 2023 and one (1) single OAV treatment in March of 2024. All hives but the "9 mite" hive had brood breaks mid 2024 via swarm or split; plus I froze most of the densely populated drone cell frames. I do not have green drone comb I just watch our for dense drone brood patches to cut our or freeze. I will do another wash/count again this week and if the numbers stay very low I wouldn't think I need to treating except maybe for the 9 mite hive as that is kind of high. I didn't treat that hive yet as they were making a new queen but that should be done now. Should I be concerned because I am inclined to NOT treat unless counts warrant? Sorry this is so long and thanks in advance. BTW - I am happy to fly to Chicago to meet you, work your bees with you, and make a video!!! That would absolutely make my year!
@@beek David, Thank you! I appreciate the reply and your dedication to this group of people that follow you and look to your leadership for better success. Thanks again!
Great information BUT how are you keeping your mites down so low all year? When do you start mite treatments and with what methods? Thanks for the great information yet again.
Just a simple question when I should stop checking my beehive over the year I am leaving close to you maybe 60 miles north east.last Year I stopped by the end of September and checked them back by the end of April because
You mentioned that you feed 1:1 heavy and continuously but what does that mean? Are you replacing quart jars once or twice a week? Can you feed too much and have them plug the brood area?
For some reason I've NEVER been able to overfeed my bees. I'm not saying it's not possible, but every time I feed my bees they raise a crazy amount of brood. Must be the queens I raise.
More great content here. Thank you. Question. So i run single deep hive with med honey supers. I have a queen excluder in them now. I have decided to let the bees keep the super of honey and overwinter with single deep and med sup Should i go ahead and pull excluders now? Thanks
Great video as always !! We are in northern Ontario with 3 strong layens hives right now. Is there a way to winter feed your candy boards in a layens hive ? We are first year beekeepers. Thank you for any advice.
thank you for the video and the knowledge you give us, let me ask 1) how much syrup do you feed in September and how often? I have heard that for stimulation need 150 grams per day..... 2) do you treatment the nosema?
@beek I just checked again and now my biggest fear is the yellowjackets... there are hundreds! I'm sure they are more of a target since they are fanning with the added ventilation. I have each box cracked just about 1/8 in so they can defend the front only but get a little more air up through the boxes.
I take my honey mid augest so now I can worry about mites we have a strong fall flow that don’t stop until end of September I feed very little to back fill my bottom box then they are good I’m in Canada so I have shity winters and in spring they have lots of food to get started for spring I don’t have to feed threw winter
GREAT VIDEO DAVID. The weather today was very cool - 47 degrees this morning, high 62 and windy 12 to 20 mph, so I didn't do hive inspection. I made up 1:1 with bee protein and pollen powder for tomorrow. I am also going to reduce each hive one deep. HAVE A GREAT DAY 👍
David, it was 39 degrees and no wind at sunrise, so I waited until 10:30 to inspect, remove a deep from hive and add a top feeder with 2 - 1 qt jars. Bees were laid back.
I will be starting to feed 1:1 sugar water mid September my bees are going crazy over the flowering alfalfa fields around my property. Still going strong!! I will be making winter be kind boards here before long. Thanks David for all your help.
I put robbing screens on mid July. I pull honey the last week of July. I use August to treat with OAV every 5-7 days, four times total. 4 grams per deep plus 2 grams per medium, in an InstaVap set to roughly 2+ gram chamber doses (it vaporizes more fully in small increments in the chamber, so I keep dipping into the OA until the full amount has been distributed into the hive). I monitor mite drop on a removable screened bottom board only, so when 10 or less drop after the last treatment, versus like 20-30 that drop after initial treatments earlier in the month, I know it has been working. I do not perform mite tests- I think it is pointless for my purposes and I hate killing precious bees. I treat with OAV on a set schedule when mite presence is indicated at all at this time of year by what I see dropping out of the hive. I am convinced mites cannot become resistant to OAV because it is like getting hit with a hammer and is instant and the vapor cycles out if the hive quickly. I like that OAV is organic. All of my hives use a slatted rack spacer at the base, on top of the screen board, but below the first brood box, and the rack has a hole drilled in the back center to do the OAV. It stays there. I wear eye protection and the appropriate organic vapor blocking 3M cartridge mask. I feed 1:2 light syrup in August and in September, 1:1 syrup. I boost the populations as much as possible. David's methods are what has helped me get my bees prepped on schedule. In late October I put in a candy board, wrap the hive put on the hot boxes and mouse guards.
Let me know what measures you are taking now to help your bees make it through winter.
Love the cheering "crowd"! 👏😀
Thanks
Thank you so much for this vid !! I'm a newer bee keeper and those myths are everywhere .. I've followed your advice and cleaned up my mistakes.. Now on to winter..
So far...I have 2 brood boxes and I feed 1 to 1 with hbh. They are good. Thanks for tge assurance.
Utilizing these tips, IPM, & SHB oil traps on swarm I caught on 7/18. 🎢 My first (& only) colony.
Hope the swarm builds up for winter.
I love all your videos! Thank you for being so passionate about educating others! ❤
If I waxed foundation heavy this spring but never got it into a hive, is the wax still good this coming spring or do I have to remove old wax and re wax or just Wax over the old wax.
I like this video alot thank you! It was fun to watch! Loads of info!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi @David thank you so much for all the content you make. It is a great help. One thing that I need help with, is when to know when to stop feeding the 1:1 syrup with honey b healthy and amino-b booster. Do I keep feeding all the way to when I need to use the winter b kind boards or is there a point that I switch it to 2:1 sugar water syrup with the added additives that I just mentioned and then move to the winter b kind? I have hives with only one brood box and I live in Southern Ontario Canada. Please advise. Thank you kindly in advance
So excited to see you this October 😊
Awesome, at the Iowa Honey Producers Association annual meeting 👍
David, I’m on day 3 of a robbing. Put screens on day one, wet towels. Day 2 i covered with sheets and screens. Day 3 i completely closed the hives and added sheets. Still swarming around my hives. Sny tips on getting rid of them?
If bees swarmed in July and requeened themselves successfully, do I still need to do a mite count? The new queen started laying very quickly after the swarm, she really hit the ground running.
The brood break helped but it's up to you. I'd still want to check to be knowing what the count is now.
@@beek Thank you - will do a mite count - you're right, better safe than sorry.
David, do you use a variety of treatments (apiguard, apivar, OAV, etc.) for mites? I am near Philly, in South Jersey. In most FB Bee groups groups they literally scare you to death if you are not treating for mites and warn of the quick demise of hives unless they are being treated for mites very regularly. I have three different yards and with 8 colonies total
(4 colony yard, 3 colony yard, 1 colony yard)
My mite counts on 8/10/2024 were:
*4 colony yard - 9 mites / 2 mites / 0 mites / 0 mites (unfortunately I washed the queen in the first "9 mite" colony, but it did cause a brood break - she was the only 2023 queen)
*1 colony yard - 1 mite in this colony (2024 queen)
*3 colony yard - 0 mites / 0 mites / 0 mites - no mites conted in any of these three colonies (all 2024 queens)
I used OAV - three treatments around August 2023 and one (1) single OAV treatment in March of 2024. All hives but the "9 mite" hive had brood breaks mid 2024 via swarm or split; plus I froze most of the densely populated drone cell frames. I do not have green drone comb I just watch our for dense drone brood patches to cut our or freeze. I will do another wash/count again this week and if the numbers stay very low I wouldn't think I need to treating except maybe for the 9 mite hive as that is kind of high. I didn't treat that hive yet as they were making a new queen but that should be done now. Should I be concerned because I am inclined to NOT treat unless counts warrant? Sorry this is so long and thanks in advance. BTW - I am happy to fly to Chicago to meet you, work your bees with you, and make a video!!! That would absolutely make my year!
Mite treatment is essential in my opinion. Keeping those numbers down cuts down on the viral loads that kills hives.
@@beek David, Thank you! I appreciate the reply and your dedication to this group of people that follow you and look to your leadership for better success. Thanks again!
Along with the feeding that you talked about quite a bit you said that your mite load is low. How is this accomplished? Thank you
All my catalog of video explains my mite approach. Here’s one method I use of 3. ruclips.net/video/I95WNPq3WbI/видео.htmlsi=emE_CZZfRdvJWWNx
Great information BUT how are you keeping your mites down so low all year? When do you start mite treatments and with what methods? Thanks for the great information yet again.
I graft queens from my low mite hives.
Just a simple question when I should stop checking my beehive over the year I am leaving close to you maybe 60 miles north east.last Year I stopped by the end of September and checked them back by the end of April because
I continue my inspections until temps fall below 65 (f) in the day, then I it is too cold to inspect.
Great chart David....i do something similar but only run single brood chambers through winter. Im in Texas.
Right on
Do you have to replace the queen more often since you don’t allow the bees to lower their population in the winter?
No, I replace my queens every year since I make my own queens.
You mentioned that you feed 1:1 heavy and continuously but what does that mean? Are you replacing quart jars once or twice a week? Can you feed too much and have them plug the brood area?
For some reason I've NEVER been able to overfeed my bees. I'm not saying it's not possible, but every time I feed my bees they raise a crazy amount of brood. Must be the queens I raise.
More great content here. Thank you. Question. So i run single deep hive with med honey supers. I have a queen excluder in them now. I have decided to let the bees keep the super of honey and overwinter with single deep and med sup Should i go ahead and pull excluders now? Thanks
Glad you enjoy the content. Please tell me where on the planet you live so I can better guide you.
Oops. I made the same mistake! Hah. N eastern Kentucky. Probably similar weather to yours. Thanks
Great video as always !! We are in northern Ontario with 3 strong layens hives right now. Is there a way to winter feed your candy boards in a layens hive ? We are first year beekeepers. Thank you for any advice.
Re feeding Is it 50degrees f min at night, or daytime please.
Hi David when do you think your food additives will be in stock?!
There back now
A compelling argument for this new approach to feeding and its relationship to mites and virus loads. Thank you. Very helpful.
Wow David. This was soooo helpful. Grateful
thank you for the video and the knowledge you give us, let me ask 1) how much syrup do you feed in September and how often? I have heard that for stimulation need 150 grams per day..... 2) do you treatment the nosema?
I do not treat for nosema and I feed continuously until I shift to the Winter-Bee-Kind
Formic acid went on yesterday. Seeing some immediate die off but I'm hoping it will calm. Highest forecasted day in the next 2 weeks is 75 finally.
Are you using two pads or one pad
@@beek I'm doing 2 pads for 14 days.
@beek I just checked again and now my biggest fear is the yellowjackets... there are hundreds! I'm sure they are more of a target since they are fanning with the added ventilation. I have each box cracked just about 1/8 in so they can defend the front only but get a little more air up through the boxes.
Hi David!!❤️any suggestions on how to feed my bees in the winter with a layens hive?
I’ve been told a few idea but nothing I’m interested in doing.
I take my honey mid augest so now I can worry about mites we have a strong fall flow that don’t stop until end of September I feed very little to back fill my bottom box then they are good I’m in Canada so I have shity winters and in spring they have lots of food to get started for spring I don’t have to feed threw winter
Sounds like you’ve got a plan
I'm feeding 1to 1 right now and they are bringing in plenty of pollen so I hope they will be ok in n.c
Me too, sounds like you are being proactive.
Same here in NC! Lots of pollen coming in but they’re sucking down the 1:1 with additives. Queens laying well.
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Good point, that's what I wanted to say!
GREAT VIDEO DAVID. The weather today was very cool - 47 degrees this morning, high 62 and windy 12 to 20 mph, so I didn't do hive inspection. I made up 1:1 with bee protein and pollen powder for tomorrow. I am also going to reduce each hive one deep. HAVE A GREAT DAY 👍
Good luck
David, it was 39 degrees and no wind at sunrise, so I waited until 10:30 to inspect, remove a deep from hive and add a top feeder with 2 - 1 qt jars. Bees were laid back.
Nice Jay
Thank you so much - I have two small colonies and really want to get them through winter
I hope you do! Best of luck. Keep mite levels down and feed your bees will increase the chance.
That was a great video. Thanks. We have the same issues here in the UK.😊
Thanks for watching!
David this was great. Thank you for all the value you add brother.
FYI - your Burns feeders are out of stock which you likely already knew.
Thanks...back in stock.
I will be starting to feed 1:1 sugar water mid September my bees are going crazy over the flowering alfalfa fields around my property. Still going strong!! I will be making winter be kind boards here before long. Thanks David for all your help.
Sounds great!
Great video.....Quick question: Can I add protein sub to my 1:1?
Yes, here's my link on how to do it. ruclips.net/video/gDSXm2XcRPs/видео.htmlsi=9co-lT16sydcGAPc
Thank you so much.
I put robbing screens on mid July. I pull honey the last week of July. I use August to treat with OAV every 5-7 days, four times total. 4 grams per deep plus 2 grams per medium, in an InstaVap set to roughly 2+ gram chamber doses (it vaporizes more fully in small increments in the chamber, so I keep dipping into the OA until the full amount has been distributed into the hive). I monitor mite drop on a removable screened bottom board only, so when 10 or less drop after the last treatment, versus like 20-30 that drop after initial treatments earlier in the month, I know it has been working. I do not perform mite tests- I think it is pointless for my purposes and I hate killing precious bees. I treat with OAV on a set schedule when mite presence is indicated at all at this time of year by what I see dropping out of the hive. I am convinced mites cannot become resistant to OAV because it is like getting hit with a hammer and is instant and the vapor cycles out if the hive quickly. I like that OAV is organic. All of my hives use a slatted rack spacer at the base, on top of the screen board, but below the first brood box, and the rack has a hole drilled in the back center to do the OAV. It stays there. I wear eye protection and the appropriate organic vapor blocking 3M cartridge mask. I feed 1:2 light syrup in August and in September, 1:1 syrup. I boost the populations as much as possible. David's methods are what has helped me get my bees prepped on schedule. In late October I put in a candy board, wrap the hive put on the hot boxes and mouse guards.
Glad to hear my method is working well for you.