Years ago read that it means hive is content. So I did inspections on five hives that were washboarding. Sure enough brood box was firing on all cylinders. All 5 I checked, queen had room to lay, no back filling brood with nectar or pollen,weren’t crowded perfect. My other hives needed addressing ie over crowded with pollen, honey bound , no room. Last week had two doing it and lots of pollen coming in. Will let them be just keep adding honey supers.
Hey Jim, Thanks for reaching out! Wife had some medical stuff come up and it's kept me busy. I have attentions to get back to my routine very soon. Thanks again, it means a lot that you checked in!!
Since it got so hot, so early here in central VA....I've not been able to get nearly as much drawn comb as I've wanted in my splits. Then nectar flow came in heavy and early, so I was suspicious of it ending early. Our drought ain't helping. Was getting ready to reduce entrances here very soon. I'll keep an eye out on washboarding too.
My nucs can be rather close together and they are all painted similarly so I use blue painters tape to make different patterns so the bees know which hive to go into, but when they start wash boarding they remove the tape. I'm guessing it's some sort of cleaning or polishing they are doing. It would be interesting to see if your bees do the same as what ours do if you wanted to experiment. Thanks for sharing!
Yep. I've seen to polish off old paint chips so I can see them also removing tape. I guess we shouldn't be too surprised they do remove paper from the hive from pollen patties and when we combined hives. Bees are amazing!! Using the tape is a great idea though, it would great help with drifting. Some people even rotate the direction every other hive faces which also works well.
Had some robbers attack a large Carny hive already in Central Pa. Not sure what the robbers were thinking ,wasn't a huge entrance or small colony. Carnys killed 30-40 robbers before they gave up. Its really weird, had a weak colony next door that they could have overpowered. I'll take the win.
Hi Jason The weather is the same here in Northern Kentucky HOT 🥵 I’v caught three swarms this year and have bees and all eight of my hives. Done an inspection last week they all seem to be doing very well two of the hives. I did not see any brewed eggs or larvae in them so I put another frame of eggs and larvae in hopes that they would make a queen. We still have a lot of clover bloomed. I’m thinking we still may have a couple weeks of nectar flow left. I would like to get some of the robin screens that was in your video. Can you send me a link for them or let me know where you buy them thanks man good seeing you again, keep up the great work
Hey Rick, Sounds like you've had a busy season this far. I hope you get them hives queen right soon. The robbing screen I shared in the video is not available right now, just checked! It's from New Zealand. Here is a nice one though blythewoodbeecompany.com/products/bee-smart-robbing-screen?_pos=1&_psq=robb&_ss=e&_v=1.0 I also have this robbing screen and it works very well. Glad you enjoyed the video! Have a great week!
I use reversable bottom boards on my colonies. the only time I take the reducers off completely in in the winter. the winter setting is too narrow for them anyway. robbing secreens saved a colony last summer not from other bees bur from yellow jackets.
I don't like to make splits after July if I can keep from it. I usually start mid July making splits to overwinter and sell. Those splits are 3 brood frame splits, with 1 pollen and 1 nectar frame. Once they have a laying queen I will add a 2nd five frame box for the colony to grow into.
5:30 washboarding, after years of bee keeping I am amazed when see something new I love it line dancing but WHY? is it like you said they are closing the place down because the nectar flow is stopping, so kewl. or you just got some crazy bees at your hives?
I can't rule that out but I don't recall that many bees landing on the hive to enter the entrance, they landed on the landed board where they don't seem to be polishing. Weird, right?
Thank you, JC. Stay frosty.
From UK, Thanks, great tip on washboarding. I will watch out for this.
You're welcome! I'd love to hear your thoughts after you watch your bees.
Years ago read that it means hive is content. So I did inspections on five hives that were washboarding. Sure enough brood box was firing on all cylinders. All 5 I checked, queen had room to lay, no back filling brood with nectar or pollen,weren’t crowded perfect. My other hives needed addressing ie over crowded with pollen, honey bound , no room. Last week had two doing it and lots of pollen coming in. Will let them be just keep adding honey supers.
Isn't it weird though that the hives would only be "content" maybe twice a year with that theory, (before dearth and Fall)?
Threw me back to my Army days with that cadence song lol!! Ain’t heard that in a while 😂
Awesome! Love it!!
All ways good info on this guy jason Chrisman
I appreciate that, Brian!
morning to you jason, hope all is good, not seen a video for while , pray your just to busy at the minute,, best to you,,
Hey Jim, Thanks for reaching out! Wife had some medical stuff come up and it's kept me busy. I have attentions to get back to my routine very soon.
Thanks again, it means a lot that you checked in!!
@@JCsBees morning,, get feeling better soon, hope all is good,,
Thank you for the video and bee cool.
Since it got so hot, so early here in central VA....I've not been able to get nearly as much drawn comb as I've wanted in my splits. Then nectar flow came in heavy and early, so I was suspicious of it ending early. Our drought ain't helping. Was getting ready to reduce entrances here very soon. I'll keep an eye out on washboarding too.
Sounds like you need the rain like we do. The heat last week surely dried up the grow. Best of luck with the bees!
My nucs can be rather close together and they are all painted similarly so I use blue painters tape to make different patterns so the bees know which hive to go into, but when they start wash boarding they remove the tape. I'm guessing it's some sort of cleaning or polishing they are doing. It would be interesting to see if your bees do the same as what ours do if you wanted to experiment. Thanks for sharing!
Yep. I've seen to polish off old paint chips so I can see them also removing tape. I guess we shouldn't be too surprised they do remove paper from the hive from pollen patties and when we combined hives. Bees are amazing!!
Using the tape is a great idea though, it would great help with drifting. Some people even rotate the direction every other hive faces which also works well.
Had some robbers attack a large Carny hive already in Central Pa. Not sure what the robbers were thinking ,wasn't a huge entrance or small colony. Carnys killed 30-40 robbers before they gave up. Its really weird, had a weak colony next door that they could have overpowered.
I'll take the win.
Hi Jason
The weather is the same here in Northern Kentucky HOT 🥵
I’v caught three swarms this year and have bees and all eight of my hives. Done an inspection last week they all seem to be doing very well two of the hives. I did not see any brewed eggs or larvae in them so I put another frame of eggs and larvae in hopes that they would make a queen. We still have a lot of clover bloomed. I’m thinking we still may have a couple weeks of nectar flow left. I would like to get some of the robin screens that was in your video. Can you send me a link for them or let me know where you buy them thanks man good seeing you again, keep up the great work
Hey Rick, Sounds like you've had a busy season this far. I hope you get them hives queen right soon. The robbing screen I shared in the video is not available right now, just checked! It's from New Zealand. Here is a nice one though blythewoodbeecompany.com/products/bee-smart-robbing-screen?_pos=1&_psq=robb&_ss=e&_v=1.0
I also have this robbing screen and it works very well. Glad you enjoyed the video! Have a great week!
I use reversable bottom boards on my colonies. the only time I take the reducers off completely in in the winter. the winter setting is too narrow for them anyway. robbing secreens saved a colony last summer not from other bees bur from yellow jackets.
In ohio from your experience when is the final best time to stop doing splits? How big of splits?
I don't like to make splits after July if I can keep from it. I usually start mid July making splits to overwinter and sell. Those splits are 3 brood frame splits, with 1 pollen and 1 nectar frame. Once they have a laying queen I will add a 2nd five frame box for the colony to grow into.
My yard is loaded with durch clover
5:30 washboarding, after years of bee keeping I am amazed when see something new I love it line dancing but WHY? is it like you said they are closing the place down because the nectar flow is stopping, so kewl. or you just got some crazy bees at your hives?
Could it be they are cleaning up any nectar that is on the entrance to help prevent robbing
That’s exactly what I was going to say.
I can't rule that out but I don't recall that many bees landing on the hive to enter the entrance, they landed on the landed board where they don't seem to be polishing. Weird, right?
Name of the robbing screen? Where to buy?
Might be low where they are foraging.