I want to thank you for this timely presentation! Lots of beekeepers will be coming into spring and are faced with cleaning out dead-outs etc. I've received a question regarding cleaning poly hives, and as always I like to look around to see if someone has already covered the topic. So, you've done an excellent job and I'll be sending my viewers your way on Friday during my Q&A. I wish you all the best!
Thanks Fred! I always get SO excited when I see a comment pop up from you! 😀 Glad you thought it was useful and many thanks for pointing people over to the channel. Its very much appreciated 🙏 👍
You mention adding soda crystals to the mix. Our local bee inspector said not to do that as it counteracts the bleach. Instead to wash and scrub in soda crystal solution then rinse and dry. THEN use the bleach bath.
I collected a nest a few weeks ago and put them into a 6 frame poly nuc but failed to get the queen however they made some queen cells and I assumed they would requeen no problem however, all the brood has now hatched with no eggs or brood left in the comb that framed up. It's been over 7 days of the queen cells being capped so I'm assuming they're all failed queen's and the cells will just be full of gooey stuff? So here comes my predicament, they're British black bee but I cannot find any queen suppliers that have mated British black queen bees in stock... Can I put a mated buckfast in there? Will they accept her or probs kill her? Sorry if that is a dumb question.
Great video once again thank you for the sodium hydrochloride tip! Can I suggest an idea. What about using wheelie bin cut to size plywood and a breeze block? Possibly do 2 or 3 boxes at once..
Hi Laurence, please can you send me the Sodium Hydrochlorite ratios. I think I can get it from Amazon, I have a few Hives and nucs which I want to clean up
Could you post a link for those plastic boxes you were using? You mentioned posting a link but there doesn’t seem to be one. Just lost a nuc ( swarm captured start of August) to what appears to be paralysis virus, need to clean out the poly nuc they were in. Will have to chuck the frames unfortunately.
Are you using the 150 litre Wham Bam boxes? How much cleaning soda do you use per box? I’m going to try the 62 litre box on my poly nucs since I’ve been using them for swarm catches and they’re pretty grubby
Hi Lawrence, thanks for video. Not sure if you have done one yet...but could you do a trial on supplements, specifically ones you add to sugar syrup when feeding up for the winter?
Could you open the bottle underwater then slowly tip the bottle 90 degrees and lift out. You should be able to do it without splashing but still ware protection.
Is it realistic at scale ? . If you had 50+ boxes to clean and sterilise it would either take a huge amount of baths or to much time ( both) is just pressure washing enough for the cleaning as they don’t need to be perfect . Is there away where you use a hand spray bottle to spray a sterilising solution on after . Line them all up and spray them down and wait 24 hours ?
Suggestion. Why not use a steam cleaner? Many of us already have them for housekeeping and steaming hot water costs virtually nothing, is environmentally friendly and I can’t imagine anything nasty surviving a good blast of steam. My poly hives don’t mind the steam at all. 🙂🐝
Steam won't penetrate the joints. You've got to go some to get a flame in to scorch the corners; note the industrial size of the flame kit Laurence uses. A friend of mine has just had her apiary contents burnt by the bee inspectors because she thought a standard blow lamp would sterilise her secod-hand kit. It didn't kill the AFB spores that killed her bees. Please don't try short cuts with AFB.
I want to thank you for this timely presentation! Lots of beekeepers will be coming into spring and are faced with cleaning out dead-outs etc. I've received a question regarding cleaning poly hives, and as always I like to look around to see if someone has already covered the topic. So, you've done an excellent job and I'll be sending my viewers your way on Friday during my Q&A. I wish you all the best!
Thanks Fred! I always get SO excited when I see a comment pop up from you! 😀
Glad you thought it was useful and many thanks for pointing people over to the channel. Its very much appreciated 🙏 👍
@@BlackMountainHoney Absolutely, you're providing great information, and I'm happy to share.
Hi Lawrence, what's the requirements to dispose of the solution after use & can you use same solution for more than 1 box?
Exactly what I was thinking.
Do you need to get rid of the solution or can you use it next season
You mention adding soda crystals to the mix. Our local bee inspector said not to do that as it counteracts the bleach. Instead to wash and scrub in soda crystal solution then rinse and dry. THEN use the bleach bath.
Hello Lawrence, I watch you often, but for this one, Fred sent me! Thanks for posting, Brice
So kind of Fred to send viewers my way! A true beekeeping legend 👏 🙌 ❤️
@@BlackMountainHoney As a 3rd year beekeeper, Fred is among the 'go to guys and gals' for knowledge.
Popped over from Frederick Dunn Channel
Thanks Kenneth! 😊
Looks liked a perfect solution (excuse the pun!) but does this remove the old propolis and wax too or did you pre-treat in a soda solution?
Hi Laurence
Nice video.
Do you keep the mix or get rid of it ? What do you do with the used mix ?
Heard Miltons steriliser tablets are pretty good too. One tablet per 5 litres of water, done in 15 mins but can be left for 24 hours plus
How do you dispose of the litres of chemical bath solution afterwards?
I was also wondering this.
So was I.
How long can you use the liquid for and how do you dispose of it.
What are the plastic boxes you are cleaning them in? they look a pretty good size!
150l from Charlies. They are really good
Thanks! @@BlackMountainHoney
I collected a nest a few weeks ago and put them into a 6 frame poly nuc but failed to get the queen however they made some queen cells and I assumed they would requeen no problem however, all the brood has now hatched with no eggs or brood left in the comb that framed up.
It's been over 7 days of the queen cells being capped so I'm assuming they're all failed queen's and the cells will just be full of gooey stuff?
So here comes my predicament, they're British black bee but I cannot find any queen suppliers that have mated British black queen bees in stock... Can I put a mated buckfast in there? Will they accept her or probs kill her?
Sorry if that is a dumb question.
Do you think this solution would also be suitable, and safe, for cleaning and sterilising frames once they have had the wax comb removed?
professor fred sent me i like your channel but I dont have plastic hives still good though
Thanks for stopping by. We use wood and poly hives 😀
Could you please post the link for the clipped boxes? Thanks
Fred sent me. Thanks
Thanks for stopping by Jim 😀
Thanks for the video, can I ask how often you change the solution, it isn’t each time you use it?
Great video once again thank you for the sodium hydrochloride tip! Can I suggest an idea. What about using wheelie bin cut to size plywood and a breeze block? Possibly do 2 or 3 boxes at once..
Hi Laurence, please can you send me the Sodium Hydrochlorite ratios. I think I can get it from Amazon, I have a few Hives and nucs which I want to clean up
I buy mine from Jennychem
What are the dimensions of the boxes you buy from Charlie's
Could you post a link for those plastic boxes you were using? You mentioned posting a link but there doesn’t seem to be one.
Just lost a nuc ( swarm captured start of August) to what appears to be paralysis virus, need to clean out the poly nuc they were in. Will have to chuck the frames unfortunately.
Are you using the 150 litre Wham Bam boxes? How much cleaning soda do you use per box? I’m going to try the 62 litre box on my poly nucs since I’ve been using them for swarm catches and they’re pretty grubby
Could you share the link gor the supplier of the boxes please
Thanks for the tip. How many times do you use the solution before making up new?
Hi Lawrence, thanks for video. Not sure if you have done one yet...but could you do a trial on supplements, specifically ones you add to sugar syrup when feeding up for the winter?
What was the link to the boxes from Charlies please?
Lawrence can I ask does the solution and pressure washing take the Abelo paint off thanks
Nope. Doesn't budge at all. I don't pressure wash the exterior. Just hose it off
Could you open the bottle underwater then slowly tip the bottle 90 degrees and lift out. You should be able to do it without splashing but still ware protection.
Is it realistic at scale ? . If you had 50+ boxes to clean and sterilise it would either take a huge amount of baths or to much time ( both) is just pressure washing enough for the cleaning as they don’t need to be perfect . Is there away where you use a hand spray bottle to spray a sterilising solution on after . Line them all up and spray them down and wait 24 hours ?
Have you got a link for the bleach and the boxes? Thanks
Do you mean sodium hypochlorite?
I do indeed. I knew the chemist would pick me up on that 😉
Luckily it says it on the label 🏷 😊
I think you are saying sodium hydrochlorite. There’s no such thing. NBU recommends sodium hypochlorite
Have you tried the Omlet Beehaus ? It would be good if you could review one and make a series on it
Garden poot tablets will also be an option. Will this work for old empty frames? I now boil them but that is a big scary job
Suggestion. Why not use a steam cleaner? Many of us already have them for housekeeping and steaming hot water costs virtually nothing, is environmentally friendly and I can’t imagine anything nasty surviving a good blast of steam. My poly hives don’t mind the steam at all. 🙂🐝
Steam won't penetrate the joints. You've got to go some to get a flame in to scorch the corners; note the industrial size of the flame kit Laurence uses. A friend of mine has just had her apiary contents burnt by the bee inspectors because she thought a standard blow lamp would sterilise her secod-hand kit. It didn't kill the AFB spores that killed her bees. Please don't try short cuts with AFB.
😊@@davestokes3446
Mbu? Is the same process okay for wood?
One part solution plus four parts water is a one in five dilution.
I say its a 4:1 solution ;)
Z
I heard microwave might kill afb on polyhives but don't think there is any research here in the UK. Burning only option atm.