Hi!!! I am mike from spain. I just have started with the beekeping. I am constructing my own hives mixing this and the old japanese ones. Taking ideas from all parts even from oscar perone and his nicarao hive... It's true that this kind of hiven produces less honey but this you can solve this easy... Put more hives!!! Greattings!!!
Nice video. I am already a Warre Hive fan, with two hives. You have given an excellent exposition of why Warre is a good idea for the recreational home beekeeper. All my boxes have a full size end glass viewing window because it is such a great way to check the hive health.
Thank you for sharing this. My wife and I were considering having a beehive one day and this looks like an interesting alternative to the commercial ones that we are familiar with. We prefer to have things as close to nature as possible and the warre beehive seems to do that.
Years ago I wanted to get into bee keeping and remember deciding upon a Warre setup if I ever get the chance to do it- it just seemed like the most natural way to go. I subscribed to you channel. If you have a list of Warre book resources etc to share, that would be nice. Greetings from New England, USA 🙂
Yes, there are a lot of places that don't like the warre hive because you really can't inspect them in the traditional way. I think for the backyard beekeeper they are a great option. You have to spend more time outside the hive observing but that's a relaxing way to spend your time if you ask me! Thanks for the comment!
Who knows? I’m here in New England and even though I’m not ready to start bee keeping, all my past research kept pointing me to the Warre Hive and even Top Bar Hives. They seem to be just much less work and messing about than Langstroth units. When I get to the point, it will be Warre and Top Bar units for me.
Thanks for the comment! The one that talks about observing outside the hive is called "At the Hive Entrance" by H. Storch. It's a really old book but still really good. The other one I like is "The Barefoot Beekeeper" by Phil Chandler. That one talks about top bar hives in general and is a great resource. Enjoy!
Thanks for the excellent breakdown of some of the the aspects specific to this hive. I found this really helpful as a someone new & curious to getting into recreational beekeeping in order to make a better informed decision on whether or not to pursue this! I've been transforming over the past few years to quite a bit of a green thumber with ever-growing gardens to fit my ever-growing hobby. So the next thing to naturally follow is newfound admiration for all the work the honeybees do! I've heard a lot of cautionary tales about attempting beekeeping for profit (which I'm not so much interested in as am I with the enjoyment of having a personal colony of bees), with people getting suckered in by deceptively low up-front costs, so obviously can't help but be cautious. From what little I've read, it seems that Langstroth only became popular due to its design favoring high honey yielding beekeeping models that are only sustainable (even then, barely) at their commercial level. When hearing the frequency of issues relating to disease & death (ie the rate of increase of CCD as well as chronic mite issues), I started to get suspicious of the "status quo" of beekeeping due to environmental changes being such a key player in triggering vulnerabilities to infection or adverse chemical reactions (such as hormonal or phermonal disruptions or excess stress responses) triggering a state of illness. The Warre seems like a good compromise between having consistent albeit lower harvests and maintaining the colony in an environment most close to their natural (and healthier) state. Looking forward to learning more about this method of beekeeping!
Yes, I completely agree! I did a ton of research before landing on this kind of hive. The top bars give the bees lots of freedom to build how they want. The vertical design is especially good in cooler climates. There is a vertical top bar hive that they use in Africa because its hotter. This still gives you the top bar but it could be easier to manage in that you don't need to put new boxes underneath. Check it out! There are some good books out there on both types of top bar hives.
Oh right, I meant to do that! The original book is available online and is “The People’s Hive” by Abbe Emile Warre. The other ones I like are “At the Hive Entrance “ by H.Storch. This one tells you how to observe the outside of your hive to know what’s going on inside. Lastly “The Barefoot Beekeeper “ by Philip Chandler. He talks about top bar hives in general.
Awesome Video I have been treatment free for 20 years The bit where you say some people think the bees are going to come after them. I totally agree with you. How ever there are some bees that if you sit with in 10 feet of the front they will send the guards outs. Some will patrol a 30 foot radius. It all depends on race of honey bee as well. I tell people to learn to read their hives and only sit there if they are calm like when there is a good pollen and nectar flow on, No robbing etc
That's totally true! I had a hive where I could barely get within 10 feet and they were bumping my head! Also true when wasps were robbing. But, the vast majority of my bees have been quite calm as long as you approach them calmly. I think ther is a big misconception that bees are naturally aggressive, totally not true! Thanks for watching!
Agree 100% I meant to mention that some times bees will be angry after robbing aswell. Some Hornets are nocturnal and they can really stir up a hive. Then bee keepers make a mistake thinking they have suddenly gone aggressive. Your channel is totally awesome by the way.
I’ve seen people do something similar, that would definitely help! Fortunately for me I have a strong husband who helps me out! Thanks for watching. Let me know if there’s other topics you’d like to see!
Hi Amanda, thanks for a great video! I'm just starting into backyard natural beekeeping. I think that the non-interventionalist approach is the way to go. I'm wondering if I should use a horizontal top bar or the warre...any thoughts? Thanks 😊
Hello there and thanks for the comment. I would say the choice between a horizontal or warre type hive depends on your climate. The horizontal hive is better for a hot climate as it dissipates heat better. The warre hive is better for a cold or damp climate as it insulates and manages moisture. So, whichever suits your area better would be a good choice. Best of luck!
Hi, Thanks for the information.... I have just ordered a Warre Hive. I live in New Brunswick.... cold winters. My question is... are you part of a Warre club or community.... for sharing information? If yes, can I join.... if no... let's start one.... and can you suggest any good reference material? I do have the original Warre beekeeping book already. More videos please.... Thanks again.
Hello there! Congrats on ordering your hive! I agree that finding information on this type of beekeeping is harder to find. I am on a couple of Facebook groups about bees one is Ontario Natural Beekeeping and the other is Warre Beekeeping. It's worldwide so the climate is definitely different but better than nothing. You should join! About reference material the Warre book is good, you can also look at “At the Hive Entrance “ by H.Storch. This one tells you how to observe the outside of your hive to know what’s going on inside. Lastly “The Barefoot Beekeeper “ by Philip Chandler. He talks about top bar hives in general.
I like your content. Thanks for sharing. Also, is it possible for you turn up the recording volume on your mike? I'm a little hard of hearing, and even with my volume up all the way its difficult to hear a lot of what you're saying. Seems to be recorded on lowest volume. Thanks!
Very nice video! Thank you for that, Amanda. Keep sharing your insights and experience:) I might add another very useful source of inspiration to yours - publications by an Austrian beekeeper Johann Thür.
I think I have heard of him but I will look it up, thanks! There are not as many resources for this type of beekeeping so we have to share what we have! Thanks for watching!
Great video! We're just north of Huntsville in Ontario and are wanting to add bees to our homestead. I'll probably get plans and build my own boxes from full 1" pine, where did you source your nuc from and how far north are you? I'm thinking of winters up here and I don't see any electric fence around yours for bears.
I actually get a package of bees from a place in Innisfil, not too far from you guys. innisfilcreekhoney.com/. We're in Burlington so it's a little further south. You might want to wrap your hive in the winter. Good luck and thanks for the comment!
How oftend do you find your hives swarming? From what I've read is that Warre hives are less likely to swarm due to overcrowding. Is that something you can agree on or is this merely anecdotal?
I think that as long as the bees think they have enough space they are less likely to swarm. That being said it is a natural instinct for a hive to "reproduce" by way of a swarm. So, I think it isn't always necessary to try to prevent a swarm as it increases wild bee populations. However, if you are in a city that might not be appreciated by your neighbors! Then you can keep adding boxes or even split your warre hive to try to prevent a swarm. I haven't ever made a split but apparently you can! Thanks for watching!
Hi there and thank you for your video. I need help with a situation. Last winter, 2021/2022 my bees made it thru the winter. I am in the UP of MI. But in the early spring we had a melt and freeze and the blanket I had around them caught the water and backed it up into the bottom box probably about half way up. It seemed like once spring hit the bees swarmed. I had checked the hive and it was abandoned. So I left it to deal with it later because I was busy with work and gardens. Really bummed. So I returned to deal with the hive, clean it and get ready to buy a package the next spring but there were bees in it again. This was mid to late summer. I don’t know where they came from but I was happy and when fall approached I fed them because I was worried about them having enough stores to get thru the winter. They made it and now I am wanting to remove the bottom box so that I can replace it with a clean box and base. The comb in the bottom box looks like it is all brown and moldy. They just have 2 boxes and the bottom looks empty right now. I was going to swap it out once our temps get a bit higher. But I am worried the top comb will be stuck to the bottom bars and rip everything apart. I’m also worried they will get mad and swarm from so much disturbance. Or I will be removing brood or something they need/want. It’s only my 3rd spring with bees and I am learning every year. But there isn’t anyone around me with warre hives so I don’t really have anyone to get advice from. I would so greatly appreciate some help or advice with this situation.
Hello Julie, no worries we can absolutely chat about this! It's hard to find a resource for warre beekeeping that is specific to your own climate. It looks like to me your weather would be similar. I am in zone 5b, is that close to yours? Sounds like last year you got a swarm to move in, congratulations! Anyway, I agree removing a box with moldy comb is a good idea, although apparently bees can deal with this. The box above shouldn't be attached to the bottom one as they always leave space between so they can move around. I think you will be fine to switch it out. They shouldn't swarm if you wait until its a bit warmer because they already will have brood and don't tend to abandon them. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions!
Hello and thanks for asking! I actually have a video about how I get my hives ready for winter. Check it out if you like! The most important thing for us is the mouse guard. It also keeps out voles that will eat your bees and I lost a hive to this before! ruclips.net/video/jeJz6abn2PY/видео.html
Excellent info but one question please. Do you use the one-way bee board a few days before you remove the top box ? As I understand it, you slide a thin board or plate between the top and second box which is fitted with a one-way door so that the bees have enough time to move down and so can't go back up to the top box which you are about to harvest ?
Yes, I do use a bee escape board. It really reduces the number of bees you have to remove when you harvest. I usually carry the box into my garage to harvest. Otherwise the bees won’t leave me alone!
Do you have any titles to recommend regarding the books you mentioned about telling what is going on inside the hive by watching the outside? I would be interested to do some more research there and my only written source about that so far is Warrés book.
I would recommend the book "At the Hive Entrance" by H. Storch. This is the only book I have found that addresses observing the hive. The other book I like is "Natural Beekeeping with the Warre Hive" by D. Heaf. Those are good resources for the warre hives. Thanks for the comment and best of luck beekeeping!
I'm guessing you don't inspect for disease (?). Couldn't you just get a normal Langstroth-type hive and not open it until you want honey? Is warre beekeeping really beekeeping, or more like providing a home for bees then taking some honey during the year?
Hello there, it's true we don't normally open the hive to inspect for disease. I do watch the activity at the hive entrance and I have windows at the back where I check how they are progressing. I am going to get a screened bottom board for next season so I can monitor for mites. It's true that warre beekeeping is less about the honey and more about a home for bees. It's designed to have a smaller box size that mimics the size of a tree cavity, supposed to be easier for bees to maintain temp and humidity. I suppose you could try something similar in a Langstroth type if you had top bars for it? Hmm. Interesting thought! Happy beekeeping!
Hi Damanda .. love the video . Can I ask you. I have just had a warre since late May . We got a new captured swarm , they laid comb down . we went through the June gap, and since then they have been very active. I am wondering if and when I should take a box off. Is there a rule of thumb to go by ? I'm a newbie by the way . John
I think when you can take a box off depends on how much honey your bees need to get through the winter. Here in southern Canada I like them to have at least one full box but preferably two. Sometimes I actually harvest in the spring when I know there’s extra.
Hello there and thanks for the comment! I have purchased mine just for ease. I'm certain I could build one and there are plans out there for the warre hive. Maybe if I ever retire I can try my hand at building one! Are you thinking of building one? That would be awesome!
Hello there, the two books I really like are The Barefoot Beekeeper by Philip Chandler, and At The Hive Entrance by H. Storch. Then also the Peoples Hive by Emile Warre, that's the original book! Thanks for the comment!
This is one of the best presentations I have seen yet!
Thanks so much!
Hi!!! I am mike from spain. I just have started with the beekeping. I am constructing my own hives mixing this and the old japanese ones. Taking ideas from all parts even from oscar perone and his nicarao hive... It's true that this kind of hiven produces less honey but this you can solve this easy... Put more hives!!! Greattings!!!
I like to think of the honey as just a bonus, its the pollination that I really want for my fruit and vegetables. Good luck!!!!
Nice video. I am already a Warre Hive fan, with two hives. You have given an excellent exposition of why Warre is a good idea for the recreational home beekeeper. All my boxes have a full size end glass viewing window because it is such a great way to check the hive health.
Thanks! We have so few pollinators this year, I wish everyone would have one of these in their backyard!
I’m contemplating going with the Warre’. I like the natural idea of this hive.
Thank you for sharing this. My wife and I were considering having a beehive one day and this looks like an interesting alternative to the commercial ones that we are familiar with. We prefer to have things as close to nature as possible and the warre beehive seems to do that.
I think it’s a great option especially on a small scale. There are some great books to read to learn more!
This is close to the Japanese way of Bee Keeping , small hive boxes , greater number of boxes . Videos of the Japanese system is on You Tube .
Years ago I wanted to get into bee keeping and remember deciding upon a Warre setup if I ever get the chance to do it- it just seemed like the most natural way to go. I subscribed to you channel. If you have a list of Warre book resources etc to share, that would be nice. Greetings from New England, USA 🙂
Thanks and good luck! I agree that this is a natural way to go, the bees just seem happier and less stressed. Have a great day!
Love your vids. These hives are so frowned upon in maine. I love them along with my pile hive. Thank you
Yes, there are a lot of places that don't like the warre hive because you really can't inspect them in the traditional way. I think for the backyard beekeeper they are a great option. You have to spend more time outside the hive observing but that's a relaxing way to spend your time if you ask me! Thanks for the comment!
I'm in Maine also, why are they frowned upon. I had already determined this is the hive I'm going to build
Who knows? I’m here in New England and even though I’m not ready to start bee keeping, all my past research kept pointing me to the Warre Hive and even Top Bar Hives. They seem to be just much less work and messing about than Langstroth units. When I get to the point, it will be Warre and Top Bar units for me.
Love your video! Could you share some of the books that talk about being observant outside the hive. Would love to learn more. Thanks!
Thanks for the comment! The one that talks about observing outside the hive is called "At the Hive Entrance" by H. Storch. It's a really old book but still really good. The other one I like is "The Barefoot Beekeeper" by Phil Chandler. That one talks about top bar hives in general and is a great resource. Enjoy!
wery interesting . greatings from Lithuania
Thanks, nice to hear from you!
Thanks for the excellent breakdown of some of the the aspects specific to this hive. I found this really helpful as a someone new & curious to getting into recreational beekeeping in order to make a better informed decision on whether or not to pursue this! I've been transforming over the past few years to quite a bit of a green thumber with ever-growing gardens to fit my ever-growing hobby. So the next thing to naturally follow is newfound admiration for all the work the honeybees do!
I've heard a lot of cautionary tales about attempting beekeeping for profit (which I'm not so much interested in as am I with the enjoyment of having a personal colony of bees), with people getting suckered in by deceptively low up-front costs, so obviously can't help but be cautious. From what little I've read, it seems that Langstroth only became popular due to its design favoring high honey yielding beekeeping models that are only sustainable (even then, barely) at their commercial level. When hearing the frequency of issues relating to disease & death (ie the rate of increase of CCD as well as chronic mite issues), I started to get suspicious of the "status quo" of beekeeping due to environmental changes being such a key player in triggering vulnerabilities to infection or adverse chemical reactions (such as hormonal or phermonal disruptions or excess stress responses) triggering a state of illness. The Warre seems like a good compromise between having consistent albeit lower harvests and maintaining the colony in an environment most close to their natural (and healthier) state.
Looking forward to learning more about this method of beekeeping!
Yes, I completely agree! I did a ton of research before landing on this kind of hive. The top bars give the bees lots of freedom to build how they want. The vertical design is especially good in cooler climates. There is a vertical top bar hive that they use in Africa because its hotter. This still gives you the top bar but it could be easier to manage in that you don't need to put new boxes underneath. Check it out! There are some good books out there on both types of top bar hives.
Thank you so much for this video! You’ve done such an excellent job summarizing the warre design. Can you list some of the books you mentioned ?
Oh right, I meant to do that! The original book is available online and is “The People’s Hive” by Abbe Emile Warre. The other ones I like are “At the Hive Entrance “ by H.Storch. This one tells you how to observe the outside of your hive to know what’s going on inside. Lastly “The Barefoot Beekeeper “ by Philip Chandler. He talks about top bar hives in general.
Awesome Video I have been treatment free for 20 years The bit where you say some people think the bees are going to come after them. I totally agree with you. How ever there are some bees that if you sit with in 10 feet of the front they will send the guards outs. Some will patrol a 30 foot radius. It all depends on race of honey bee as well. I tell people to learn to read their hives and only sit there if they are calm like when there is a good pollen and nectar flow on, No robbing etc
That's totally true! I had a hive where I could barely get within 10 feet and they were bumping my head! Also true when wasps were robbing. But, the vast majority of my bees have been quite calm as long as you approach them calmly. I think ther is a big misconception that bees are naturally aggressive, totally not true! Thanks for watching!
Agree 100% I meant to mention that some times bees will be angry after robbing aswell. Some Hornets are nocturnal and they can really stir up a hive. Then bee keepers make a mistake thinking they have suddenly gone aggressive. Your channel is totally awesome by the way.
Japanese bee keepers use a "Hive lifter" to add boxes at the bottom?
Hello there and thanks for the comment. A hive lifter definitely would be a necessity if I was doing this by myself. It's a great invention!
You're super pretty ❤
Oh thank you!
I agree with you 100%
Thanks for the comment! I completely agree that Warre is the way to go, much more natural for the bees.
They sell a Dolly that lifts boxes. Saw it on Japanese beekeeper channel
I’ve seen people do something similar, that would definitely help! Fortunately for me I have a strong husband who helps me out! Thanks for watching. Let me know if there’s other topics you’d like to see!
Hi Amanda, thanks for a great video! I'm just starting into backyard natural beekeeping. I think that the non-interventionalist approach is the way to go. I'm wondering if I should use a horizontal top bar or the warre...any thoughts? Thanks 😊
Hello there and thanks for the comment. I would say the choice between a horizontal or warre type hive depends on your climate. The horizontal hive is better for a hot climate as it dissipates heat better. The warre hive is better for a cold or damp climate as it insulates and manages moisture. So, whichever suits your area better would be a good choice. Best of luck!
आप बहुत अच्छा ज्ञान देती हैं
Thanks!
Hi, Thanks for the information.... I have just ordered a Warre Hive. I live in New Brunswick.... cold winters. My question is... are you part of a Warre club or community.... for sharing information? If yes, can I join.... if no... let's start one.... and can you suggest any good reference material? I do have the original Warre beekeeping book already. More videos please.... Thanks again.
Hello there! Congrats on ordering your hive! I agree that finding information on this type of beekeeping is harder to find. I am on a couple of Facebook groups about bees one is Ontario Natural Beekeeping and the other is Warre Beekeeping. It's worldwide so the climate is definitely different but better than nothing. You should join! About reference material the Warre book is good, you can also look at “At the Hive Entrance “ by H.Storch. This one tells you how to observe the outside of your hive to know what’s going on inside. Lastly “The Barefoot Beekeeper “ by Philip Chandler. He talks about top bar hives in general.
I like your content. Thanks for sharing. Also, is it possible for you turn up the recording volume on your mike? I'm a little hard of hearing, and even with my volume up all the way its difficult to hear a lot of what you're saying. Seems to be recorded on lowest volume. Thanks!
I have heard that comment a few times. Thanks for the feedback, I will see what I can do!
Very nice video! Thank you for that, Amanda. Keep sharing your insights and experience:)
I might add another very useful source of inspiration to yours - publications by an Austrian beekeeper Johann Thür.
I think I have heard of him but I will look it up, thanks! There are not as many resources for this type of beekeeping so we have to share what we have! Thanks for watching!
Great video! We're just north of Huntsville in Ontario and are wanting to add bees to our homestead. I'll probably get plans and build my own boxes from full 1" pine, where did you source your nuc from and how far north are you? I'm thinking of winters up here and I don't see any electric fence around yours for bears.
I actually get a package of bees from a place in Innisfil, not too far from you guys. innisfilcreekhoney.com/. We're in Burlington so it's a little further south. You might want to wrap your hive in the winter. Good luck and thanks for the comment!
Volume seems loud enough to me.
Great video. Do you know where to purchase that hive tool please? thank you 🙂
Here's where I got mine! beebuilt.com/products/ultimate-top-bar-hive-tool
How oftend do you find your hives swarming? From what I've read is that Warre hives are less likely to swarm due to overcrowding. Is that something you can agree on or is this merely anecdotal?
I think that as long as the bees think they have enough space they are less likely to swarm. That being said it is a natural instinct for a hive to "reproduce" by way of a swarm. So, I think it isn't always necessary to try to prevent a swarm as it increases wild bee populations. However, if you are in a city that might not be appreciated by your neighbors! Then you can keep adding boxes or even split your warre hive to try to prevent a swarm. I haven't ever made a split but apparently you can! Thanks for watching!
Hi there and thank you for your video. I need help with a situation. Last winter, 2021/2022 my bees made it thru the winter. I am in the UP of MI. But in the early spring we had a melt and freeze and the blanket I had around them caught the water and backed it up into the bottom box probably about half way up. It seemed like once spring hit the bees swarmed. I had checked the hive and it was abandoned. So I left it to deal with it later because I was busy with work and gardens. Really bummed. So I returned to deal with the hive, clean it and get ready to buy a package the next spring but there were bees in it again. This was mid to late summer. I don’t know where they came from but I was happy and when fall approached I fed them because I was worried about them having enough stores to get thru the winter. They made it and now I am wanting to remove the bottom box so that I can replace it with a clean box and base. The comb in the bottom box looks like it is all brown and moldy. They just have 2 boxes and the bottom looks empty right now. I was going to swap it out once our temps get a bit higher. But I am worried the top comb will be stuck to the bottom bars and rip everything apart. I’m also worried they will get mad and swarm from so much disturbance. Or I will be removing brood or something they need/want. It’s only my 3rd spring with bees and I am learning every year. But there isn’t anyone around me with warre hives so I don’t really have anyone to get advice from. I would so greatly appreciate some help or advice with this situation.
Hello Julie, no worries we can absolutely chat about this! It's hard to find a resource for warre beekeeping that is specific to your own climate. It looks like to me your weather would be similar. I am in zone 5b, is that close to yours? Sounds like last year you got a swarm to move in, congratulations! Anyway, I agree removing a box with moldy comb is a good idea, although apparently bees can deal with this. The box above shouldn't be attached to the bottom one as they always leave space between so they can move around. I think you will be fine to switch it out. They shouldn't swarm if you wait until its a bit warmer because they already will have brood and don't tend to abandon them. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions!
How do you over winter your bees?
Hello and thanks for asking! I actually have a video about how I get my hives ready for winter. Check it out if you like! The most important thing for us is the mouse guard. It also keeps out voles that will eat your bees and I lost a hive to this before! ruclips.net/video/jeJz6abn2PY/видео.html
Excellent info but one question please. Do you use the one-way bee board a few days before you remove the top box ? As I understand it, you slide a thin board or plate between the top and second box which is fitted with a one-way door so that the bees have enough time to move down and so can't go back up to the top box which you are about to harvest ?
Yes, I do use a bee escape board. It really reduces the number of bees you have to remove when you harvest. I usually carry the box into my garage to harvest. Otherwise the bees won’t leave me alone!
Do you have any titles to recommend regarding the books you mentioned about telling what is going on inside the hive by watching the outside? I would be interested to do some more research there and my only written source about that so far is Warrés book.
I would recommend the book "At the Hive Entrance" by H. Storch. This is the only book I have found that addresses observing the hive. The other book I like is "Natural Beekeeping with the Warre Hive" by D. Heaf. Those are good resources for the warre hives. Thanks for the comment and best of luck beekeeping!
I'm guessing you don't inspect for disease (?).
Couldn't you just get a normal Langstroth-type hive and not open it until you want honey?
Is warre beekeeping really beekeeping, or more like providing a home for bees then taking some honey during the year?
Hello there, it's true we don't normally open the hive to inspect for disease. I do watch the activity at the hive entrance and I have windows at the back where I check how they are progressing. I am going to get a screened bottom board for next season so I can monitor for mites.
It's true that warre beekeeping is less about the honey and more about a home for bees. It's designed to have a smaller box size that mimics the size of a tree cavity, supposed to be easier for bees to maintain temp and humidity. I suppose you could try something similar in a Langstroth type if you had top bars for it? Hmm. Interesting thought!
Happy beekeeping!
Hi Damanda .. love the video . Can I ask you. I have just had a warre since late May . We got a new captured swarm , they laid comb down . we went through the June gap, and since then they have been very active. I am wondering if and when I should take a box off. Is there a rule of thumb to go by ? I'm a newbie by the way . John
I think when you can take a box off depends on how much honey your bees need to get through the winter. Here in southern Canada I like them to have at least one full box but preferably two. Sometimes I actually harvest in the spring when I know there’s extra.
Did you build your hives or purchase ?
Hello there and thanks for the comment! I have purchased mine just for ease. I'm certain I could build one and there are plans out there for the warre hive. Maybe if I ever retire I can try my hand at building one! Are you thinking of building one? That would be awesome!
@@idamandahomestead4221 yes I want the warre hive but will probably buy as well. Not many places to find them though .
helli, im interested in the name of the books you mentioned at minute 10:25 thanks :)
Hello there, the two books I really like are The Barefoot Beekeeper by Philip Chandler, and At The Hive Entrance by H. Storch. Then also the Peoples Hive by Emile Warre, that's the original book! Thanks for the comment!