Beekeeping Techniques video documented.
The video discusses setting up a bee yard or out yard, where bee colonies can be placed. The hives should be placed on the Southeast side of a hill or windbreak to protect them from North winds and to catch the morning sun. The hives should also be faced towards the South or Southeast.
Stands made of cement blocks and landscape timbers are recommended to keep the vibration transmission down between hives. The hive should be sloping towards the front so that rainwater does not run back into the hive and rot the bottom board. The video also demonstrates the process of removing strips from the hive in December 2022. The video emphasizes the importance of proper hive placement, stands, and sloping to prevent damage to the hive and ensure the well-being of the bees.
Video Summary:
- Bee colonies should be placed on the Southeast side of a hill or windbreak
- Hives should be faced towards the South or Southeast
- Stands made of cement blocks and landscape timbers are recommended
- Hives should be sloping towards the front to prevent rainwater from rotting the bottom board
- Proper hive placement, stands, and sloping is important for the well-being of bees
Painting hives and cleats
The video discusses the importance of painting beekeeping equipment, specifically a 5-frame nuke. It is important to paint the corners of the frame rest and the thickness of the boards to prevent rot.
The bottom board should also be painted, paying attention to the back corners and inside of the rest. The landing board should be painted well with primer and two coats of good quality paint.
Custom-made covers with a sheet of OSB and thermal insulation are recommended for cold weather climates and should be painted with primer and two coats of good quality paint. Cleats should be placed over hand holes for easier lifting, with three screws securing them in place. The 5-frame nuke should be made of rough-cut yellow pine to Dr. Tom Seely's specifications for bees found in the wild.
- Painting equipment is important to prevent rotting
- Focus on painting the corners of the frame rest and the thickness of the boards
- For a five-frame nuke, paint the inside and back corners of the deep brood box rest
- Use a good coat of primer and two coats of quality paint
- Custom-made covers should also be painted with primer and two coats of paint
- Cleats should be put over hand holes for easier lifting
- Cleats should be marked and placed where the frame rests are on the box
- The recommended wood for the nuke is rough cut yellow pine from Johnson's bee supply
Video Points:
- Painting beekeeping equipment is important
- Paint corners of frame rest and thickness of boards
- Bottom board should be painted, paying attention to back corners and inside of rest
- Landing board should be painted with primer and two coats of good quality paint
- Custom-made covers with OSB and thermal insulation are recommended for cold weather climates
- Cleats should be placed over hand holes for easier lifting
- 5 frame nuke should be made of rough-cut yellow pine to Dr. Tom Seely's specifications
Bee Feeders
In this video, Dave McFan and Larry Coble discuss various types of feeders for bee hives, including frame or division board feeders, Boardman feeders, pale feeders, Miller feeders, high top feeders, and feeders that go on top of the lid. Frame or division board feeders are good for warm weather, but not suitable for cold weather as bees can't get to the surface syrup in the frame feeder when they cluster.
Boardman feeders, inserted in the front of the hive, are good for feeding water but not recommended for sugar syrup as it may incite robbing in colonies. Pale feeders, which come in two pieces, are suitable for warm and cold weather and can be easily cleaned with hot tap water. Miller or high-top feeders are more expensive than other feeders but have two reservoirs and are good for warm and cold weather. Finally, bee buffet feeders and newer division board feeders are also discussed as options. The type of feeder used will depend on the climate and specific needs of the bee colony.
Video Summary:
- Frame or division board feeders good for warm weather, not suitable for cold weather
- Boardman feeders good for water, not recommended for sugar syrup
- Pale feeders suitable for warm and cold weather, easy to clean
- Miller or high top feeders more expensive, good for warm and cold weather
- Bee buffet feeders and newer division board feeders also options
- Feeder type depends on climate and specific needs of bee colony
Safety in the Beeyard
The video discusses safety measures that need to be taken while dealing with bees in a virtual reality (VR) environment. It emphasizes the importance of lighting the smoker before entering the bee yard to keep the bee's calm. The video also highlights the significance of wearing a veil and tying back long hair to prevent bees from getting caught in hair or stinging around the eyes. It suggests wearing non-fuzzy, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing while working in the bee yard.
The video warns against eating bananas before entering the bee yard, as it mimics the alarm scent of honeybees. It recommends securing the equipment and smoker box and keeping a first-aid kit ready in case of emergencies. The video also cautions against standing in front of the hive where bees fly in and out and bumping into the hive, as it can cause the bees to get upset. Beekeepers should be gentle while handling the bees and avoid squashing them, as it can trigger the alarm scent. The video advises working in the bee yard earlier in the day and avoiding pesticide applications.
Video Summary:
- Light the smoker before entering the bee yard
- Wear a veil and tie back long hair
- Wear non-fuzzy, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
- Don't eat bananas before entering the bee yard
- Secure equipment and smoker box
- Keep a first-aid kit ready
- Avoid standing in front of the hive and bumping into it
- Be gentle while handling the bees
- Work in the bee yard earlier in the day and avoid pesticide applications
Smokers and Smoker Fuel
The video discusses the importance of smokers in beekeeping to keep the bees calm when working in the hive. There are two thoughts on smokers - one is that it interferes with the bees' sensing ability, while the other is that it makes them lethargic by filling their honey stomachs.
The video recommends using a larger smoker with a heat shield for safety and ease of use. Pine needles and Old Mill waste burlap are recommended as smoker fuels, while caution is advised against using oily rags that may contaminate honey or comb. It is important to place the lit smoker in a smoker box or container to prevent accidental fires. When finished with the smoker, the video suggests placing a cork or old rag in the nozzle to extinguish the fuel, making it easier to relight the coals later.
Video Summary:
- Smokers are important to keep bees calm while working in the hive
- Two thoughts on smokers: interferes with sensing ability or makes bees lethargic
- Larger smokers with a heat shield are recommended for ease of use and safety
- Pine needles and Old Mill waste burlap are recommended as smoker fuels
- Caution advised against using oily rags
- Place lit smoker in a smoker box or container to prevent fires
- Use a cork or old rag to extinguish the fuel and make it easier to relight coals later
Moving a hive hobbyist
Moving beehives is important for beekeepers, and there are different methods for doing so depending on the season and number of hives. Commercial beekeepers may use pallets and forklifts for moving hives, but for smaller operations, a hand truck with large wheels can work well. Bees should be strapped together and a moving screen used on top of the equipment stack to prevent overheating and smothering. Number eight hardware cloth can be cut and placed in the entrance to keep bees inside the hive.
Top covers made of OSB Avant-tech can be used for cooler weather. When moving hives in warm weather, they should either be moved a few inches at a time or three to five miles away for three to five weeks to avoid losing the Field Force. Stands made of three cement blocks with two landscape jumpers are recommended for Africanized B days to reduce vibration between hives. However, in South Carolina, a hive on either end of an eight-foot landscape timber can be sufficient.
Video Summary:
- Different methods of moving beehives exist for different situations
- Strapping bees together and using a moving screen can prevent overheating and smothering
- Number eight hardware cloth can be used in the entrance to keep bees inside
- Top covers made of OSB avant-tech can be used in cooler weather
- Moving hives a few inches at a time or three to five miles away for three to five weeks can prevent losing the Field Force
- Stands made of three cement blocks with two landscape jumpers are recommended for Africanized B days to reduce vibration between hives
- In South Carolina, a hive on either end of an eight-foot landscape timber can be sufficient.
First Hive Inspection February in South Carolina
The video shows a beekeeper inspecting a hive in February. The beekeeper starts by smoking the entrance and checking the feeder on the hive. The beekeeper then checks the brood chamber, removing frame number two and looking for the queen. The beekeeper finds fresh nectar, sugar syrup, and pollen in the frames and notes that it's important to keep all the frames in the hive to avoid accidentally stepping on the queen. The beekeeper moves onto frame five, where they find brood and a nice-looking pattern. The beekeeper concludes that the queen must be in the super and treats the hive for small hive beetles using a beetle trap and apoguard thymol packet.
Video Summary:
- Beekeeper inspects a hive in February
- Smoke the entrance and check feeder
- Check brood chamber, remove frame number two, and look for the queen
- Find fresh nectar, sugar syrup, and pollen in the frames
- Keep all frames in the hive to avoid stepping on the queen
- Treat hive for small hive beetles using a beetle trap and apo guard thymol packet.
Reading a Colony
In this talk, the speaker discusses how to determine when a colony of bees has swarmed by examining the development cycle of the queen, worker, and drone. They explain that depending on the various stages of brood, including worker brood, drone brood, and queen cells, it is possible to determine how long ago the colony swarmed. For instance, if there are eggs or larva in the frames with no queen emerged from the queen cell, then the colony has recently swarmed, probably less than 16 days ago.
If there is only capped worker brood, it indicates that the colony has problems and has not swarmed for 9 to 21 days. If there is a queen cell from which the queen has emerged, together with capped worker and drone brood, it indicates that the colony has problems formed 16 to 21 days ago. Finally, if there is an empty queen cell and no capped worker brood but capped drone brood, it suggests that the colony has probably swarmed 21 to 24 days ago.
Video Summary:
- The speaker discusses how to determine when a bee colony has swarmed by examining the development cycle of the queen, worker, and drone.
- Depending on the stages of brood, it is possible to determine how long ago the colony swarmed.
- Examining eggs, larva, and capped brood can provide insight into the colony's state.
- If there are eggs or larva in the frames with no queen emerged from the queen cell, then the colony has recently swarmed.
- If there is only capped worker brood, it indicates that the colony has problems and has not swarmed for 9 to 21 days.
- If there is a queen cell from which the queen has emerged, together with capped worker and drone brood, it indicates that the colony has problems formed 16 to 21 days ago.
- If there is an empty queen cell and no capped worker brood but capped drone brood, it suggests that the colony has probably swarmed 21 to 24 days ago.
When Is a Colony Worth Saving
The article discusses the factors that beekeepers should consider when deciding whether to save a colony of bees. It includes information on the size of frames and how much honey a colony can produce, as well as the timing of the spring flow and the availability of queens.
The article also provides advice on how to conduct a walkaway split, which involves dividing a hive in half to create two colonies, one of which will raise a new queen. The article notes that a beekeeper can expect to lose up to 9.11 pounds of honey if a full deep frame of eggs, larvae, and brood is transferred from a strong colony to a weak one, and that the main nectar flow in South Carolina lasts 9-10 weeks.
The article recommends using a mated queen or queen cells to reduce the time it takes for workers to emerge and suggests combining a weak colony with a strong one if the beekeeper is sure the weak colony is not diseased.
Video Summary:
- Beekeepers should consider frame size and honey production when deciding whether to save a colony
- Walkaway splits can be used to create two colonies, one of which will raise a new queen
- A beekeeper can expect to lose up to 9.11 pounds of honey if a full deep frame is transferred from a strong colony to a weak one
- The main nectar flow in South Carolina lasts 9-10 weeks
- Using a mated queen or queen cells can reduce the time it takes for workers to emerge
- Combining a weak colony with a strong one may increase honey production if the weak colony is not diseased
Bee Equipment Made with Clipchamp
Beekeeping equipment comes in different depths and frame sizes, including 10 frames, 8 frame, and 5 frame nukes. A 10 frame is cheaper per space but harder to manipulate, while an 8 frame is lighter and easier to handle. A 5-frame nuke is used for making splits and is necessary in areas with small hive beetle problems.
The weight of different equipment varies, with a 10 frame deep weighing 70-80 pounds, a medium weighing 50 pounds, and a shallow weighing 40 pounds. An 8 frame deep weighs 60-65 pounds, a medium weighs 40 pounds, and a shallow weighs 32 pounds. The type of bottom board used can be solid or screened, with solid being more effective in winter. An inner cover with a porter or B Escape hole in the center can be used to feed the bees. A moving screen can also be employed. A top cover made of two sheets of advantec OSB with a sheet of insulation wedge can be used to provide insulation and prevent moisture from condensing on the top of the hive.
Video Summary:
- Beekeeping equipment comes in different depths and frame sizes
- 10 frame is cheaper per space but harder to manipulate
- 8 frame is lighter and easier to handle
- 5 frame nuke is necessary in areas with small hive beetle problems
- Different equipment weights vary
- Solid bottom board is more effective in winter
- Inner cover with a porter or B Escape hole can be used to feed bees
- Moving screen can be employed
- Top cover made of advantec OSB with insulation wedge can be used for insulation and moisture prevention
Splitting Colonies