- 131
- 102 362
Troy Simpson Honey Ridge Farm
Приєднався 30 гру 2020
Our intention is to provide information about what it takes to get started in beekeeping. Building back up from just a couple hives will give the new beekeeper a window in to what’s being done during the course of a year. With over 20 years experience in the hobby / sideline beekeeping experience this will provide a unique perspective for the beginner beekeeper as well as ideas and techniques for the more experienced beekeeper. Timing is so important with bees and knowing when to do what will be invaluable. We will be building beehives, putting in foundation, processing beeswax, feeding hives, inspecting hives, treating hives, marking queens, making splits, reversing hives, collecting and processing honey, summer splits, collecting swarms, swarm trapping, all kinds of normal operations. You’ll also get to see what works well and what doesn’t work. You’ll see how hives build up and which ones survive and which ones don’t. Record keeping will also be covered. Hope you subscribe. Thanks!
Beekeeping’s ups and downs.
Checking on progress before pulling the last of the honey for 2024. Transferring swarm trap in the full-size hive and overall progress.
Переглядів: 1 850
Відео
June honey flow
Переглядів 3,6 тис.Місяць тому
Finally, the start of the June honey flow. How long will it last? It’s anybody’s guess
Beekeeping decisions are made at the Hive, not at the House.
Переглядів 1,2 тис.Місяць тому
Deciding how best to capitalize on anticipated honey flow
Preparing for the June honey flow
Переглядів 1,5 тис.Місяць тому
We’ve had a dearth in May but are expecting a flow in June.
Honey House and Honey Extraction
Переглядів 4,3 тис.2 місяці тому
We take a short tour of the honey house and improvements that we’ve made and extract a few supers of honey. Checking moisture along the way.
I messed up
Переглядів 3,7 тис.2 місяці тому
Even after 25 years of keeping bees, we still learn valuable lessons and we can’t always do what we see other people doing
Feisty Girls
Переглядів 6492 місяці тому
We got into the hives on a cloudy cool day. We have several sunny days in the forecast and are trying to make sure the bees have room to maximize our production.
Why are my bees not making honey?
Переглядів 4,5 тис.2 місяці тому
4 production hives that are not producing. Deep dive in to the reason why and what to do about it.
2024 production hives and buildup progress
Переглядів 9432 місяці тому
We’re checking in production hives for the need for more honey supers. We’re putting on our wet supers that we extracted Friday. And checking nucs that should be into full-size colonies or combined with other colonies to make the best use of the bees.
Building a bee business, walk through
Переглядів 8522 місяці тому
Over view of where we’re at and where we’re going
Honey flow? First Swarm Trap Catches.
Переглядів 9282 місяці тому
Checking supers for honey and transferring swarm trap catches to boxes. Had a few problems along the way.
Production Hives and Splits
Переглядів 9842 місяці тому
Feeding (trying to feed) weaker hives to speed up splits and get production hives up to make a honey crop.
Adding Honey Supers! The Flow is on!!
Переглядів 1,9 тис.3 місяці тому
Checking production hives for the addition of supers. This is what we work for.
Swarming or Honey Production… walking the line
Переглядів 4,7 тис.3 місяці тому
Last splits of 2024. Using our best judgement for how many splits we can take to prevent swarming and leave enough to make the maximum in honey production.
Grafted queen cells from a nuc Starter/Finisher
Переглядів 1,2 тис.3 місяці тому
Grafted queen cells from a nuc Starter/Finisher
Removing split prepared in the last video
Переглядів 4443 місяці тому
Removing split prepared in the last video
Impact of warm winter weather on bees.
Переглядів 3935 місяців тому
Impact of warm winter weather on bees.
How much fondant did they consume in three days????
Переглядів 7105 місяців тому
How much fondant did they consume in three days????
Just because it is capped doesn't mean it is low in moisture. I have had capped honey read over 20%
Where did you get your bucket holder from please? I have purchased 2 different holders that are not the quality that I am looking for. Do you like it and where did you get it if you do not mind. Thanks, and thanks for the tour of your honey house, I am trying to justify my honey house addition and it is tough, congrats on having your own honey house, that is a big step.
Thanks for watching! I think one was from Mann Lake and the other two from Dadant. It took a lot of years to get the honey house. Sure makes things a lot easier.
📃 and your Lord has inspired bees to build dwellings and in the trees and in wath they erect , so follow humbly the paths of your Lord and eat of all the fruits from their bellies comes a drink of various colors , in which, , there is healing for people , indeed , a sign for the people who they reflect 📃
Like you, I left my supers on wishing for some additional flow but did not see much. I will be taking the supers off next week. I usually treat for mites thereafter, but with the record heat, I don't know what to use and wonder what are your plans?
What’s up Claude! I’m gonna wait a bit to pull supers now, at least till they slow down. When I do pull them off I usually start with apivar strips for the heavy ones and I’ll feed the lighter ones.
It's looking like the flow here has tapered off too. We still have white clover blooming and the basswood is in full bloom. I don't know how much they will get off that. Yellow Sweet Clover is mostly done. Sumac has a few new blooms left but is likely done. We will see what another week brings.
My bees are still very busy and are heavy on the clover. I’ll prolly give them another week now and see what happens.
@@troysimpsonhoneyridgefarm6 That's what I'm gonna do. There is still nectar coming in just not as heavy as I had hoped.
They are working hard early at my hives in Casey co.One more week and all supers coming off and probably gonna have to sit in a hot room with a dehumidifier. I had a couple of those bottom built comb swarm trap transfer.Hate that. Gonna be a long feed season i think .
i cherish my clover too
It may be fizzling out
@@troysimpsonhoneyridgefarm6 I feel your pain. My clover is a couple of weeks away.
I found on you tube one master beekeeper says vent and he has issues and buys inferior queens every year and one master beekeeper says insulate and his bees are superior bees made by the queen and they are thriveing! I have 6 & 12 frame Layens hives and my bees prop the upper vents so that tells me they want to retain that heat bubble in there!
Thanks for watching! Bees don’t heat the hive, especially in the summer. They heat the cluster only and keep it at about 93 degrees. They really need ventilation now to be able to dry down the nectar to around 18%. The moisture has to be evacuated from the hive.
@@troysimpsonhoneyridgefarm6 They also know how to air condition bringing water in too cool and vent out the entrance, no upper vent needed!
Bees propolize holes morr so according to the size.
I am in Massachusetts and I can't remember the last time we had a flow like this. Absolutely crazy. There is clover everywhere and the bees aren't really on it. I live across from a very very big orchard, apples, pears, berries, peaches. This year the apple blossoms were out for a good long while. I still wonder what they are on because they are packing it in! GO GIRLS! Great vid as always. Best to you and yours.
Whatever it is, I hope they keep it up! Has an unusual smell to it.
How many hives do you manage ?
Currently about 70, up from 50. Trying to get up to 100.
Where exactly zone wise are you? I’m in south central TN. Sumac is going heavy here and white clover. Everything else has been below average this year. Very heavy rains and low flow periods aside from this sumac. Edit: Nvm I heard you say N Central Kentucky.
We’re just south of Louisville. Whatever is coming in has an odd smell. Unusual for this time of year.
@@troysimpsonhoneyridgefarm6 is it another variant of sumac? I think one has an odd smell.
I'm a little farther north than you. Our flow usually ends around the first week in July . Everything started a couple weeks earlier this year. Right now the white clover is bloom pretty good. The basswood has blooms showing but not open yet and the sumac will probably go into full bloom next week. Usually when those two are done the flow is mostly over but since they are a little early I don't know if the clover will continue on until the first part of July. What do you think?
I expect it to be over her around the 15th of June if it’s like the last few years but it’s hard to say for sure. We do get sumac and some are saying persimmon which is prevalent. There’s an odd smell coming in. Hard to say what it is.
Flow in Casey i believe is just starting back but not sure what it is .Clover i guess but theres so many woods and logged over regrowth in the area it would be hard to tell. My sourwood thicket ive noticed has blooms starting to mature but ive been told no nectar is produced at my altitude.Strange how when they bloom the bees are all over it . Good technique on marking those queens .I paint mine green sometimes so i need a little practice with the pen i think. Like the videos because its so close to home and i know what to expect on timing when to plan my hive days and what im gonna do. Thanks always for sharing Troy!
Still you dont know how to do it 15 days to stop honey flow 1 option remove brood to new box older bees will return next time just go with 9 frames and make space that way qui in not going to move in supper deeper cells they make
Thanks for watching
really nice management,
Thank you sir!
I love your notes on your hives. What kind of marker do you use on the metal? Does is erase? Or get washed away?
I was using just a permanent marker but it fades too quick. Now I’m using a paint pen and it doesn’t fade at all. Thanks for watching.
I would rather them have too much and not need it than not enough and need it,wouldnt you Troy? I sure hope your right about the flow! Thanks for posting .
Yes, I never want to miss any, I just hate half filled super frames.
Love watching your videos keep it up!
Thanks for watching!
Another great video. Always good to see what a fellow beekeeper is doing.
Thanks Tim!
Troy I live in north east Ky and sure hope to get a flow in June because I had very little in May.
Me too! We’ll keep our fingers crossed.
What’s the average lbs of honey per colony you all typically see in that area? You get much of a fall or late summer flow? Great video and thanks for sharing.
We average about 60 lbs per hive. We haven’t got a late summer or fall flow in years. Thanks for watching!
@@troysimpsonhoneyridgefarm6 yes sir. I figured you would get something later on but wasn’t sure. Have a great weekend.
👍
Another great video!! Thanks for sharing Troy!!
Thank you!!
I had made myself a note on the calendar for this year to be sure and remember to put more supers either drawn or foundation on June 1 with excluders. I attributed it to clover blooming but have noticed we have sumac also starting. What other sources are you aware of from now to the dearth that usually follows? I can't prove it but I am just almost sure we see a light flow from soybeans if the weather cooperates. Our bees always do better in soybean years than corn years on our farm. I enjoy your videos.
I’m pretty much right in line with you. Clover is for sure responsible for part and a friend locally has his tested and sumac is near the top of the list. I’ve had some strictly on soybeans and made a little better than 1/2 a super from it. Makes me wonder if this is the new norm.
👍
Hi there from England, just started out on my bee keeping adventure and absolutely love the process of how the bees make honey and what goes on in the hive. Also great to see how the honey is harvested too!. Subscribed 👍🏻
Thanks for watching!! So cool that you watched from England! Beekeeping seems to become an addiction.
@troysimpsonhoneyridgefarm6 oh yes started out about 2months ago with one hive(British national) now got 6 hives with 3 inhabited and a few spare and warre hive I got to set up too. Very addictive plus you help the area and the bees!
Nice shop! You have your uncapping box next to the extractor, less floor drippings. Funny how so few people have figured that out. Grand job.
Thank you! Works good for me
Been crap on her car 😂😂😂👍🏼 least your honest 😅 maybe too honest
Definitely bites me in the butt
Walking the line big time this year. Caught a hive getting ready to swarm yesterday. It was exciting to say the least. Nics vid, thanks.
They are unpredictable at times
Think of it as mite control, you probably killed a lot of those too
Great video Troy. I always love watching extracting videos. Great looking honey house. We have two girls that are 6 & 9. I feel like I always smell like bees or have propolis on me somwhere. I’m up to ten hives this year. We spun out 67 pounds on a three frame manual extractor yesterday. Not bad for a new beekeeper. This is my 3rd summer. Been through two winters. I really enjoy your videos and enjoy how you always explain everything. Have a great week. JIM FROM Union, KY
Hey Jim, they’ll be grown up before you know it. Thanks for watching. Good job on your harvest. There’s a lot of ups and downs in beekeeping but it’s always enjoyable, especially in the honey house.
Just Subbed. Great video. Looking forward to more!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it. Hopefully this honey flow keeps up.
Sir what are you using for smoker fuel? It's working great.
I use pine needles. There’s a big tree in my side yard and whenever it’s dry I collect it in a large trash bag I keep with me. Nice cool smoke.
Why are your bees not on stands
They’re on Pallets
New sub. I learned a lot. That's work! Nice and clean extractor house.
Thank you! I spend a lot of time in there
Is your nylon fabric like having a Five gallon paint strainer you use in a paint spray gun or is the mesh finer than the paint filter. You have a great looking honey house. Thanks for the video
Thanks for watching Jim. Might be a little finer than that. I enjoy my time spent in the honey house.
subbed. nice honey hut!!!!
Thank you! I appreciate it!
Great video Troy where are you located ?
Thanks for watching!!! We’re near Mt Washington Ky
Hey Troy great videos. What are the Overall dimensions of your work space?
Thanks Lester! The room itself is 12x30
Where do you get the nylon cloth? Also you didn't say but I assume you wash them and reuse them.
I’ve had these for a long time and haven’t found a recent source. Yes the have to be washed after every 4 or 5 buckets due to getting clogged.
Thanks for showing your honey house. Maybe your refractometer needs recalibration. I don't know how they get out of whack sitting in the case but they do.
What’s up Phillip! What makes you think it’s out of calibration?
Great vid thanks. what temp do you have the honey house when extracting, and what mesh is the nylon cloth for straining.
Thanks for watching Dennis. Ideally I like to get it up to 85 degrees or so, over night to get the honey warm and then cool it down to work in the daytime. I’m not sure what the mesh is, I just go by feel. I bought some a few months ago that was too tight and the honey wouldn’t go through it.
I went down the same path on the bee poop. My dumb ass mouth . Our white car stands out like a neon light. I have a great time washing cars now .( wrong ) LOL
😂 they would have never known had we just been quiet. 🤐
Love this and didnt know about moving in cold weather .Explains a lot for me.I move em in february at times when its cold.Thanks Troy for posting.
Sometimes you just have to experience things for yourself. I definitely learned a lesson.
Yo! ❤
Awesome honey room! U got Lots of time invested that! U could probably easily put a motor on that extractor with a pulley & belt, take the hand crank off. ...I got an old 4 frame extractor given to me from an old timer, nothing fancy,it's electric, does the job.
Thanks for watching! I’ve got a Hillco 18 frame extractor now and their bottling tank too. Lots of upgrades and looking at more. Need to do another honey house video.
@@troysimpsonhoneyridgefarm6 how much do u sell a quart for? People around me in NE Ohio are selling for $20 a quart, which I think they should charge more that way I can charge more...that's alot of honey for 20 bucks
@@illumi-Nate it goes for $25 around here
Does your wife have another one of those bright green paint pens? I think my first hive is about to requeen itself. I might have a new queen that I should mark! 😂
I could prolly sneak another one out. There’s a bunch in there.
If there is nectar coming in why are you feeding sugar? Is it just to make sure they have food on rainy days. I'm always afraid I will get sugar syrup in the supers.
The only ones I feed are the buildup hives that came from nucs. Just trying to give them as much help as possible and to give them something during several days of rainy weather.
I heard you mention Honeysuckle. Is that the bush type. Asian or Japanese it is called here. There is tons of it in my area but I don't know if the bees work and make honey from it. I was hoping you could tell me. Like I said,it is invasive and blooming everywhere.
I just know it as bush honeysuckle and the bees work it. It’s everywhere here too. Seems like everything is blooming at the same time.
Wow
After our visit with you Saturday morning, we got back into our hive Sunday. I'm pretty pleased with what I seen with brood production and structure. I learned several things with what I saw with their production on the added frames I gave them. It's definitely interesting!
I enjoyed the visit. Welcome to the addiction.
You got some mean girls there Troy! Haha! “Smoke em till their eyes water.” 🤣 I gotta start using that! Lol
Hurt for 2 days and I still didn’t get no sympathy. Lol