thanks for the demo on the smoker. I use wood pellets and pine bedding but I think I wasn't getting the solid start that you do since I use a torch on the outside of the smoker. Mine lights in 10 seconds but likes to go out quickly.
I have tapered stick with painters tape on it I stick in the hole and bungle I wrap around billows so the folds stay as they should be, lol it's a $10 Chinese smoker that I've used for 3 years, I use a propane torch to light it from the side after pack it full using the butt of the gas bottle, I usually have pinestraw but anything that will burn will do, I usually put something on top to cool the smoke, if I ever get some, I'm gonna thy Hillbilly Earl's method, he sprays a little honey be gone on a rag, put that in the smoker a puffs the bees out of the way, he never wears a veil or anything works his bees in straw hat and white tee.
My bees are working several fields of cotton around me atm, my goldenrod hasn't started yet, when it does the bees will work cotton and goldenrod up til we have a killing frost. probably late October or November. most years the cotton will ready to pick, but still be blooming at the top.
The clover is in bloom here. I get to enjoy honey bee watching in my backyard. I have lots of native bees here at home. I went cheap and just use a mister bottle and feather instead of smoker and bee brush. Built my own swarm trap and 4 Lazutin chest hives working on 5. No protection only a prayer. Going up north Labor day so doing usual bee yard end of the year checks, camping trip, and bear baiting. Got bear license so will be up there again after labor day this year. At least I don't need a license to trap bees. I thinking the Trapper's bible is missing a couple of chapters about Bee's and fish.
thanks for the video. Where are you located? I am in SE PA in the USA. Our goldenrod is about to start as well. Last year it produced a dark amber color with excellent taste.
Peter we don't use escape boards much in Arkansas due to small hive beetle infestation. WIth that said I wonder if the hives that you are preparing to pull honey from will be overloaded with bee population since it appears the honey supers above the escape boards may have higher bee population than the volume boxes beneath the escape board.
@@russellkoopman3004 that is not a thing to carry with you all the time .... If you have a 5cm ( i dunno how much smelly feet or small or thick thumps that is ) stick that a lot easier to carry with you ... you can make that stick go from smal to thick with a knife verry easy :)
That's what I do and it normally leaves enough unspent fuel to help start your smoker next time or enough, when you only need 5 minutes to do something.
I always thought goldenrod honey smelled like butterscotch. It is the final honey flow of the fall and also produces a great deal of pollen.
The smell of curing honey in the hive is very different from the smell of the finished product,
thanks for the demo on the smoker. I use wood pellets and pine bedding but I think I wasn't getting the solid start that you do since I use a torch on the outside of the smoker. Mine lights in 10 seconds but likes to go out quickly.
You bet
I have tapered stick with painters tape on it I stick in the hole and bungle I wrap around billows so the folds stay as they should be, lol it's a $10 Chinese smoker that I've used for 3 years, I use a propane torch to light it from the side after pack it full using the butt of the gas bottle, I usually have pinestraw but anything that will burn will do, I usually put something on top to cool the smoke, if I ever get some, I'm gonna thy Hillbilly Earl's method, he sprays a little honey be gone on a rag, put that in the smoker a puffs the bees out of the way, he never wears a veil or anything works his bees in straw hat and white tee.
My bees are working several fields of cotton around me atm, my goldenrod hasn't started yet, when it does the bees will work cotton and goldenrod up til we have a killing frost. probably late October or November. most years the cotton will ready to pick, but still be blooming at the top.
Killing frost here usually September
I'm 120 miles south of Atlanta, pretty much in geographic middle of Georgia
The clover is in bloom here. I get to enjoy honey bee watching in my backyard. I have lots of native bees here at home. I went cheap and just use a mister bottle and feather instead of smoker and bee brush. Built my own swarm trap and 4 Lazutin chest hives working on 5. No protection only a prayer. Going up north Labor day so doing usual bee yard end of the year checks, camping trip, and bear baiting. Got bear license so will be up there again after labor day this year. At least I don't need a license to trap bees. I thinking the Trapper's bible is missing a couple of chapters about Bee's and fish.
Sounds like a project!
First!!! I'm waiting on the Goldenrod to bloom here in Upstate South Carolina. Thanks!
Good luck!
thanks for the video. Where are you located? I am in SE PA in the USA. Our goldenrod is about to start as well. Last year it produced a dark amber color with excellent taste.
Hampden ME
Peter we don't use escape boards much in Arkansas due to small hive beetle infestation. WIth that said I wonder if the hives that you are preparing to pull honey from will be overloaded with bee population since it appears the honey supers above the escape boards may have higher bee population than the volume boxes beneath the escape board.
Usually works very well as they attempt to rebalance and that gets the ball rolling. Brood chambers of course are packed with bees.
If i can give you a tip : If you are finished you put a wooden stick in the exit and it wil stop smoking .
An old corn cob works really well also. They are smaller at the tip and get thicker so it will fit most any hole.
@@russellkoopman3004 that is not a thing to carry with you all the time .... If you have a 5cm ( i dunno how much smelly feet or small or thick thumps that is ) stick that a lot easier to carry with you ... you can make that stick go from smal to thick with a knife verry easy :)
Tips always welcome!!
That's what I do and it normally leaves enough unspent fuel to help start your smoker next time or enough, when you only need 5 minutes to do something.
Praying the goldenrod will burst in bloom this weekend after these two days of much needed rain!! 🤞
Fingers crossed! It WILL bloom but will it have nectar? Keep praying!
@@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer yes that too!! 🙏🙏
My bees started on it Tuesday.
Peter, you didn’t check that queen wasn’t in the deep you put on other hive w/ the bee escape.
On closer look maybe there was a Q excluder…
Yes that is correct all of the colonies in this yard have a queen exclude above the bottom deep.
Hi Peter
I use a 1 1/2" ,or so, ball of wax (available burr comb usually) to plug the smoker. Works great.
Cheers...?
My smoker gets pretty hot I would be wary of it busting into flames!
@@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer I hear you. Mine has never even come close. Extinguishes the burn quickly. Cheers.....
Do u make those 1 way covers if so how do u do that ...also does it not matter mixing up the bees lol thks
I have them made for me. And yes you can mix bees like that.
@@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer how wide is the space we're the bees squeeze through mite have a go at making some for myself thks
All I get a wiff of in my bee yard is thymol......bee gone, mites!
I am not expecting much more to be honest.
Does goldenrod make honey sweeter or just increase honey production?
It is just another source of nectar which can contribute (in some years) to honey production.
Where are you located?
Hampden Maine
Do you collect bee venom
No, not yet.