To wrap or not is dependent on where you’re located. Our winter here in the Western Catskill are still consistently cold and snowy. I wrap and overwinter w success. Insulating the top cover will eliminate that source if condensation. But no amount of winter prep will matter if the colonies aren’t mite free and healthy
Love your videos Jason! 💖 I'm always learning something new from you! Ladybug is adorable and I enjoyed the interview. I had a rough day and needed to smile. That did it for me!!😊💖
@Carol Lawecki Thanks. So glad to hear you learned something and that Ladybug put a smile on your face. She is really good about that. In this weeks video, were gonna see if Ladybug likes honey. Since the interview in this video someone asked if she really likes honey so were are going to find out. Should be fun. 😊Hope you have a better day today!
Hi JC bees, I live in mid New York State. I have five colonies, all are double deeps and two have a med super I left because they are a bit light on honey in top deep. 4 have SBB that were left closed all summer. Should I open them up? All are getting feeding spacers with newspaper and a 4 lb bag of sugar on top. Treated with OA . Thanks for all the common sense information that you put on here for us that are just starting out. Last year I had 1 colony and lost it early in the winter. Learned a lot since then but this will be my first winter that I am expecting to have survivors in spring. Ric
Tricky question. If it were me, I would open them but that is me in central Ohio. Maybe ask some others in your area if you know any and see what they do. I would hate for you to lose your colonies because you took my advise. Or open 3 of the colonies SBB and leave the rest close. This little experiment will tell you what to do in the future. Best of luck! Glad your enjoying the videos!!
100% on point…winters aren’t what they used to be here in Southern Maine either. Wrapping truly causes activity, wasting stores. I only use a 2” insulated top on my hives to prevent condensation. (and a gentle tip towards front) Upper ‘stovepipe entrance’ open for sure. Awesome intuitive information, always on point ! 🤘💪
We have experienced the same results on the eastern shore of md. We stopped wrapping a few years ago and still see the same overwinter results. We also agree and use SBB and a good wind block.
New beekeeper here, what problems does the solid bottom cause over winter? We were suggested (by the local bee club) to put the trays in under our screened bottoms over winter, because of wind. Our hives are out in the middle of our field and the north wind is bitter, and our atmosphere is humid in southwestern KY. We built a wind block but I was still advised to use the bottom trays. We see some nasty 60mph+ winds. It's hard to know what to do.
Hello, The advantage to the screened bottom is the air flow it adds. That air flow helps push the moisture out the top entrance and doesn't allow it to condense on the inner cover and drip back on the bees. If I were you I would experiment with both setups and see which works best for you. Then in the future you will know which winter setup works best for you. Last winter I told another Ohio beekeeper to leave screened bottoms open, he was understandably concerned with that suggestion and took all of his colonies but 1 through winter with solid bottom. He told me this past spring he should have listened to me as the 1 nuc with the screened bottom did the best overwinter. This winter all of his colonies have screened bottoms. 😊
@@JCsBees okay. We were also told to shut the top entrance and have a concave inner cover (diverts condesation) with a dry sugar feeder shim on top of the frames. It's so hard to know what to do. We have 4 hives and I can't say I'm willing to sacrifice any of them but it is hard to know what's right until I try!! I appreciate your help.
Very good information Jason! So many people don’t realize the benefits of the black locust trees. I’ve read that buckhorn sumac is also a beneficial nectar/pollen plant and it’s sad that so many people try to erase them from their property. Bravo on screen bottom boards & top entrances.
You may want to look for goat willow. It seems to bloom very early (flowers before the leaves) and the bees are all over it when it does here in Toledo. Male and female trees so you may need to plant several to get what you need. The male flowers can be quite large.
Hey JC! Thanks for all the info. I’m glad you got your channel back. I have a single 5 frame nuc. I made a rookie mistake of only starting out with one hive in the spring. They came down with EFB and have struggled all summer to get caught back up. I have moved them from an 8 frame hive to a 5 frame nuc. I’m in the mountains of SW Virginia. Our winters aren’t as harsh as they once were. Average lows in the middle of winter are close to 20-30°F. Any advice on trying to keep these girls going this winter? They’re doing a great job at storing nectar/sugar syrup but I’m fully prepared to feed them through the winter, if they make it.
@learningtolovekimber Thanks. I am sure glad my channel was recovered too. As far as your nuc, I would think about making a candy board or making a feeding shim for dry sugar. I explain shims in this video ua-cam.com/video/RozgAs1jGjg/v-deo.html I would also add the upper entrance as explained in that video. Best of luck!
Another great video. I have some locust fence posts that were made by my wife's grandfather. They are still being used. Three years ago one hive made a bunch of honeysuckle honey and it was delicious. Everyone told me it reminded them of pulling honeysuckle blossoms off and sucking out the nectar when they were kids. Great memories.
No doubt locust make great fence post. We use them because our farm is organic and all the store bought post are treated. We have a 3 acre locust forest that I manage just for fence post, works very well. Interesting about the honeysuckle, I know it sure smells nice on a spring day.
Hello Jason good information. Here in NC. Our winter’s are warmer also but we do have some cold times . I run 8 frames and screen bottom and also screen top covers . My bees do great thru winter . This year so far they are very strong. Thanks again for all your info.
Glad to hear your bees are doing well. I find it interesting how everyone has their own setup to over winter with success. You and I use screened bottoms, other say they are bad to use overwinter. I am not convinced. lol
I wonder though, if you did adjust based on the “new information “ if your bees would consume less resources in order to make it through winter. My Dad’s old pickup went to school and back for me just fine at 10 mpg, and my 2019 Pickup goes to town fine but only uses 21 mpg… yes both got the job done but the newer one is way more efficient.
I want to run double mediums for my brood. I’m moving to using all mediums for consistency going forward. What’s the optimal winter weight for double medium?
Thinking about doing something like that in the future too. I was told that 3 medium equals 2 deep as far as cell count goes. So if 2 deep need to be 100 lbs you might shoot for around 65 lbs in 2 mediums. That's just a guess though based on what I know about how the 2 sizes compare.
"This is not a how to do bees video. This is a how I do bees video." Sounds like Mike Barry doesn't it. There are some black locust fence posts on my family farm that were set in the mid 1950s. I was with my Grandpa when the woven wire fence was put up. They were cut, stripped and seasoned for 2 years before being tamped in place. Most now have a 'T' post next to them but a few are still supporting the fence which has been supplemented by 5 strands of barbed wire. Time will finally get all of us.
Thanks Jason for another great video. I remember my first winter struggles with solid or screened bottom boards. You tried to push me in the right direction but I was bullheaded. Did 1/2 screened, 1/2 solid…. They all made it through winter, but the screened bottom board hives thrived while the solid bottom board hives lagged behind in the spring. Moisture is the winter killer of bees, not the cold. Just my experience as I’m sure it is for many others, but to each his own. I pretty much copy your winter set-up with good success. Also, I’m in search of a field lined with Black Locust and Lindens for my next bee yard. 😉
Glad you enjoyed the video. I completely understand the hesitation to use screened bottom boards, I was the same the first winter I used them but in the end those colonies did the best just like you stated. Glad to hear you noticed the same thing. Have you considered broadcasting some Black Locust seeds? I've seen saplings grow 8 foot in one year on our farm. Let me know if you want some seeds, I could mail you some. 😉
I wonder if the bird who picks up a seed asks if that seed is ok too disperse elsewhere. Haha. . Winters are definitely not the same, i remember snow for months up here. I've always wrapped and this year I'm on the fence about it. I'm going to use temperature/humidity sensors so maybe I'll go with the wind blocks this year and just check my temps. Uggh, I gotta decide soon. Lol. . Thanks for sharing Jason.
No. The birds do not ask. I know because I see them taking berries from the multiflora rose bushes all the time. lol I'm curious what sensors are you using? Is it Broodminder? I am getting ready to setup my Broodminder for winter. I should use them more than I do but time is limited during the growing season. As far as wrapping I would stick with what has worked for you, why change it?
@@JCsBees I am using a cigar humidor sensor from Govee. This next week i have a video on them. The only drawback is that they are not as flat, but they are much cheaper than broodminders.
Interesting. I will watch for the video. Not sure what one of the cigar sensors cost but do you know BroodMinder has sensors for $29 that are wireless? They used to be $75 each.
A good way to determine whether wrapping is worthwhile is to watch what the beekeepers with more than 500 colonies are doing in your climate. Note that large-scale beekeepers consistently have a significantly better wintering success than do hobby beekeepers. If they are wrapping, insulating, or storing colonies in a climate-controlled warehouse (eg, Ian Steppler), it'd be a good idea for a beekeeper with one or two hives to do the same. If the big guys in your climate don't see the value in wrapping, insulating, or storing colonies in a climate-controlled warehouse, there probably isn't much value for the hobby beekeeper either -- although Home Depot and Lowes will get some value from your use of their products.
Consider studing the properties if insulation. A quality insulation will keep the hive warmer on very cold days. When the sun hits the black plastic material, the insulation will prevent the heat from entering the hive. The insulation protect the hive from exterior tempetarture hot or cold. People in summer high neat regions and using foam hives to keep the bees cooler.
I’ve got 5 hives that are not going to catch any of the winter sun due to their placement- my fault. Placing them into a more open area just isn’t possible until April ‘22. Due to a lack of any direct sunlight over this coming winter , do you think wrapping the hives in tar paper would be a bit beneficial? Thank you Jason.
That's a tricky question. It's a roll of the dice really. How many hives do you have? If you have more than 1 I would try one with tar paper and one without. Then you can find which setup works best for your bees in your location.
My hives are in the Rockies at over 7000’ ft of elevation and I also use screened bottom boards and do not wrap in winter. We have prolonged periods of below zero (F) temps and the bees are just fine.
@@SageandStoneHomestead Yes they are long but my honey bees go to the top and puncher the bloom much like the bumble bee do. They must get something or they would not bother.
Folks also need to remember that all these invasives or at least many are known to our European Honey bees historically. And along all this invasives import, folks need to remember that Honey Bees are also import originally. Up here in the NW Minnesota wrapping and wind blocking is necessary. I've ran winter temperature test with wrapped and unwrapped colonies... temperature were no much different. Further north is Canada, many colonies are inside buildings held at 40 degrees all winter. Just saying, what works for you is good, but what works elsewhere is good too like you said. Good video!
A little off topic, but do you have yellow poplar (also called tulip poplar) in your area? I'm based in SE Michigan, but I have a property is SE Ohio, and the predominant tree in that area (washington county) is tulip poplar. It flowers roughly mid-May to mid-June, and is a nectar heavy tree. If I get my apiary there going, I'm wondering where to sell the honey. Here's something you might like to try. Put a thermometer in the upper entrance in Winter, and read the temperature. Then, place a one inch thick sheet of insulation on top of the hive. The temperature will jump up at least two degrees, or more if a very strong hive. However, the bees will adjust quickly, and the temperature will drop to near where it was before the insulation was placed on top!
I actually shared a video this spring that the tulip trees I planted from seed years ago bloomed this year, so yes we have them. Great trees to have. We've had them in my area for years but now I have some right in my bee yard. Honey sales can be tricky. I would start by just getting the word out. Then maybe start asking small mom & pop store owners if they would care to sell your honey. If you live on a main road you may have decent luck with just a sign in your yard that you sell raw honey. Facebook is another option.
Ahh yes the wrap whenever someone shows how they wrap up I put a picture of my hives sitting in the yard all alone no wrap with the lid off showing the nice cluster of bees, Oh the freak outs that I get, HaHa.
Interesting lot to think about , I have a question not related to the video , the spices of bee called Buckfast is that the most common bee acquired by beekeepers in the states ,what do you have ?, I have searched around here in Australia 🇦🇺 but to no avail , i have noticed from UA-cam that a lot of keepers have buckfast why is that ?
Honestly, I am not sure I believe there is any pure bred bees left. I think at this point they are all mutt but people still like to say their bees are of a certain breed. lol I advertise the queens I sell as high class mutts. 😊
I use mostly solid bottom boards i have 3 or 4 with screeed bottom boards i close them in winter but it seems to me that the screened ones build up faster in spring. Do you leave yours open or closed in winter thanks for the videos usealy ? Start sunday off with your video.
I'm a beekeeper in Australia and in the East part of the sub-tropical part of Australia we have one or two of the same pest tree species and a whole lot that you don't have there. The sentiment is the same. Beekeeping is slightly different but not drastically so. It's all essentially the same Your climate zone is the same as South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the southern part of NSW. So in my latitude in QLD we don't get cold winters but most of my fellow Australians do. As a side comment the yellowing of the wax is partly due to propolis. They use it to glue up any gaps but it is tacky and sticky so it gets stuck to their feet. They also intentionally add it to otherwise clean wax because it has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Ladybugs president CEO of JC bees 🐝 She was coming around to check in on you making sure why you ain't working. I know how it feels I have a little Jack Russell make sure I'm working not goofing off 😄😄
ya nice but up north here in Canada we still get -40 so i cover my hives with insulation and a tarp with a hole in the front ...works well for me ....cheers ...thanks for the vids
@ed devault Hey good to see your still following me. I have seen you in the comment so a good while. Glad to hear you are in the same boat with me as far as wrapping. Take care!!
Your yard looks pretty open - when you say that you have a wind break, what does that look like in your context? Also, is there any issue moving the hives this time of year? I have two hives that are about 50 yards apart and I’m thinking about putting them next to each other.
Hello Jason I’m really thinking about getting into bee keeping so I live close to Cincinnati Ohio so I was wondering do u sell bee packages and how far are u from Cincinnati
I’m glad i was watching the dirt rooster video about what happened to your channel I hate that someone took your channel but had that not happened i may have never found your channel .So with that being said how many bees or colonies should I start with
I've kept bees in the Rocky Mountains at nearly 6,000' above sea level since the early '60s. Like you, I've never wrapped a hive and have excellent over-wintering success. My secret is to not be to greedy at harvest time, provide a wind-break, and to keep mites well under control all year long (winter preparation begins in March). Most beekeepers don't understand how the bees stay warm. We humans tend to heat the whole house -- even rooms we rarely/never use. It would be much wiser to lower the thermostat and put on a sweater. That's what the bees do: instead of heating the whole hive, they put on a sweater (ie form a tight cluster). They've been doing that for millions of years with great success. (Dunno how the bees survived without beekeepers providing fake food and insulated/heated hves.)
@@danholtbk7008 I inspect my hives every 2 weeks beginning in March if it's warm enough. I do a mite count (alcohol wash) during every-other inspection (4 weeks). I take a half-cup sample of bees from a frame with open brood -- about 300 bees. I continue the mite counts until October when it becomes too cold to open the hive. I treat all 10 colonies when one colony hits a 2% infestation (6 mites in a half-cup sample). I use a different treatment each time. When I have to treat, I do a mite count 2 weeks after the treatment to ensure it worked. In 2021, I used MAQS (2 sachet) in May and Apivar after the harvest in mid August. In 2020, I used MAQS (1 sachet followed by a second sachet 2 weeks later) in May and ApiLifeVar In September. Always follow the label.
Your .02 cents isn't worth a nickel but it may be worth a dime in time. Did that rhyme? 🤣🙃😂🙂😊😉 I've also never bothered to wrap a beehive. Ladybug was too busy acting stoic and intelligent to be bothered with your questions, lol.
@Brent Eason Farms That depends on who you ask, according to UA-cam this information is worth way more than a dime, to date it's worth $30 and climbing. 😊 Do you use a wind block for your hives? Ladybug is a funny girl, that for sure! I was hoping to see your bees in one of your videos this year but that hasn't happened, what's the deal? The farm keeping you too busy to worry about beekeeping? If so, I completely understand. I'll wait for my next rhyme....
@@JCsBees You're opinion "isn't worth a nickel" because you gave it for free but it's worth money to youtube over time per view so "worth a dime over time".....I thought it was clever but I admit my bar isn't high for impressing myself. Lol. Uh uh, no bee videos this year. I did one and wasn't happy with it at all. I still feel like there are so many good beekeepers on youtube like you that my efforts are a waste of time. There's nothing special about mine or the way I keep them. I did slack off on the bee hobby this year too. I just didn't have the time or inspiration to work with them as much as I used to. Trying to build the livestock and fighting trying to get a stand of crops though the wild weather swings was about all I could handle this year. I felt lucky to be able to do minimal maintenance on the hives this season. No I've never worried about the winter weather with the bees too much. I block off the screened bottom boards and try to place the apiaries in a fair spot with some natural wind block with a sunny south side in winter. I'm going to start moving my apiaries around in a rotational manner in effort to minimize the small hive beetle issue. I fought those little bastards harder than ever this year and still had a lot of issues with them. I think the random escapees overwintering in the soil under the hives is building a load and making the issue worse all the time. I don't want to spray the soil under the hives or spread diatomaceous earth under them all but I may have to eventually.
I think bee box's need to bolt heavily 1.1/2 or 2 , NOT 3/4. LIVEING IN SNOW BELT IT COLD - 13 IN WINTER I HAVE TOOK BEES OUT OF HOUSES ALL WAY ON MORNING SUN SIDE NEVER SEEN SCREEN BOTTOM. BOARD. IN TREES IN SIDE OF HOUSE OR SHED
Last year I use screened bottom board and upper entrance, my bees survived the winter so I'm doing the same this year. Lady bug seems to talk quite a lot, I value her input.
To wrap or not is dependent on where you’re located. Our winter here in the Western Catskill are still consistently cold and snowy. I wrap and overwinter w success. Insulating the top cover will eliminate that source if condensation. But no amount of winter prep will matter if the colonies aren’t mite free and healthy
Love your videos Jason! 💖 I'm always learning something new from you! Ladybug is adorable and I enjoyed the interview. I had a rough day and needed to smile. That did it for me!!😊💖
@Carol Lawecki Thanks. So glad to hear you learned something and that Ladybug put a smile on your face. She is really good about that. In this weeks video, were gonna see if Ladybug likes honey. Since the interview in this video someone asked if she really likes honey so were are going to find out. Should be fun. 😊Hope you have a better day today!
Hi JC bees, I live in mid New York State. I have five colonies, all are double deeps and two have a med super I left because they are a bit light on honey in top deep. 4 have SBB that were left closed all summer. Should I open them up? All are getting feeding spacers with newspaper and a 4 lb bag of sugar on top. Treated with OA . Thanks for all the common sense information that you put on here for us that are just starting out. Last year I had 1 colony and lost it early in the winter. Learned a lot since then but this will be my first winter that I am expecting to have survivors in spring. Ric
Tricky question. If it were me, I would open them but that is me in central Ohio. Maybe ask some others in your area if you know any and see what they do. I would hate for you to lose your colonies because you took my advise. Or open 3 of the colonies SBB and leave the rest close. This little experiment will tell you what to do in the future. Best of luck! Glad your enjoying the videos!!
Enjoy your channel an glad to see you doing what you do!
Thank you!
I'm not far into the video but the honey bee is also invasive.
100% on point…winters aren’t what they used to be here in Southern Maine either.
Wrapping truly causes activity, wasting stores. I only use a 2” insulated top on my hives to prevent condensation. (and a gentle tip towards front)
Upper ‘stovepipe entrance’ open for sure.
Awesome intuitive information, always on point ! 🤘💪
lol...Ladybug and the Crickets. Enjoyed this blog. Interesting how comb can be wash'd clean like that.
If it ain't broke . . . don't fix it!
We have experienced the same results on the eastern shore of md. We stopped wrapping a few years ago and still see the same overwinter results. We also agree and use SBB and a good wind block.
Your absolutely right
Interesting ; I enjoyed your presentation very much !
New beekeeper here, what problems does the solid bottom cause over winter? We were suggested (by the local bee club) to put the trays in under our screened bottoms over winter, because of wind. Our hives are out in the middle of our field and the north wind is bitter, and our atmosphere is humid in southwestern KY.
We built a wind block but I was still advised to use the bottom trays. We see some nasty 60mph+ winds. It's hard to know what to do.
Hello, The advantage to the screened bottom is the air flow it adds. That air flow helps push the moisture out the top entrance and doesn't allow it to condense on the inner cover and drip back on the bees. If I were you I would experiment with both setups and see which works best for you. Then in the future you will know which winter setup works best for you.
Last winter I told another Ohio beekeeper to leave screened bottoms open, he was understandably concerned with that suggestion and took all of his colonies but 1 through winter with solid bottom. He told me this past spring he should have listened to me as the 1 nuc with the screened bottom did the best overwinter. This winter all of his colonies have screened bottoms. 😊
@@JCsBees okay. We were also told to shut the top entrance and have a concave inner cover (diverts condesation) with a dry sugar feeder shim on top of the frames. It's so hard to know what to do. We have 4 hives and I can't say I'm willing to sacrifice any of them but it is hard to know what's right until I try!! I appreciate your help.
Very good information Jason! So many people don’t realize the benefits of the black locust trees. I’ve read that buckhorn sumac is also a beneficial nectar/pollen plant and it’s sad that so many people try to erase them from their property. Bravo on screen bottom boards & top entrances.
You may want to look for goat willow. It seems to bloom very early (flowers before the leaves) and the bees are all over it when it does here in Toledo. Male and female trees so you may need to plant several to get what you need. The male flowers can be quite large.
The ladybug interview was hysterical
Glad you enjoyed it! lol
At 9:30, i had to smile. . Ladybug making her entrance. Hey there 🐞. .
Hey JC! Thanks for all the info. I’m glad you got your channel back. I have a single 5 frame nuc. I made a rookie mistake of only starting out with one hive in the spring. They came down with EFB and have struggled all summer to get caught back up. I have moved them from an 8 frame hive to a 5 frame nuc. I’m in the mountains of SW Virginia. Our winters aren’t as harsh as they once were. Average lows in the middle of winter are close to 20-30°F. Any advice on trying to keep these girls going this winter? They’re doing a great job at storing nectar/sugar syrup but I’m fully prepared to feed them through the winter, if they make it.
@learningtolovekimber Thanks. I am sure glad my channel was recovered too. As far as your nuc, I would think about making a candy board or making a feeding shim for dry sugar. I explain shims in this video ua-cam.com/video/RozgAs1jGjg/v-deo.html
I would also add the upper entrance as explained in that video. Best of luck!
Another great video. I have some locust fence posts that were made by my wife's grandfather. They are still being used. Three years ago one hive made a bunch of honeysuckle honey and it was delicious. Everyone told me it reminded them of pulling honeysuckle blossoms off and sucking out the nectar when they were kids. Great memories.
No doubt locust make great fence post. We use them because our farm is organic and all the store bought post are treated. We have a 3 acre locust forest that I manage just for fence post, works very well. Interesting about the honeysuckle, I know it sure smells nice on a spring day.
Hello Jason good information. Here in NC. Our winter’s are warmer also but we do have some cold times . I run 8 frames and screen bottom and also screen top covers . My bees do great thru winter . This year so far they are very strong. Thanks again for all your info.
Glad to hear your bees are doing well. I find it interesting how everyone has their own setup to over winter with success. You and I use screened bottoms, other say they are bad to use overwinter. I am not convinced. lol
I wonder though, if you did adjust based on the “new information “ if your bees would consume less resources in order to make it through winter.
My Dad’s old pickup went to school and back for me just fine at 10 mpg, and my 2019 Pickup goes to town fine but only uses 21 mpg… yes both got the job done but the newer one is way more efficient.
Very good point! It's scary trying new things though, one could lose everything they have if they are not careful.
I want to run double mediums for my brood. I’m moving to using all mediums for consistency going forward. What’s the optimal winter weight for double medium?
Very near Charlotte NC
Thinking about doing something like that in the future too. I was told that 3 medium equals 2 deep as far as cell count goes. So if 2 deep need to be 100 lbs you might shoot for around 65 lbs in 2 mediums. That's just a guess though based on what I know about how the 2 sizes compare.
"This is not a how to do bees video. This is a how I do bees video." Sounds like Mike Barry doesn't it. There are some black locust fence posts on my family farm that were set in the mid 1950s. I was with my Grandpa when the woven wire fence was put up. They were cut, stripped and seasoned for 2 years before being tamped in place. Most now have a 'T' post next to them but a few are still supporting the fence which has been supplemented by 5 strands of barbed wire. Time will finally get all of us.
Awesome video! It is great to hear more about the nectar and pollen sources the bees have. Thank you Jason!
Thanks. I just wanted to clear the air a little about the invasive species and how are bees depend on them. Glad you enjoyed!!
We're invasive! lol great video, great info. Thanks for sharing!
Maples, locusts popular, buckeyes, and basswood.
Thanks Jason for another great video. I remember my first winter struggles with solid or screened bottom boards. You tried to push me in the right direction but I was bullheaded. Did 1/2 screened, 1/2 solid…. They all made it through winter, but the screened bottom board hives thrived while the solid bottom board hives lagged behind in the spring. Moisture is the winter killer of bees, not the cold. Just my experience as I’m sure it is for many others, but to each his own. I pretty much copy your winter set-up with good success. Also, I’m in search of a field lined with Black Locust and Lindens for my next bee yard. 😉
Glad you enjoyed the video. I completely understand the hesitation to use screened bottom boards, I was the same the first winter I used them but in the end those colonies did the best just like you stated. Glad to hear you noticed the same thing.
Have you considered broadcasting some Black Locust seeds? I've seen saplings grow 8 foot in one year on our farm. Let me know if you want some seeds, I could mail you some. 😉
I wonder if the bird who picks up a seed asks if that seed is ok too disperse elsewhere. Haha. . Winters are definitely not the same, i remember snow for months up here. I've always wrapped and this year I'm on the fence about it. I'm going to use temperature/humidity sensors so maybe I'll go with the wind blocks this year and just check my temps. Uggh, I gotta decide soon. Lol. . Thanks for sharing Jason.
No. The birds do not ask. I know because I see them taking berries from the multiflora rose bushes all the time. lol I'm curious what sensors are you using? Is it Broodminder? I am getting ready to setup my Broodminder for winter. I should use them more than I do but time is limited during the growing season. As far as wrapping I would stick with what has worked for you, why change it?
@@JCsBees I am using a cigar humidor sensor from Govee. This next week i have a video on them. The only drawback is that they are not as flat, but they are much cheaper than broodminders.
Interesting. I will watch for the video. Not sure what one of the cigar sensors cost but do you know BroodMinder has sensors for $29 that are wireless? They used to be $75 each.
Thank goodness, phew 👍
Lady Bug is a sweetie. Good vid.
Yes, I totally agree, a sweetie pie! Glad you enjoyed the video.
Thanks for the video Jason! As usual, very informative and entertaining.
Glad you enjoyed it!
A good way to determine whether wrapping is worthwhile is to watch what the beekeepers with more than 500 colonies are doing in your climate. Note that large-scale beekeepers consistently have a significantly better wintering success than do hobby beekeepers. If they are wrapping, insulating, or storing colonies in a climate-controlled warehouse (eg, Ian Steppler), it'd be a good idea for a beekeeper with one or two hives to do the same. If the big guys in your climate don't see the value in wrapping, insulating, or storing colonies in a climate-controlled warehouse, there probably isn't much value for the hobby beekeeper either -- although Home Depot and Lowes will get some value from your use of their products.
Consider studing the properties if insulation. A quality insulation will keep the hive warmer on very cold days. When the sun hits the black plastic material, the insulation will prevent the heat from entering the hive. The insulation protect the hive from exterior tempetarture hot or cold. People in summer high neat regions and using foam hives to keep the bees cooler.
I’ve got 5 hives that are not going to catch any of the winter sun due to their placement- my fault. Placing them into a more open area just isn’t possible until April ‘22. Due to a lack of any direct sunlight over this coming winter , do you think wrapping the hives in tar paper would be a bit beneficial? Thank you Jason.
That's a tricky question. It's a roll of the dice really. How many hives do you have? If you have more than 1 I would try one with tar paper and one without. Then you can find which setup works best for your bees in your location.
Another good video. Top of the day to ya!
Thanks! You too!
I'd add purple loosestrife. Great bee plant here in Massachusetts, but is being irradiated.
Great idea!
My hives are in the Rockies at over 7000’ ft of elevation and I also use screened bottom boards and do not wrap in winter. We have prolonged periods of below zero (F) temps and the bees are just fine.
That's pretty impressive, glad to hear you use the same setup!!
Love Lady Bug. Instead of Japanese Honeysuckle, try native. Blooms all summer and the bees and hummingbirds love it.
The vining type (I was told) has too long of a blossom base for the honey bee's tongue.
@@SageandStoneHomestead Yes they are long but my honey bees go to the top and puncher the bloom much like the bumble bee do. They must get something or they would not bother.
Folks also need to remember that all these invasives or at least many are known to our European Honey bees historically. And along all this invasives import, folks need to remember that Honey Bees are also import originally. Up here in the NW Minnesota wrapping and wind blocking is necessary. I've ran winter temperature test with wrapped and unwrapped colonies... temperature were no much different. Further north is Canada, many colonies are inside buildings held at 40 degrees all winter. Just saying, what works for you is good, but what works elsewhere is good too like you said. Good video!
A little off topic, but do you have yellow poplar (also called tulip poplar) in your area? I'm based in SE Michigan, but I have a property is SE Ohio, and the predominant tree in that area (washington county) is tulip poplar. It flowers roughly mid-May to mid-June, and is a nectar heavy tree. If I get my apiary there going, I'm wondering where to sell the honey.
Here's something you might like to try. Put a thermometer in the upper entrance in Winter, and read the temperature. Then, place a one inch thick sheet of insulation on top of the hive. The temperature will jump up at least two degrees, or more if a very strong hive. However, the bees will adjust quickly, and the temperature will drop to near where it was before the insulation was placed on top!
I actually shared a video this spring that the tulip trees I planted from seed years ago bloomed this year, so yes we have them. Great trees to have. We've had them in my area for years but now I have some right in my bee yard.
Honey sales can be tricky. I would start by just getting the word out. Then maybe start asking small mom & pop store owners if they would care to sell your honey. If you live on a main road you may have decent luck with just a sign in your yard that you sell raw honey. Facebook is another option.
Ladybug is the supervisor, so she doesn’t need to know anything. 😉.
Fair point! lol
Ahh yes the wrap whenever someone shows how they wrap up I put a picture of my hives sitting in the yard all alone no wrap with the lid off showing the nice cluster of bees, Oh the freak outs that I get, HaHa.
Interesting lot to think about , I have a question not related to the video , the spices of bee called Buckfast is that the most common bee acquired by beekeepers in the states ,what do you have ?, I have searched around here in Australia 🇦🇺 but to no avail , i have noticed from UA-cam that a lot of keepers have buckfast why is that ?
Honestly, I am not sure I believe there is any pure bred bees left. I think at this point they are all mutt but people still like to say their bees are of a certain breed. lol I advertise the queens I sell as high class mutts. 😊
I use mostly solid bottom boards i have 3 or 4 with screeed bottom boards i close them in winter but it seems to me that the screened ones build up faster in spring. Do you leave yours open or closed in winter thanks for the videos usealy ? Start sunday off with your video.
Thanks for starting the day with my video, much appreciated! My screened bottoms stay open year round.
I'm a beekeeper in Australia and in the East part of the sub-tropical part of Australia we have one or two of the same pest tree species and a whole lot that you don't have there. The sentiment is the same. Beekeeping is slightly different but not drastically so. It's all essentially the same Your climate zone is the same as South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the southern part of NSW. So in my latitude in QLD we don't get cold winters but most of my fellow Australians do. As a side comment the yellowing of the wax is partly due to propolis. They use it to glue up any gaps but it is tacky and sticky so it gets stuck to their feet. They also intentionally add it to otherwise clean wax because it has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Ladybugs president CEO of JC bees 🐝
She was coming around to check in on you making sure why you ain't working. I know how it feels I have a little Jack Russell make sure I'm working not goofing off 😄😄
ya nice but up north here in Canada we still get -40 so i cover my hives with insulation and a tarp with a hole in the front ...works well for me ....cheers ...thanks for the vids
Very nice! Glad to hear you have a system that works for you overwinter!
I agree Jason…..I’ve never wrapped or insulated…I don’t think you can improve on how bees winter through….feed them-treat them-and wait for spring….
@ed devault Hey good to see your still following me. I have seen you in the comment so a good while. Glad to hear you are in the same boat with me as far as wrapping. Take care!!
ladybug said "they taste good"
Your yard looks pretty open - when you say that you have a wind break, what does that look like in your context?
Also, is there any issue moving the hives this time of year? I have two hives that are about 50 yards apart and I’m thinking about putting them next to each other.
Jason if it Japanese knot weed just cut the leaf and put in the ground it will grow
We have a few black locusts i have heard. It makes good honey don't think i have ever had it if you have extra seeds please seed me some thank you.
I’m wondering if you have a swarm just landed in a tree, will a Russian scarf right placed next to them attract them .?
I rap on the top of hives to see if there is anyone home.
Great job on the invasive species, honey bees and cattle are all invasive, lol
A lot of people are saying that but I am not sure "invasive" is the correct wording. Cows and bees haven't taken over anything. lol
Is it to late to treat for mites ? I’d sill have to order the equipment! Newbie. Caught two swarms this Spring.
Better late than never, right? Get it done ASAP..
@@JCsBees arg
@@JCsBees just spent another 300 bucks. Oh well , can’t take it with me, right. Maybe one of the grandsons will pick it up !
What did you order? Bees have no problem spending our $$. lol
@@JCsBees sent you a email.
Please tell me :at this time is the queen still lay the egg? Thank you
GSM ! Hope you got a good supply of wood ! Although it’s the weather. Well actually it’s the sun !
Hello Jason I’m really thinking about getting into bee keeping so I live close to Cincinnati Ohio so I was wondering do u sell bee packages and how far are u from Cincinnati
I sell 5 frame nucs which is better than packages. I am about 2.5 hours away from you. Google Martinsburg, Ohio.
Ok thank you for answering my question and that’s a lot closer than driving down to northern Georgia and buying them
I’m glad i was watching the dirt rooster video about what happened to your channel I hate that someone took your channel but had that not happened i may have never found your channel .So with that being said how many bees or colonies should I start with
Where can I find a price list for ur nucs I wish I could privately message u on here wait du you have a Facebook page
Jason, will Ladybug eat honey?
Great question, I honestly do not know. I will test her on that in my next video.
💕👌👍
I have never wrapped my hives in 25 years.
Jason do have any pollen still coming in
Yes, I still have a little from the Asters but with all the rain this coming week that's gonna end soon.
I've kept bees in the Rocky Mountains at nearly 6,000' above sea level since the early '60s. Like you, I've never wrapped a hive and have excellent over-wintering success. My secret is to not be to greedy at harvest time, provide a wind-break, and to keep mites well under control all year long (winter preparation begins in March).
Most beekeepers don't understand how the bees stay warm. We humans tend to heat the whole house -- even rooms we rarely/never use. It would be much wiser to lower the thermostat and put on a sweater. That's what the bees do: instead of heating the whole hive, they put on a sweater (ie form a tight cluster). They've been doing that for millions of years with great success. (Dunno how the bees survived without beekeepers providing fake food and insulated/heated hves.)
@@danholtbk7008 I inspect my hives every 2 weeks beginning in March if it's warm enough. I do a mite count (alcohol wash) during every-other inspection (4 weeks). I take a half-cup sample of bees from a frame with open brood -- about 300 bees. I continue the mite counts until October when it becomes too cold to open the hive. I treat all 10 colonies when one colony hits a 2% infestation (6 mites in a half-cup sample). I use a different treatment each time. When I have to treat, I do a mite count 2 weeks after the treatment to ensure it worked. In 2021, I used MAQS (2 sachet) in May and Apivar after the harvest in mid August. In 2020, I used MAQS (1 sachet followed by a second sachet 2 weeks later) in May and ApiLifeVar In September. Always follow the label.
honey bees were not native to the USA they were introduced long ago
ladybug is awesome. We have an American bully. Best dog ever.
Thanks and I agree. Do you have a male or female? What is it's name? Great dogs!!
@@JCsBees Male. All white with some brown around the eyes and ears.
His name is Kerswaw
Black locust is native is okay.
Farmers in Texas I'm crazy for liking locust trees. I'll agree to disagree with them
Your .02 cents isn't worth a nickel but it may be worth a dime in time. Did that rhyme? 🤣🙃😂🙂😊😉 I've also never bothered to wrap a beehive. Ladybug was too busy acting stoic and intelligent to be bothered with your questions, lol.
@Brent Eason Farms That depends on who you ask, according to UA-cam this information is worth way more than a dime, to date it's worth $30 and climbing. 😊 Do you use a wind block for your hives? Ladybug is a funny girl, that for sure! I was hoping to see your bees in one of your videos this year but that hasn't happened, what's the deal? The farm keeping you too busy to worry about beekeeping? If so, I completely understand.
I'll wait for my next rhyme....
@@JCsBees You're opinion "isn't worth a nickel" because you gave it for free but it's worth money to youtube over time per view so "worth a dime over time".....I thought it was clever but I admit my bar isn't high for impressing myself. Lol.
Uh uh, no bee videos this year. I did one and wasn't happy with it at all. I still feel like there are so many good beekeepers on youtube like you that my efforts are a waste of time. There's nothing special about mine or the way I keep them.
I did slack off on the bee hobby this year too. I just didn't have the time or inspiration to work with them as much as I used to. Trying to build the livestock and fighting trying to get a stand of crops though the wild weather swings was about all I could handle this year. I felt lucky to be able to do minimal maintenance on the hives this season.
No I've never worried about the winter weather with the bees too much. I block off the screened bottom boards and try to place the apiaries in a fair spot with some natural wind block with a sunny south side in winter. I'm going to start moving my apiaries around in a rotational manner in effort to minimize the small hive beetle issue. I fought those little bastards harder than ever this year and still had a lot of issues with them. I think the random escapees overwintering in the soil under the hives is building a load and making the issue worse all the time. I don't want to spray the soil under the hives or spread diatomaceous earth under them all but I may have to eventually.
i used the plastic wraps with insulation and it did nothing but cause problems
Sorry to hear this but I am not surprised. What the plan this winter?
@@JCsBees
One hive pine , one betterbee poly foam . See what one come thru winter stronger. Or if I see any difference.
@James Woenker I have a betterbee poly nuc and the bees do well in them overwinter.
Did you get any mice in the bags? I think they are pricey and only moderately effective. But I've never owned one.
@@JCsBees my plan this winter is to push my hives together and let nature do what she dose best...
I think bee box's need to bolt heavily 1.1/2 or 2 , NOT 3/4. LIVEING IN SNOW BELT IT COLD - 13 IN WINTER I HAVE TOOK BEES OUT OF HOUSES ALL WAY ON MORNING SUN SIDE NEVER SEEN SCREEN BOTTOM. BOARD. IN TREES IN SIDE OF HOUSE OR SHED
Morning
Good morning, James! Hope all is well. 😊
@@JCsBees second cup ! Cut wood , deer hunt , got two weeks off ! Then it’s back to the salt mines.
Out about to say my bully done it. But only once
LOL at sometime or another someone somewhere planted them invasive species.
Very true! lol
Burns close to coal . Best of the best !
Yes, it does. I try to save Locust firewood for super cold nights.
@@JCsBeestrue that !
Cold weather doesn't kill the bee's moister does! I don't rap my hives either
Last year I use screened bottom board and upper entrance, my bees survived the winter so I'm doing the same this year. Lady bug seems to talk quite a lot, I value her input.
Honey bees are not native either :)
Ladybug was being pretty quiet! Maybe Ladybug hacked your channel and is using the 5th amendment to her advantage!
That's funny! I'll have to keep a closer eye on her from now on. lol
You know you're keeping European honeybees, technically an invasive species right?
Very good point. See there is more to this than I thought. Thanks!
I believe why change it if it is working for you.