Have you thought about cutting drawn foundations in half? Sounds like a lot of work, but it works to stretch the drawn comb a little further. Also saves on the cost of foundation. Trick I learned from another beekeeper. Heavy duty shears will do the trick and the comb holds up fine if you're careful.
Kate is such a cutie and a bit of a ham. LOL Precious for sure. I'm glad you are starting this business while young. The physical part can wear you down when you are older. I learned a long time ago that if you are needing to work hard long days you need to give yourself breaks to let your body keep going. Spring time with a flow sure makes beekeeping easier. Remember summer is coming.
I'm here in TN as well and at a bee seminar we were told to not put hives especially weaker ones anywhere close to water because it is perfect conditions for hive beetles/other pests. So I've been placing mine across a field from the water with 0 hive beetle issues, anyways love the videos/info I'm subbing for sure!
Nathan, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said making splits is like harvesting honey. Melissa and I have been working our tails off til dark splitting colonies. We have made 45 splits so far and still have 2 more bee yards to go thru. Hang in there, bud! -Tom
Looks like most boxes are medium, I don't use medium anymore, it's a waste of time .need all deeps for more honey production.if you are concerned abou/ weight,lots of manual machines to move them around.right tools for for right outcome.
I like your solution of the laying work hives. Fixing that is almost impossible and consumes so much time, I will be doing it your way next. Thanks for the tip
Drop two frames of foundation into the remaining comb supers and get yourself a few more comb boxes out of them and some new drawn foundation at the same time. Been looking at the number of super boxes I have left and the number of hives and getting a mite worried. Have some boxes in the freezer with honey from last year... may have to shift those frames to 5 frame nuc boxes to get my 8 frame supers back or thaw and extract the honey frames... LOL I'll be pulling the first capped honey frames off the hives by the end of May! Weather has finally broken here giving 3-4 good working days but then more rains followed by winds and other commitments. Was inspecting a hive last week and looking for queen cells and there danced a virgin across the frame! First of the season but also have lots of capped queen cells in all the hives I pulled 5 frame nucs out of overwintered hives to sell to new beekeepers. Last pulls are providing cells already capped off for this weeks pulls so rolling everything right on over and getting new season queens at the same time. Without tons of new brood to raise (still plenty left) the bees are storing the unused nectar so have the first comb supers on and will be adding the seconds in week to 10 days as the new queens will be laying. Ordered in a few new genetics as well and more coming at the end of the month if all goes well. Have some drone comb looking like yours as well. Long day... know the feeling was out this evening after dark with a head lamp collecting various pieces of woodware and filling up the rubbermaid containers with more pine needles at the various yard areas. Stays real dry in those containers year round and eliminates the need to run back and forth. Looks like you are cranking out the splits this year and the strengths look nice and strong!
Season is progressing Nancy, I think splitting season and lead up to the main flow is the hardest working time of year, probably worse than pulling honey. Though if I get a good crop this year I may change my mind on that. I’ve got enough production colonies now that it should start adding up. Blessings be on your bee season!
Nathan, could you take an evening and checkerboard foundations in with your drawn comb boxes? That way, you'll be able to spread out your drawn comb and get more comb drawn at the same time? Just a thought. I ordered my jacket yesterday. If you recall, I asked what yours is last week. I was telling you how I didn't have much room in the hood of the one I have. Well, I took a sting to the neck yesterday, lol. The new jacket is on its way!
I’ve done that in the past but I don’t as much anymore. I prefer to use my drawn comb up early because bees will fill it on a light flow that isn’t heavy enough to get them to draw foundation. When the main flow hits I’ll add supers of foundation and pull worked frames up to get them started.
@@DuckRiverHoneywhat type of flow are you having now? We are starting to see tons of dandelions around. I boosted with capped brood and added a super, hopefully I don't cause swarming issues for myself.
Hello Sir. I've been following you in regards to becoming a side liner. I have a colony that has gone totally rabid. Can't get near them without Kevlar. I know the queen has to go .I feeding them up in case it's food stress but i don't think it will fix it. I'm in Denver Co. BTW. Do you thonk i could break the colony down into several walk way splits and recover just the brood and nurse bees?
I feel ya on making nucs being a job especially when it’s surprise splitting and you’re scrambling grabbing equipment lifting boxes it’s a job and a half.
Great video! Nice tip on the double prong vs single prong cell protectors. I didn’t know about the size difference, but I know my cells don’t fit well in the single prong style.
morning, another awesome video TY, i have learned much from you, my question is, with your spare boxes and no more drawed comb why dont you checker board in 3 or 4 frames to each box then use the ones you removed to fill extra boxes , it will help you get more frames drawed a little quicker,, thanks again keep up the hard work and the effort it takes,,
Would entirely depend on the package, how the queen is producing and what you plan to do with the. In Ontario Canada, got packages about 6 weeks ago. Splitting back down to nucs in about 2 weeks. Some may not be split but will be left as full production hives. Many of these hives are as strong as any over wintered hive. A small amount of pollen sup and some honey and natural pollen on the drawn frames.
In setting up your mating nucs, are you using 5 frames of bees/brood because you’re using a 10 frame box? Watching Bob Binnie, he recommends only a couple of frames of bees with a little brood. He says smaller nucs are better for acceptance.
I’m using mediums, not deeps. And it’s early in the season there, with forecast lows in the 30’s for several nights in the two week forecast. So I made them stronger.
Making splits is hard but when you’re doing in a country like Australia where we have 21 of the 25 most toxic snakes in the world at our back door that can be a little more concerning when you see a snake. 😵💫
Taking a mental note: During a zombie apocalypse, listen for the queenless roar.
What a blessing that your family is participating with you on this bee journey.
It was a fun afternoon.
Have you thought about cutting drawn foundations in half? Sounds like a lot of work, but it works to stretch the drawn comb a little further. Also saves on the cost of foundation. Trick I learned from another beekeeper. Heavy duty shears will do the trick and the comb holds up fine if you're careful.
I’ve never considered it, but I hope it doesn’t come to that. It’d be hard to scale.
Great explanations on why doing work in certain situations. Good planning on mating yard.
Thanks Mary!
Thanks for the update Nathan, it will be 5 weeks till I start splitting but it is nice to see others doing it.
Thanks Rainier!
Kate is such a cutie and a bit of a ham. LOL Precious for sure.
I'm glad you are starting this business while young. The physical part can wear you down when you are older. I learned a long time ago that if you are needing to work hard long days you need to give yourself breaks to let your body keep going. Spring time with a flow sure makes beekeeping easier. Remember summer is coming.
I’m thankful I can still take it Russ, and the off season helps a lot.
I'm here in TN as well and at a bee seminar we were told to not put hives especially weaker ones anywhere close to water because it is perfect conditions for hive beetles/other pests. So I've been placing mine across a field from the water with 0 hive beetle issues, anyways love the videos/info I'm subbing for sure!
That is a wonderful creek for a kid to play in.😁
It is, they had fun.
Nathan, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said making splits is like harvesting honey. Melissa and I have been working our tails off til dark splitting colonies. We have made 45 splits so far and still have 2 more bee yards to go thru. Hang in there, bud!
-Tom
Splits and pulling and extracting are the biggest workloads.
I run double deeps.... how many deep frames of bees would you recommend taking into the nectar flow?
@noahG82 10 for a single and 20 for a double. Depends on your system.
Love that one... Wish I had a helper😇🤣
She’s a big helper.
I drop a super of foundation then a box of comb on each hive. Make them pass through the foundation to get to the comb. 200 new supers this year.
That’s a lot of comb! I know that sense of void can help.
Looks like most boxes are medium, I don't use medium anymore, it's a waste of time .need all deeps for more honey production.if you are concerned abou/ weight,lots of manual machines to move them around.right tools for for right outcome.
I like your solution of the laying work hives. Fixing that is almost impossible and consumes so much time, I will be doing it your way next. Thanks for the tip
They’re not worth the effort to fix. Combine and walk away, works every time.
Drop two frames of foundation into the remaining comb supers and get yourself a few more comb boxes out of them and some new drawn foundation at the same time. Been looking at the number of super boxes I have left and the number of hives and getting a mite worried. Have some boxes in the freezer with honey from last year... may have to shift those frames to 5 frame nuc boxes to get my 8 frame supers back or thaw and extract the honey frames... LOL I'll be pulling the first capped honey frames off the hives by the end of May! Weather has finally broken here giving 3-4 good working days but then more rains followed by winds and other commitments. Was inspecting a hive last week and looking for queen cells and there danced a virgin across the frame! First of the season but also have lots of capped queen cells in all the hives I pulled 5 frame nucs out of overwintered hives to sell to new beekeepers. Last pulls are providing cells already capped off for this weeks pulls so rolling everything right on over and getting new season queens at the same time. Without tons of new brood to raise (still plenty left) the bees are storing the unused nectar so have the first comb supers on and will be adding the seconds in week to 10 days as the new queens will be laying. Ordered in a few new genetics as well and more coming at the end of the month if all goes well. Have some drone comb looking like yours as well. Long day... know the feeling was out this evening after dark with a head lamp collecting various pieces of woodware and filling up the rubbermaid containers with more pine needles at the various yard areas. Stays real dry in those containers year round and eliminates the need to run back and forth. Looks like you are cranking out the splits this year and the strengths look nice and strong!
Season is progressing Nancy, I think splitting season and lead up to the main flow is the hardest working time of year, probably worse than pulling honey. Though if I get a good crop this year I may change my mind on that. I’ve got enough production colonies now that it should start adding up. Blessings be on your bee season!
I wish you success in your beekeeping career!! It's not an easy business but it can be done.
Thanks!
Nathan, could you take an evening and checkerboard foundations in with your drawn comb boxes? That way, you'll be able to spread out your drawn comb and get more comb drawn at the same time? Just a thought. I ordered my jacket yesterday. If you recall, I asked what yours is last week. I was telling you how I didn't have much room in the hood of the one I have. Well, I took a sting to the neck yesterday, lol. The new jacket is on its way!
I’ve done that in the past but I don’t as much anymore. I prefer to use my drawn comb up early because bees will fill it on a light flow that isn’t heavy enough to get them to draw foundation. When the main flow hits I’ll add supers of foundation and pull worked frames up to get them started.
@@DuckRiverHoneywhat type of flow are you having now? We are starting to see tons of dandelions around. I boosted with capped brood and added a super, hopefully I don't cause swarming issues for myself.
Eve already had red maple, redbud, box elder, and wild cherry. Sugar maple will start this week.
"Wish I had more drawn comb" how many beekeepers have said that? Lol
🤷♂️👍
Hello Sir. I've been following you in regards to becoming a side liner. I have a colony that has gone totally rabid. Can't get near them without Kevlar. I know the queen has to go .I feeding them up in case it's food stress but i don't think it will fix it. I'm in Denver Co. BTW. Do you thonk i could break the colony down into several walk way splits and recover just the brood and nurse bees?
I feel ya on making nucs being a job especially when it’s surprise splitting and you’re scrambling grabbing equipment lifting boxes it’s a job and a half.
👍
Great video! Nice tip on the double prong vs single prong cell protectors. I didn’t know about the size difference, but I know my cells don’t fit well in the single prong style.
No idea why they’re so different 🤷♂️
Thanks for sharing 👍 enjoy your videos. 😊
Thanks Brian!
You got some great help there.
Absolutely, she loves it.
morning, another awesome video TY, i have learned much from you, my question is, with your spare boxes and no more drawed comb why dont you checker board in 3 or 4 frames to each box then use the ones you removed to fill extra boxes , it will help you get more frames drawed a little quicker,, thanks again keep up the hard work and the effort it takes,,
In my experience they don’t draw foundation well until we hit a good flow. I will pull splits and replace foundations after I run out of comb.
Hey Nathan, thanks for sharing your journey. What's your opinion/experience on splitting packages the first year?
They’d have to be awfully big before I’d split them. A package on foundation has a lot of work to do.
Would entirely depend on the package, how the queen is producing and what you plan to do with the.
In Ontario Canada, got packages about 6 weeks ago.
Splitting back down to nucs in about 2 weeks. Some may not be split but will be left as full production hives. Many of these hives are as strong as any over wintered hive.
A small amount of pollen sup and some honey and natural pollen on the drawn frames.
In setting up your mating nucs, are you using 5 frames of bees/brood because you’re using a 10 frame box? Watching Bob Binnie, he recommends only a couple of frames of bees with a little brood. He says smaller nucs are better for acceptance.
I’m using mediums, not deeps. And it’s early in the season there, with forecast lows in the 30’s for several nights in the two week forecast. So I made them stronger.
You might have answered this before, but how long before the flow do you stop feeding your honey producers?
I’ve quit feeding them already. As soon as any honey supers go on they get no syrup.
Why not run 9f supers and then you can stretch your drawn comb just a bit further?
I like 9F for honey supers, but not brood boxes. I’ll probably run 10F everything this year because I’ll be drawing so many foundations.
Making splits is hard but when you’re doing in a country like Australia where we have 21 of the 25 most toxic snakes in the world at our back door that can be a little more concerning when you see a snake. 😵💫
Luckily we don’t have tigers, eastern browns, or inland taipans. And our copperhead isn’t as venomous as yours.
@@DuckRiverHoney yep like top three deadliest right there.
The struggle if Draw colb. How we know the pain 😢😂
Drawn comb = options. No comb, no options.
It’s not duck tape it’s bee 🐝 tape
👍
glyphosate is the devil