Building a Bee Business Vlog #18
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- Опубліковано 10 чер 2023
- Documenting my struggle and the process of scaling a beekeeping business.
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regarding mowing: I'm with you. Our county mows probably 20 feet to the side of EVERY COUNTY ROAD in the county. A week ago the apron in front of my property was wild flowers. Today it's nothing. (And to add insult, they always screw up the drainage by knocking tons of dirt into the ditch that has to then be shoveled out by hand.)
So glad that you like the gadget. Thanks for the plug.
No worries DC, I need to order up one of your steering wheel grafting holders too. Great stuff.
So glad you're sticking to making this channel. So many are condescending hobbyists, been doing it for a month experts, and completely uninformed people telling everyone else what to do.
You have no idea how refreshing it is, and how much it restores my faith in humanity, to come across channels like yours that are rational, reasonable, and highly informative.
I've wanted to run a commercial apiary for over a decade and in the next few years it looks like that might become a reality. Watching you do this not only boosts my confidence, but makes me feel like this is achievable through discipline, good decision making, and sweat equity.
Thanks Dan, I appreciate the encouragement. TBH the shooting and editing adds an extra layer of work but I’m trying to stick with it.
@@DuckRiverHoney I don't know the online content market very well at all, but I hope the channel takes off. You're clearly putting effort into it.
I use 1 tsp of bleach per gallon ( leave over night to air off) in my sugar syrup and that seams to curtail the mold in my containers and I also use pint jars on my mating nucs so the syrup stays fresh and at the end of the season all feeders are soaked and scrubbed with a heavy bleach solution.
I hope this helps and wish you the best
Thanks John!
I mix in a few drops of essential oils in my feed and get little to no mold. Tea tree, peppermint and spearmint. I do 7 to 10 drops of each in a 55 gallon mixer drum. Bees drink it right down but it extends the life and limits the mold. Hope that's helpful. Keep up the great work and videos when you can!
Thanks!
I got my queen wheel from Dc himself while visiting an apiary he helps run in South Brevard Fl. Also gave me a pair of mini frame holders. Great beekeeper!
That’s neat! He’s got some cool stuff.
I look forward to your videos every week. Your journey with the bees is similar to mine. I’m shooting for 100 to 135 colony’s this year. I’ve ran my own business for 15 years now, in another field. At times you will have too search your sole to find the streng to move forward. You will need your faith in god to lean on more than ever. But when you come out the other side, and you will. It’s the most freeing feeling I have ever felt.
Thanks Kevin! I appreciate the inspiration. I’m in the thick of the season right now.
Definitely some huge potential here!
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Double coffee, love it
Drank the whole pot that day!
Oh and btw good job, you are trying hard enough to make it. You will be successful. Bees go hard, when you give it your all, you will win
Thanks John!
Nathan, from a farmer's perspective, the black water holding tanks grow less mold than white, so I would lean toward the idea that black buckets will grow less mold than white, I think maybe it's because they get hotter and takes longer for the mold to grow, but there's potential as Bob Binnie noted that they become more flexible and allows dripping..... as far as cleaning, a frequent bleach solution dip should do the trick and thorough cleaning at the end of the season, however that could become labor intensive and time consuming.
You did it again. You showing that fancy Queen Wheel made me buy one, well two actually.... I hope he gives you commission.... Another great video! Keep it up!
Lol, no commission here. I’ve never even spoken to him, but it’s a cool wheel and he deserves credit.
Great video! You are able to burn the midnight oil at a level I haven't been able to for many years as I've grown older. Thanks for showing the kids the way you have been too, they are our future, and you show how good and intelligent of a man you are as you strive to commit to supporting a new business that you are making from scratch. Wish you only the best!
Thanks Tommy, I appreciate it!
Regarding mold in your buckets,
I am switching to thymolated syrup, which is well documented to prevent molding in your bucket. Soaking buckets in bleach would probably be the best way to remove existing mold.
Thymolated syrup was easier to make than I thought. I used 190 proof everclear and thymol crystals per Randy Oliver's recommendations to make a "stock solution" in a mason jar. I just added the everclear + thymol crystals into a mason jar and shook vigorously for about 1 minute. I add the stock solution to my sugar syrup when I mix it. Just measure and pour. I'm never going back to standard sugar syrup.
Interesting, I appreciate it.
Expect the best, prepare for the worst, and take what comes with a grin ❤
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You're grafts are better than my come out, im still about 50 percent viable. Work in progress
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I’ve done just enough video editing that I truly appreciate how long it takes to put together such a long video. Very nice job with the edit and it’s exciting to see the growth! I blame you for me deciding to try my hand at grafting this year 😂
Queen rearing is super fun!
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Nathan!
Thanks!
Nathan you are right on both counts. The plastic buckets are a pain to get mold out of and too big for mating nucs. Jars work a lot better and are easy to wash out. On the buckets I use a teaspoon of chlorine bleach per gal of syrup to help keep the mold out. It will eventually get in there as the bleach dissipates. To clean them I put about a 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach per bucket, fill it the rest of the way with water, and wash it around the best I can through the hole in the lid with a bottle brush. Then let them sit a while or over night, and rinse them out. If you have enough buckets to be able to swap them out, it is good to let them sit empty to dry out good. Mold needs moisture. One of the other comments suggested apple cider vinegar in the syrup which may work well, but I haven't tried that.
Thanks! I use bleach in syrup but still got some mold. Think it was due to slow uptake by the colonies.
@@DuckRiverHoney Yes the bleach dissipates over time and mold will start to grow. I may try the vinegar and see how well it works. Plus I've read where apple cider vinegar may provide some health benefits for the bees.
I used vinegar for several years. It does fine, bees do well on it.
Throwing couple ideas out there if 2 brood box setup be like a single deep when u shake the queens down queen excluder over 2nd let brood hach and harvest honey. Makeing nucs I normally back the truck up by the colony iam splitting and pull frames and put in boxes on the truck like 5 frame nucs outside frame is all ways fondation 2nd frame food 3 and 4 brood 5 mix food pollen then a guy doesn't have to think of what u got in every box
Thanks Mark! I’m wondering if I can get my early round of nucs to grow to 2 boxes, then run them for honey. If I had comb I’d give it to them, maybe even equalize into them if I needed to. OR, overwinter some small summer nucs then do the same with them.
Yea Long work days doing something you love can be treacherous... Yesterday I mite checked my 12 hives (Found only ONE mite across all hives!), set up 24 mating nucs and transferred queen cells from my starter-finisher directly into those nucs. Left home at 11AM, came back at 9:30 with a 5 minute break and 2 liter of water.
I have a hard time starting. But once I start I have a hard time stopping >.< Inertia! 😁 Lets just say I took it easy today lol.
Thanks! The long days stacked up on me this week. I slept like I was in a coma last night.
Gonna be over 100 degrees here in south Texas this week. Working bees in this heat is a challenge for this ole gal so mornings are where it’s at. I’m appreciating being a part of your journey Nathan - thanks for taking the effort to share it
Thanks, I appreciate it!
On feeder buckes for small Colines I go to big box store and get quart or 2 quart paint mixing tubs with lids and drill 1, 2 or 3 1/16 hole near the center and use them. Second unless the bees are emptying your bucket in a very short amount of time I don't think u can keep it out but you can make a bleach solution and add it thru your plug hole and rinse it out with that until the next time
Thanks, I may try some of those
On the buckets. I havnt figured out how to prevent mold but what I have been doing to clean them is to line the buckets up in a row on the ground. I mix a strong bleach mixture in a pump up sprayer with an angled tip and set the nozzle to a thick mist. I walk down the line and spray the inside with the bleach mixture. I'll repeat it about half an hour later. It typically removes or kills the mold. After that I may rinse them out. If you find a better way please share. - Trinity Oaks in Texas
Maybe it’s a southern problem? Heat and humidity?
Another great video Nathen.... I always glean so much from your videos. Best of luck this season bud!
Thanks Greg!
i love your home apiary, beehives and a lake..that's about perfect in my book
Thanks, it’s a nice spot!
After the buckets are empty, pull the screen and put the bucket back on and the bees clean the bucket inside. Then bleach, hot water
That’s a good idea, let the bees do the work.
You answered your own question Nathan on those bucket feeders. Little mating nucs do not need that much syrup so a smaller feeder jar may be the answer. Of course it may mean multiple trips (to feed) but moldy buckets and syrup cannot be good for the bees and will take more time to clean, maintain and potentially do replacement parts.
That’s what I’m thinking too Nancy. I really didn’t want to stock multiple sizes of top feeders.
@@DuckRiverHoney Like most things in beekeeping one has to adapt to the conditions presented... Is there a smaller bucket available?
Half gallon buckets can be found…as well as paint mixing buckets and such. I’ll figure something out.
I use 10% bleach solution to clean my hummingbird feeders and it keeps the mold at bay till I can get a brush to scrub it down. Thank you very much for taking the time to chronicle your journey through your daily life. May the Lord bless you and your family in all of this walks of life.
Thanks Ed!
I'm glad you are young enough to be able to push your body so hard. I've been there done that and it isn't easy. But I think you are right, once you have all the infrastructure built it will get easier. What is you goal for hives in 2024? Are you going to stay around that 150 hives or go for 300? Have a good week and thank the Lord for the ability to be able to chase your dreams.
Russell I think 200 is minimum for full time, so I’d like to get to 250-300 and see what that’s like. If it’s viable economically and I’m not killing myself I may stay there.
Cory Stevens, Kaira Wagoner , those are pretty high level beekeepers right there
Out kicking my coverage…
Great videos nathan!! Last summer I got dehydrated during honey harvest even though I was drinking over a gallon of water a day. I asked a former college football player/ co-worker and he recommended pedialite powder. It worked great for me and even gave me more energy and durability on really hot days.
That’s awesome Randall, I think we have some of that for the kids.
Great Video Lets Save D Bees
Thanks!
It is exciting the potential developments on the mite research. Your working hard and it is paying dividends. Really enjoy following it. Looks like your flows are going well. Thanks and take care.
Thanks Garry! Flows have been below average so far. Not too bad, but not good either.
Couldn't agree with you more on the mowing aspect, had patch of wild flowers in the road ditch across from my house the county came through about 10 days ago and mowed down like they had good sense ☹️. The way the nectar flow has been this year you might just get sourwood even at the wrong elevation
We’ll see, hope the June flow is good.
Basswood/Linden are blooming here in Pennsylvania.
I think a few of ours have opened but I’m still seeing a lot that haven’t opened yet.
In my country we have a ton of black locust, forests, a hive can produce even 20 kilos ( a kilo is 2.2 pounds) of black locust honey, and we sel it with 8 € a kilo.
What country are you from?
Man you are rocking it!
I think we were about the same at the beginning of the year, but you're almost double me now!
I have the same equipment problem and had to sell some Nucs to free up equipment and make some money to get more equipment.
I'm somewhere around 80-85 now and sold 18 Nucs (so far).
I'm working a full time job and it's killing me. Every waking hour outside of work is spent in the bee yards.
I love it, but it sure can take a toll on you, and I'm worried that I won't be able to make it over the hump from sideline to full time when I reach that fork in the road.
Enjoying your vlog. Keep it up, you're doing great!
Thanks! I don’t think I could do what I am with a full time job (and the two young kids). There aren’t enough hours in the day sometimes.
I kinda know how you feel. Had to retire early to take care of my wife. Started keeping bees as a hobby. Found out how much money I could make and decided to get bigger. Then along came Murphy’s Law. Wife’s last sister decided to end her battle with cancer, the same cancer my wife beat, so I lost a week to say goodbye to her. Lost a week to unusually cold weather the week prior and just lost all of last week to my wife being hospitalize with covid and a blood infection. Everytime I came home to feed the dog I’d catch another swarm leaving a production colonies. Three weeks in a row and the start of the flow. Wife came home today thank the Lord! Made 15 splits today from swarm cells from my home yard. Couldn’t work two other yards cause they are on Amish farms close by (Sunday). And it’s suppose to rain all day tomorrow. Watch your struggles and those of others like Ian just shows that beekeepers are a different breed! God Bless !
Prayers for your path to ease Ronald, try to enjoy the journey.
I feel your pain man. I run about 65 colonies and work a full-time job outside of the beekeeping. My shortage of equipment kicked my butt this year, several hives swarmed killed my honey harvest, and I could barely keep up. Guess I’ll be spending all winter building equipment.
Winter is a good time for it. I have to do it in fall though because I don’t have a heated shop.
G'day Nathan another gr8 video bud just don't stress about putting up video's on UA-cam lol ,Bee's 1st ,us viewers will gladly wait and would prefer to see you succeed with your bee journey 😉
Cheers Dan from Aussie land 🍻🍻
Thanks Dan, good to hear from a bee buddy on the other side of the planet. Pretty cool!
Great lookin queens!
Thanks, they were pretty healthy, I’m happy.
I sink buckets in a drum of bleach and water. I also add a little bleach to my sugar syrup in warm weather
Not a bad idea, thanks.
Bob did a Q&A with wild woods honeybee farms last week. He touched on his use of bleach in his syrup.
I also use bleach in syrup…still some mold issues in buckets.
I'm assume it's just the lovely heat with the moisture. The bleach will leave the syrup pretty quick on a warm day. One possibility is making some stronger bleach water and just swishing it thru the bucket. That just takes time going one by one, and possibly degrades the seal on the lid over time. Probably best is to have spare buckets, and rotate the mold ones out for a few days to a week, leave the tint plug out of it and place it in the sun to dry up and kill the mold off.
Why did the turtle cross the road?????😁😁 I have nothing but issues keeping dirtdobbers away from my stuff...Oh those things are a menace. VSH was pushed 10 years ago very hard and the talk dies down for a few years. USDA Bee lab here in Baton Rouge really worked hard on getting the trait tested and incorporated within commercial operations, but a lot of skepticism, actual financial concern for the owners, and some just plain ole, hard-headedness helped to really keep it out of the operations. It's still a problem getting the big operations to try it, but since hive life, the VSH trait is getting out to a lot of smaller operators now. I haven't heard VSH as much in the last five years as I have lately and that's a good thing, although I think there are a lot of folks that think its a one and done and silver bullet. Next bee meeting we have a USDA Lab rep coming and he will be talking to us about getting into programs designed for hobbyists and sideliners in which we can participate with Lab provided Queens. I'm sure a lot will be required, but I'm interested to see what he has to say. My first queen I got from Dr. Harbo and of course she was a russian as that's what he used for the trait propagation and as far as a quality queen....WOW!! But since I never followed up and was so new, I didn't know anything about getting the trait throughout my yard. But I did a ton of reading on it and it is so promising with the right beekeepers and the correct outlook on what needs to happen with our management program. Sorry for the long comment, I know it's hard sometimes when we read comments and we see the 'Read More' link.....😬😬🙄🙄
I missed this comment when you posted it Mike, apologies. I think VSH is a great tool, but it requires genetics AND management. You have to test for it and select for it or it will get washed out after a relatively short time. I think better testing methods would open a lot of doors to feasibly increasing mite resistance.
Around minute 30. I feel your pain. I feel like I'm constantly being inefficient due to lack of infrastructure and maxed out equipment. Growing is tough but I think in the end it will pay off.
Fall and winter will see me getting a jump on next year…I hope.
Bleach mixed in. I’m using one gallon buckets on my 2 frame nucs, 5 frames and 10 frames.
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I bought the half gal buckets from Home Depot for my nucs cut hole for tint plugs. I use one gal for 10 frames
I hadn’t thought of half gal buckets, thanks!
Hi Nathan, I'm enjoying watching these videos. I'm in the process of building my business. My side hustle for my retirement. I've watch through #8. In it you mentioned honey supers stored in your barn. How are you protecting them from was moths? If you have a video please point me in that direction. Many thanks
Thanks Pat! Paramoth is what I use, or the generic form.
I see you buy your sugar the same way I do. Pricey.
Gotta improve.
I wonder if the no rinse sterilizer you use on homebrew equipment might be a good solution for the mold. It's made to be used on equipment that will go on to make something for human consumption, it's pretty cheap, and the instructions are pretty clear as one does not use it "off label" the way one uses bleach, etc.
We have a walk-in cooler so I store all of my sugar syrup equipment in there when not being used (along with comb). Most mold and yeast not specifically bred for it will not replicate below 40-something degrees. Can you get your hands on an old deep freezer? I bet one of those would hold quite a few buckets. We converted a shipping container to a cooler and it's cheaper than you think with spray foam and used refrigerant equipment.
A cooler would be nice! But it’d be down the road for me. I need a trailer, more storage, a carport, a bigger truck, then a “real” honey house. I’ve looked at container coolers. Did you get a reefer?
Lol, much less sophisticated. It's was probably a reffer at one time but now it's a hack job. We live near the port of Ashdod and it's Israel's largest port by shipping container volume. When one of these units is damaged or breaks it's cheaper to write it off than fix it. Some enterprising fellow can then come in, fix it at cost, then sell it as a stationary storage shed or cooler. If you ask around to dairies or beer distributors I bet you'll eventually land on someone who does something similar with trailer reefers.
Oh, and as a Urologist, I feel obligated to tell you good job on staying hydrated. Men who work outside are at a much higher risk of developing kidney stones :)
Good to know. As an outside worker and coffee drinker I’m probably destined for them.
Very informative video. Thanks for the effort and leg work. When nurse bees check under a capped cell, it investigate something, is the recapping of that cell noticeable? In a colony such as one, can a keeper observe the "checking" of cells?
Yes…
i’m going to experiment with cleaning my feeding buckets using oxalic acid and seater solution. in the past i used bleach and water.
Let me know how that works. I’d be afraid it would hurt or degrade the plastic.
It seems every UA-camr is pushing food food food and more food to the bees most of the year. Is anyone sampling the honey to see how much funny honey is being created?
I think most reputable beekeepers get very little to no sugar in their honey. I didn’t feed my production colonies at all this spring. But feeding small colonies is needed to help them grow and be healthy.
I add food coloring to the syrup so I can track it. Obvious you shouldn't harvest from any hives that have been fed, but you have to dye it to keep track of any spread through robbing.
Well its funny you mention that about the bucket feeders and mold. I use 2 cups of apple cider vinegar per 5 gallon bucket of 1:1 and it seems to keep the mold out. No way to really clean buckets out without taking lids off. Mine must be taken off because my feeder screen is melted into the plastic and your right the seal does leak on a few of mine. I typically just throw them upside down on an inner cover and put an unused box and lid to keep the bee pirates away 😂 Thanks for the video sir
Thanks Noah! I mix bleach with my syrup, which keeps it clean but the buckets still mold after time.
@@DuckRiverHoney Since I take mine off to fill I'm able to scrub the insides with bleach water and rags every so often. I've even used the pressure washer a time or two. Not sure what it would take if you can't get inside. Need to invent something that goes through feeder hole and expands to the bucket wall (like an umbrella mechanism) and hook it to drill and spin at high velocity. Best of luck sir!
Pressure washer nozzle that goes out at a 360° may work….hmmmm
That black queen, was that from Bob Binnie's?
It’s a Caucasian / Carni mix similar to what Bob is using, but she came from Shibu Raj at Two Rivers Honey Bees. Bob did an AI video with Shibu a year or two ago.
The turtle is a red-eared slider.
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I had the mold problem recently and used a handful of river rock pebbles and shook them around for a couple of minutes to abrade the mold off I a bleach solution. It worked well but I’m not sure whether it’s practical for your size of operation.
Not a bad idea, thanks
Add apple cider vinegar when mixing it will eliminate mold
I use the Harbo assay on my queens. So far my queens are scoring a 3, and 4's. I requeen when they score less.
That’s great! How many colonies do you run?
Only 30 so far. Going to be splitting all in july. So hopefully I'll have 60 or 70 colonies next year. This is my 3rd year.
That’s a good operation, good luck with the rest of your season.
Ty
I use bleach. A screwdriver type tool that you use to pop off plastic buttons that hold fenders and such like on a sided by side or 4 wheelers with a heavy rag. Bleach and water is the cleaning solution. I get that same mold in jars if I do not use bleach. I can not tell any difference between using bleach and not using bleach as far as the bees are concerned. I do not use so much bleach that the sugar water gets extremely foamy. Start off using a teaspoon per gallon and adjust from there to what you want. Cleaning buckets sucks. I clean them once a year whether they need it or not.
Thanks! I do mix a cup of bleach into a drum of syrup but I think these sat so long on small nucs that they couldn’t dry them out fast enough.
I finally accomplished I would trees right off in the city park next year I going to sneak a box of bees down there and put them about four foot off the ground and camouflage
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@@DuckRiverHoney yeah I know a tree with a a big cavity and I should be able to go at least 4 hi. And most likely will put them down there close to the end of winter. It ain't like the liquor steel that puts off steam so you won't see them
I’ve tried bucket feeders for a while and found that they aren’t worth my time. Having to constantly replace leaky dry rotted buckets/lids and trying to clean them out without breaking the seals every other time I would feed just creates another task that slow’s me down further. Frame feeders are the way to go in my opinion. Buy once cry once.
I’ve got a lot of frame feeders. I agree they’re longer lived, but I think buckets also have a place.
How do you go about making your nucs? How many frames of what? I split to much and to early this year and my hives couldn't take it. So I am planning on making a few to beef up my numbers.
QA
On the box with Pierco and Mann Lake frames, is it possible the orientation with regards to sun had any bearing on which frames were worked first?
Yes, very possible. The pierco were over a frame feeder in the bottom. So NOT a real test, but does show they really like to draw that pierco foundation. I’ve had good experiences with it this far, only issue is they will stick it to the box above more than wood frames.
If you break apart a laying worker, go shake it out 200ft away. Then dice it up. Those layers could still take out your queen. It’s an unnecessary risk. Shake and take (the layers won’t make the 200ft trek back)
Splitting it up 30 ways mitigates the risk, without much labor. Trade offs.
@@DuckRiverHoney you put 30 queens at risk for a 5 minute task. Mitigation is not elimination.
We’ll see what the take looks like 👍
@@DuckRiverHoney oh and if they do go laying worker atleast you’ll get the last little push of nectar before your dearth 🙃
@@DuckRiverHoney also smash cut editing is awesome, I noticed the difference. It works and I personally enjoy it more. Shows your true experience and process of this life. Becuase I love it and live it too my brotha
It was a Map Turtle.
Really? How do you tell that from a painted?
@@DuckRiverHoney just google turtles for your state and you will get pics. The painted turtles have red on them, the map turtle has the yellow striping and shell pattern like the one in your video.
Mowing the road sides helps reduce the number random bee deaths due to motor vehicles 🚗?
Maybe some, but habitat loss is a much bigger problem than vehicle strikes.
I noticed in your video you buying sugar from Walmart in 25 lb bags. I am doing the same thing, yet I need to purchase larger amounts for a cheaper price. I can handle a pallet of sugar without issue. Is there a cheaper place to buy sugar, or are those who go together to purchase a large order from ???
That’s on my list for next year. I’ve got to figure out where I can get pallets of sugar.
@Duck River Honey Me too! I do not feed enough, and yet sugar is one of my biggest regular expenses. I need to locate a real source of cheap sugar.
Minute 10:00
'I'd breed from that one'
That is a perfect opportunity to explain the circle of brod exposed to liquid nitrogen and subsequently uncapped which is evidence of hygienic behavior.
Great video and cuts but some missed opportunities with the experts.
Press on brother. This is valuable content
1. No freeze kill, this is new tech not on the market yet.
2. This was a teaser snippet, full video to come.
@@DuckRiverHoney fantastic! I look forward to it.
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Have alink to the site to purchase that queen rearing wheel? I looked but could not locate..
dcsgadgets.blogspot.com/p/beekeeping-gadgets.html?m=1
@@DuckRiverHoney thank you. Just ordered one.
I like it.
You know so much about different trees and nectar sources- how do you learn it all? Any favorite books, apps, websites for that? Or do you just pay attention and can remember and/or write it down?
Honey Plants of North America by John Lovell, and I also use the Seek app on my phone. I also carry small binoculars in my truck so I can spot flowers on trees. Then it’s just paying attention for several years. I see bees drawing wax and storing honey and try to figure out what they’re working.
Can you post the address to your bee supplies guy? I'm gonna need supers and I think I'm gonna place an order with them.
Look up Midway Bee Supply in Ethridge TN. You’ll have to write a letter.
Your missing a large water jug with liquid iv added….
I’ve thought about wearing a camelback under my jacket.
@@DuckRiverHoney camel back frozen the night before…
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