Bee yard looks great! Curious as to why you put the insulation in your quilt boxes? Your hives looked nice and dry, I had moisture issues when I insulated like that… I like the Swedish cloth idea! I’m a beekeeper in New Hampshire
Hello, I used to insulation b/c I wanted to experiment with the condensing hive concept talked about by Bill Hesbach. It worked well for me, better than the quilt box filled with wood chips. I'm still experimenting but so far no issues with moisture or condensation. Thanks for stopping by.
Good video Darren. Glad I finally found your channel. Glad your bees are looking so good. On the mouse hive, why did you put the bottom box back on? Last year a mouse chewed through one of my entrance reducers and I said to myself if OA kills mammals the mouse is going to find out if it is a mite or a mouse. Killed two birds with one stone.LOL Fred says that wooden reducers work as mouse guards but they can chew if they want to. Now I use 1/2" wire mesh . Have a great day.
Russell, I put the bottom box back on b/c I like to make my dumbest beekeeping mistakes while shooting beekeeping videos. lol! Truthfully, I do find shooting beekeeping videos a distraction and for that reason I don't do many videos. As for the mouse guards, in the past I used hardware cloth and now I see I need to go back to that method or something else. All of the bees are doing well though. Thanks for commenting. --Darren
@@PennsylvaniaBeekeeper Darren, I get done at a yard and then driving home later I think why didn't I do it different. With bees it seems, they keep your mind moving so fast. I hope you make many more videos.
Just a side note if you do not want to purchase mouse guards the hardware cloth ( rabbit wire ) works just as good an is a lot cheaper t try I purchase. Just cut about four squares tall an how ever long you want it. Bend your wire ( one square ) an put two staples in each end top an bottom an you are done. Good luck on your mouse . Hope you have a great season.
Darren the bottom box was empty you should reduce that hive to a single brood chamber, and did you look on the bottom of the hive body that had all the brood and food to see if the mouse nest was up in the bottom of that box. I like you insulated shims.
Charlie, you are right I should have reduced that hive down. The weathers looking good for next weekend so I might do that. The mouse is gone and the insulated shims seem to be working out well so far.
They are part of my IPM now. Last fall two of my hives pulled through a serious mite infestation that I thought was going to end both colonies, but with treatment they pulled through. The apitablet was part of that treatment, along with apivar and OAV.
Hello Warren76317, I am located about 30 minutes North of Altoona. Close to the Prince Gallitzin State Park, if you are familiar. Thanks for commenting. - Darren
Bee yard looks great! Curious as to why you put the insulation in your quilt boxes? Your hives looked nice and dry, I had moisture issues when I insulated like that… I like the Swedish cloth idea! I’m a beekeeper in New Hampshire
Hello, I used to insulation b/c I wanted to experiment with the condensing hive concept talked about by Bill Hesbach. It worked well for me, better than the quilt box filled with wood chips. I'm still experimenting but so far no issues with moisture or condensation. Thanks for stopping by.
You’re off to a great start Darren! Looks like you have room to grow out there
Todd, a few more weeks and my bees will be clear of the winter weather. (crossing fingers a little of course).
Good video Darren. Glad I finally found your channel. Glad your bees are looking so good.
On the mouse hive, why did you put the bottom box back on?
Last year a mouse chewed through one of my entrance reducers and I said to myself if OA kills mammals the mouse is going to find out if it is a mite or a mouse. Killed two birds with one stone.LOL Fred says that wooden reducers work as mouse guards but they can chew if they want to. Now I use 1/2" wire mesh . Have a great day.
Russell, I put the bottom box back on b/c I like to make my dumbest beekeeping mistakes while shooting beekeeping videos. lol! Truthfully, I do find shooting beekeeping videos a distraction and for that reason I don't do many videos. As for the mouse guards, in the past I used hardware cloth and now I see I need to go back to that method or something else. All of the bees are doing well though. Thanks for commenting. --Darren
@@PennsylvaniaBeekeeper Darren, I get done at a yard and then driving home later I think why didn't I do it different. With bees it seems, they keep your mind moving so fast. I hope you make many more videos.
This was the first year I had to deal with mice in 2 hives.. mouse guards are a MUST!
I agree. No more taking the cheap way out on mouse guards for me.
Just a side note if you do not want to purchase mouse guards the hardware cloth ( rabbit wire ) works just as good an is a lot cheaper t try I purchase. Just cut about four squares tall an how ever long you want it. Bend your wire ( one square ) an put two staples in each end top an bottom an you are done. Good luck on your mouse . Hope you have a great season.
Thanks for your advice.
Darren the bottom box was empty you should reduce that hive to a single brood chamber, and did you look on the bottom of the hive body that had all the brood and food to see if the mouse nest was up in the bottom of that box. I like you insulated shims.
Charlie, you are right I should have reduced that hive down. The weathers looking good for next weekend so I might do that. The mouse is gone and the insulated shims seem to be working out well so far.
Hi Darren- mine where flying today. All good
Tom, It's February weather here again and my bees are back in bed.
How do you like the API tablets ? I’m trying them for the first time this year
They are part of my IPM now. Last fall two of my hives pulled through a serious mite infestation that I thought was going to end both colonies, but with treatment they pulled through. The apitablet was part of that treatment, along with apivar and OAV.
Where in Pa? I have bees in Nova and St. Thomas.
Hello Warren76317, I am located about 30 minutes North of Altoona. Close to the Prince Gallitzin State Park, if you are familiar. Thanks for commenting. - Darren
What's an api tablet?
Hello,
Apitablet contains thymol; it's becoming popular with beekeepers, so I thought I'd give it a try.
apimonllc.com/insights
@@PennsylvaniaBeekeeper thanks, first I've ever heard of it. I'll have to check it out .
What's api tablet?
See above