Your hives are so pretty. Im jealous. I saw a ball of bees on the ground, could be another queen. (Spoke too soon!) But you did an awesome job! Did not think you would find the Queen, good job! Exactly as I would hav done it. PS, I love solid bottom boards. No hate.
As a beekeeper in South Africa I can give the following advice. First lightly smoke the entrances 1or 2 puffs. Give it a minute and then strong smoke 5 to 10 puffs directly into the entrances. Give it 3to 5 minutes pop the lid and heavy smoke under the lid, give it another minute. Now you can work with light smoke when they start getting agitated. When you get the smell of ripe banana ( attack pheromone) it is better to close up and leave. We work mostly late afternoon and early evening because the bees are slightly calmer. Our African bees are less prone to disease, control hive beatles better and is more likely to abscond.
When using apiguard you should take out I’m board, remove entrance reducer and provide ventilation type inner cover, giving them more ventilation helps to prevent absconding
Yes I agree but this was not an abscond. And it also depends on the outside temps whether to leave the IPM board in or not. I’m dealing with this issue currently. 🙂 Thanks for watching!
I appreciate the way you teach us. No worries. I just have unfilled queen cups right now in Central Florida with a really crowded hive, but I can't find the queen and I'm not certain of eggs (think I see a few) yet. I only have one hive so I want to make this works. Lost some to swarms last year. Trying to not make the same mistake. It's a great hive.
I have blocks and 4x4s in a similar setup with 2 hives instead 4. I was going to expand to 4 hives but I see that that working the 2 inside hives is a bit awkward. I'm trying to get a setup easy on the back. After watching this I think I'll stay with 2 hives between 2 block piles so I have 360° access. Never know what you might pick up in a bee UA-cam!! 👍
Worked in a quite large apiary and 1 single deep was a big no no = high chance of swarms. Guys working there actually did a test with 20 hives in a single deep for a season: bees were making queen cells like crazy all season; lots of splits, not much honey produced. If you're all over your beehives and micro-manage it you'll be fine. If you only inspect every 2 weeks or so: expect losing your bees.
Sorry but this has not been my experience. Yes, I have experienced lots of swarming but the singles for the most part successfully requeened. My bees don’t make queen cells “all year long”. They’re not Africanized. And singles can actually produce MORE honey than doubles. I’m not sure where you are located but again, this has not been my experience here. Cheers!
@@beesintheweeds just north of canadian border. beehives used for 1-deep testing were of different genetic background too. could be a difference in climate, sure. We also used different treatments after summer flow and harvest on beehives. survival was also higher with double deeps (I have no number here just was told it was higher) and needed way less feeding so from a business standpoint it was a no brainer I guess.
All of your problems are connected. You have a problem of overcrowding in your hives which is causing the hives to be too hot and there are not enough resources for your bees. They are bearding and absconding because they have nothing to eat and they are too. To fix this, put a Queen excluder, add a medium super, for boxes with brood move the brood to the super and backfill the bottom box with foundation. Then feed 1:1 and add a pollen patty. Do this in all your hives and you will be fine.
You should make your own bottom screen boards using 14 x 18 winco serving tray. Cut sides and cross pieces from 2 x 4s. You have to fill corners in due to the radius corners on the tray. I keep diatomaceous earth in the trays to kill small hive beetles.
I had the same thing happen last year I put them in the hive the next day. They was on the outside agand I put them back in the next day they was back out and while I was sitting there looking at them they took off and I just watched them leave. And said good luck to all of you
I like your videos, I am not a beekeeper, but I find beekeeping videos fascinating, and I sure do love honey. I have always wondered why some beekeepers place heavy bricks on the lids and at first, I thought to myself they must be to keep animals from lifting the lids off but that did not seem right, you finally explained the reason for them; and I like the way you clearly narrate your actions and the reasoning behind each decision. That medicine seems like it really repels them. Also, I thought the minimum number of boxes was two the smaller honey super on top of the brood box, but you appear to use only one box? Also, I like that bench like set up with the 4X4's and bricks. Thanks!
Wow, thank you so much for the kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed the video and I do pride myself on providing logical explanations to my choice of beekeeping practices. As you know, there are many ways to successfully keep bees. I just offer one perspective. As for the single vs double deep philosophy, please check out my video here for a nice run down of the pros and cons. Thanks for watching! Thoughts on Single Brood Management ua-cam.com/video/jcYkarrBKVE/v-deo.html
cut the api in half its to strong and clean it off the bottom board i have done the same thing. if they were queenless they already had a brood break that will help with mites. i love my bees mist with 50 50 sugar water to help they clean off each other queens stop or slow brood when treeted.
Interesting strategy although until you get the queen inside I suspect the bees would remain on the stand with her. With her inside the inner cover hole, it's possible they all would have moved up to her over time. I just wouldn't want to leave the bottom of the hive open for extended periods due to animals that would prey on them or pests. Thanks for watching!
@@beesintheweeds sorry I have just come across your channel, but you still need to have the camera closer , had the same problem with my hive,had a swarm under my hive ,didn’t see it,took two hours to sort out. Gary, Near Stonehenge.
@@garyhenstridge6232Thanks Gary. I do try. I’m a one man crew the vast majority of the time so it’s difficult to manage the bees and film at the same time. I only have so many hands. 😊
@@beesintheweeds The pink food box was gone and there was no food. The hive is still in question in a super poisition and by grounding it with eggs and brood well there be a probality when not locating a mating queen.
@@beesintheweeds have you watched your video on removing the food. Than keep watching to the end of your video forggeting on adding the food back on. One fanstastic way of knowing when a queen is in process by adding a frame of eggs and larvae will clear up any hobbist confusion to translation. Was great watching a disregard on a state of a hive to employing sticks on a ladder system.
I use hopguard 3. When there's brood I use 1 treatment every 2 weeks 3 times. Bees don't seem to mind. I use oa vape in spring and fall. My first year I lost my only hive to apiguard. They absconded. Now I have top bar hives so use the hopguard and oa. I'm hoping it keeps working well. Happy you caught them. I had double deep and it was 70s in Wisconsin. I used whole 50 gram dose. Wish I used 25.
Are you doing half dose because it's hot? If so ,half dose for a single deep is 12 5 grams while it's hot out. Can you take a frame of honey? Frame of brood and frame of eggs and put it in there. They have no reason to stay in hive. Use 5 gallons bucket to feed 2 to 1 for a bit and try apivar so you don't run them out again. Should work good since you really have no brood.
Appreciate the feedback. I’m a one man crew so it’s a little difficult but I’m trying different things to see if I can’t get some better angles. Thanks again.
It’s certainly an option I have considered but it does provide additional support when the hives are extremely heavy with honey. Thanks for the suggestion!
I’m a one man camera crew. It’s a catch 22. Use my hands and leave the camera further away, or hold the camera in one hand and not be able to do what’s needed. Maybe if enough people enjoy the content I will invest in a GoPro I can strap to my head. 🙂 I do appreciate you watching. Sorry for the poor camera angles.
Sorry for the subpar audio, my mic failed to connect. 🙁
Your hives are so pretty. Im jealous. I saw a ball of bees on the ground, could be another queen. (Spoke too soon!) But you did an awesome job! Did not think you would find the Queen, good job! Exactly as I would hav done it. PS, I love solid bottom boards. No hate.
Thank you so much! 🙂@@ShalomShalom-d5c
As a beekeeper in South Africa I can give the following advice. First lightly smoke the entrances 1or 2 puffs. Give it a minute and then strong smoke 5 to 10 puffs directly into the entrances. Give it 3to 5 minutes pop the lid and heavy smoke under the lid, give it another minute. Now you can work with light smoke when they start getting agitated. When you get the smell of ripe banana ( attack pheromone) it is better to close up and leave. We work mostly late afternoon and early evening because the bees are slightly calmer. Our African bees are less prone to disease, control hive beatles better and is more likely to abscond.
Cheers! And thanks for watching and congrats on your World Cup win! 😊
Take a frame next time and place it under the ball. Let a bunch of them walk on the frame and dump. Always works good for me.
When using apiguard you should take out I’m board, remove entrance reducer and provide ventilation type inner cover, giving them more ventilation helps to prevent absconding
Yes I agree but this was not an abscond. And it also depends on the outside temps whether to leave the IPM board in or not. I’m dealing with this issue currently. 🙂 Thanks for watching!
🎉nice job that was fun😊
It was really cute when they climbed the ladder at the end. I can't wait to show my family!
Josh, put a tarp under the bee hive so you can collect them easier ❤
Agreed! Or at least the outer cover or something. Lesson learned. Haha.
When you say cups in this split did you mean cells?
Yes, my apologies.
I appreciate the way you teach us. No worries. I just have unfilled queen cups right now in Central Florida with a really crowded hive, but I can't find the queen and I'm not certain of eggs (think I see a few) yet. I only have one hive so I want to make this works. Lost some to swarms last year. Trying to not make the same mistake. It's a great hive.
next time use the top cover as a drip pan when scooping. and remove the entrance reducer until they all go in
Good tip! Thanks for watching!!
just putting the queen cage in the box and waiting is what was needed to be done.
That’s what I did. Thanks for watching!
You can’t make this stuff up!! Can’t believe how lucky you were to catch / spot the queen!! Thanks for sharing your experience
I know, right?! 🙂
What a great spot! Total game changer. Hope they stayed put.
I have blocks and 4x4s in a similar setup with 2 hives instead 4. I was going to expand to 4 hives but I see that that working the 2 inside hives is a bit awkward. I'm trying to get a setup easy on the back. After watching this I think I'll stay with 2 hives between 2 block piles so I have 360° access. Never know what you might pick up in a bee UA-cam!! 👍
Absolutely! Pros and Cons for sure. Glad you found the video helpful!
I mist swarms with a little sugar water. I get far less if any stings.
You encourage me, thank you.for being honest and real.
Absolutely incredible! Gratz boss
Get a small plank and block the entrance to the bottom board (nail it up) so the bees can't go under anymore.
Good job and good video. Hope it all works out
May need to find a way to feed
It did! Thank you!
Worked in a quite large apiary and 1 single deep was a big no no = high chance of swarms. Guys working there actually did a test with 20 hives in a single deep for a season: bees were making queen cells like crazy all season; lots of splits, not much honey produced. If you're all over your beehives and micro-manage it you'll be fine. If you only inspect every 2 weeks or so: expect losing your bees.
Sorry but this has not been my experience. Yes, I have experienced lots of swarming but the singles for the most part successfully requeened. My bees don’t make queen cells “all year long”. They’re not Africanized. And singles can actually produce MORE honey than doubles. I’m not sure where you are located but again, this has not been my experience here. Cheers!
@@beesintheweeds just north of canadian border. beehives used for 1-deep testing were of different genetic background too. could be a difference in climate, sure. We also used different treatments after summer flow and harvest on beehives. survival was also higher with double deeps (I have no number here just was told it was higher) and needed way less feeding so from a business standpoint it was a no brainer I guess.
Try adding a frame of brood from another hive.
All of your problems are connected. You have a problem of overcrowding in your hives which is causing the hives to be too hot and there are not enough resources for your bees. They are bearding and absconding because they have nothing to eat and they are too.
To fix this, put a Queen excluder, add a medium super, for boxes with brood move the brood to the super and backfill the bottom box with foundation. Then feed 1:1 and add a pollen patty.
Do this in all your hives and you will be fine.
Watch JP the bee man he moves hives all the time. Great technique for moving and framing comb. You will learn a lot watching JP
Ok, thank you.
You should make your own bottom screen boards using 14 x 18 winco serving tray. Cut sides and cross pieces from 2 x 4s. You have to fill corners in due to the radius corners on the tray. I keep diatomaceous earth in the trays to kill small hive beetles.
Interesting!
I had the same thing happen last year I put them in the hive the next day. They was on the outside agand I put them back in the next day they was back out and while I was sitting there looking at them they took off and I just watched them leave. And said good luck to all of you
Haha, yes, bees certainly have a way of confounding and humbling us at times, eh? 😁 Thanks for sharing!
you left queen free in a hive?
I like your videos, I am not a beekeeper, but I find beekeeping videos fascinating, and I sure do love honey. I have always wondered why some beekeepers place heavy bricks on the lids and at first, I thought to myself they must be to keep animals from lifting the lids off but that did not seem right, you finally explained the reason for them; and I like the way you clearly narrate your actions and the reasoning behind each decision. That medicine seems like it really repels them. Also, I thought the minimum number of boxes was two the smaller honey super on top of the brood box, but you appear to use only one box? Also, I like that bench like set up with the 4X4's and bricks. Thanks!
Wow, thank you so much for the kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed the video and I do pride myself on providing logical explanations to my choice of beekeeping practices. As you know, there are many ways to successfully keep bees. I just offer one perspective. As for the single vs double deep philosophy, please check out my video here for a nice run down of the pros and cons. Thanks for watching!
Thoughts on Single Brood Management
ua-cam.com/video/jcYkarrBKVE/v-deo.html
A leaf blower would work well for getting the bees from under the hive, then put the board on.
Thanks
Can you please do a followup so we can see if it worked out or not?
Hi there. Sorry for not posting a follow up but it did all work out fine. Both hives are healthy and doing well in the apiary. Thanks for watching!
It was easier to put your roof under, use brush and shake bees in it. But, you had luck! 👍
Currently dealing with my own "what a mess!!" 😂
Oh no!!! 🤣🤦🏼♂️
Haha! Never a dull moment with bees
cut the api in half its to strong and clean it off the bottom board i have done the same thing. if they were queenless they already had a brood break that will help with mites. i love my bees mist with 50 50 sugar water to help they clean off each other queens stop or slow brood when treeted.
If you "snow plow" the inner cover from the back, you don't squish any bees, you plow them to the front of the hive with the inner cover
What type of smoker are you using?
Hi, I am using Betterbee's Premium Smoker found here. Thanks for watching! www.betterbee.com/beekeepers-tools-and-smokers/smokebb.asp
I would take the bottom board off and just sit the frames and the box on top to see if they would go up into it
Interesting strategy although until you get the queen inside I suspect the bees would remain on the stand with her. With her inside the inner cover hole, it's possible they all would have moved up to her over time. I just wouldn't want to leave the bottom of the hive open for extended periods due to animals that would prey on them or pests. Thanks for watching!
Give them a frame of brood from another hive
Thanks for the suggestion.
you need to put the camera closer then we will be able to see and hear you better as you walk away or get a mobile mike ?
Hello! Yes, I have started using a mic. Please check out my recent videos which are hopefully better. Thanks for watching! 😊
@@beesintheweeds sorry I have just come across your channel, but you still need to have the camera closer , had the same problem with my hive,had a swarm under my hive ,didn’t see it,took two hours to sort out. Gary, Near Stonehenge.
@@garyhenstridge6232Thanks Gary. I do try. I’m a one man crew the vast majority of the time so it’s difficult to manage the bees and film at the same time. I only have so many hands. 😊
@@beesintheweeds i under stand josh , Gary ..
Well looks to me you need to add a box they ran out of room
Nah. Plenty of room in the deep for this size colony. They’re currently in there and doing well. 🙂 Thanks for watching!
missed the food or adding in a frame of food and a frame of open brood.
Sorry, not following what you mean.
@@beesintheweeds The pink food box was gone and there was no food. The hive is still in question in a super poisition and by grounding it with eggs and brood well there be a probality when not locating a mating queen.
@@tomahawkmissile241 Sorry again, I think the translator to English is not working well. I do not understand what you are saying. My apologies.
@@beesintheweeds have you watched your video on removing the food. Than keep watching to the end of your video forggeting on adding the food back on. One fanstastic way of knowing when a queen is in process by adding a frame of eggs and larvae will clear up any hobbist confusion to translation. Was great watching a disregard on a state of a hive to employing sticks on a ladder system.
I use hopguard 3. When there's brood I use 1 treatment every 2 weeks 3 times. Bees don't seem to mind. I use oa vape in spring and fall. My first year I lost my only hive to apiguard. They absconded. Now I have top bar hives so use the hopguard and oa. I'm hoping it keeps working well. Happy you caught them. I had double deep and it was 70s in Wisconsin. I used whole 50 gram dose. Wish I used 25.
I use OA in the early spring and fall/winter also. Stay tuned for a future video. Thanks for watching!!
16 days for queen to emerge
Are you doing half dose because it's hot? If so ,half dose for a single deep is 12 5 grams while it's hot out. Can you take a frame of honey? Frame of brood and frame of eggs and put it in there. They have no reason to stay in hive. Use 5 gallons bucket to feed 2 to 1 for a bit and try apivar so you don't run them out again. Should work good since you really have no brood.
Yes, in hindsight, I should have used 12.5g since it was going to reach 90 I think.
@beesintheweeds been hot here too in Wisconsin. Weather is supposed to break tomorrow. Can't wait.
You need the camera much closer so we can see the hive/frames up close.
Appreciate the feedback. I’m a one man crew so it’s a little difficult but I’m trying different things to see if I can’t get some better angles. Thanks again.
new beekeeper here ,,my plan was to treat with a vaporizer and oxalic ?
That’s a good option for this time of year but you’ll need to likely do multiple treatments back to back to ensure a full brood cycle passes.
u could leave top open.
I don’t believe so.
Why not lift your hives up another block high , it would make it easier to get a box underneath
That’s a thought. Of course it would take more cinder blocks. Certainly an option.
They were sending out signals.
Please explain.
A brood break by chance. Now OA treatment x3.
I think you need to remove the centre 4x4.
It’s certainly an option I have considered but it does provide additional support when the hives are extremely heavy with honey. Thanks for the suggestion!
Please bring the camera closer to the box. I can't see what you are doing
I’m a one man camera crew. It’s a catch 22. Use my hands and leave the camera further away, or hold the camera in one hand and not be able to do what’s needed. Maybe if enough people enjoy the content I will invest in a GoPro I can strap to my head. 🙂 I do appreciate you watching. Sorry for the poor camera angles.
O No not again !!
🤣🤦🏼♂️
Maybe use two deeps instead of one
Yep, that’s an option. 🙂
Put them in new box and frames
Thanks for the suggestion.
You can go into them your not gonna do any harm they won’t kill the queen well I have never had it happen
Or the bottom board is not made right,,,, look on line how the bottom board is made with the screen
It’s a standard screen bottom board. The same one sold at many online dealers such as Mann Lake, Dadant, BetterBee, Rossman, etc.
No honey in there. 🤔
Nope. It was an abscond.
I’m 1 month past your video but maybe the Dirt Rooster or Mr Ed might give you some advice in the way they’re acting by absconding.
Thanks. I’ve been watching their channels as well. 👍🏼
The entrance is too way small
It’s not. Very normal to have entrances reduced this time of year to prevent robbing. Thanks for watching.
Dude dude you put the screen in the back not in the front,,, you take the screen out from the back.
I’m not following you. The screen is not removable. It is built within the bottom board.
Im from indon🇮🇩..ilike haney bee beautiful gays? By mbah suprapto
Sorry, I don’t understand your question.
Ding dong. They were just bearding. They were just hot.
That is incorrect. This was a swarm. There was nothing in the deep. No brood, no food, just open comb.