Blaha ha ha!! Listen to that snow crunch! No wonder you are drinking Baileys, even when you don't drink! Complaining about the cold in an old black work jacket sipping coffee loving the only thing in that moment, Baileys in the coffee, LIFE IS GOOD ha ha ha keep up the good work
I like the ones Bob Bennie has with holes in top for jar feeders. Also, you can put some pennies under the lid for more ventilationl Yes, I've had moisture problems with the migratory lids,.
Channeling your inner Ian!😂I feel your pain I lost 3 of my small colonies. I only had 30 colonies so far and this will be my second year in May. Great video I enjoyed watching you playing in the snow with your kids. Enjoy them when they’re little like this because before you know it you’re playing with their kids the same way.
Nice video! Here in Denver, I overwinter nucs over strong hives, as you do. In Feb, I can find some of the nucs have dwindled to small 1-2 frame units. I can bet that a week of cold in later Feb or March will do them in. So, I find a double deep that is strong with bees, steal a frame of bees (little consequence to their home hive) and put it in the weak nuc. The goal is really just to have that queen survive until early April. The nuc will have a rough go of growing, but by then I can throw frames of bees from the strong hives that I'm trying to slow down that time of year. My goal in Feb is to add bees so that the queen survives till April and I can add even more support. You probably don't have to worry about cold days ahead like I do.
I used the 4" PVC sewer pipe to make my pollen sub feeders instead of the Sch 40 pipe and used a test plug instead of the cap which helped to cut the cost to about $11.
I believe the PVC is less temperature stable than wood. Adding 1 inch of insulation board on top might help with your condensation issue. It does add another piece of kit to manage though. Good luck.
Nathan, I made early July NUCs after my last honey pull…. I used New World Carnie Queens ordered from Strachan Apiaries. We had the same freezing weather here in WV. I over wintered them in single deeps…. They all came through well and are very strong…. Not sure the time you made them is as important as building them up mid summer and fall which I did…. Just thought I would Share…. I did this after seeing Kamon’s do July NUCS…. ECP Chris
Maple are getting close here in southern Illinois. Some are already in the begining of bloom in the far southern part of the state. Springs gonna be early again this year.
I feel your pain. I went through mine yesterday and found 26 of my 60 were dead outs. I changed nothing from my 2022/2023 season where I got 38/40 through winter. Is disheartening, to say the least. There is always a bright side as I now have a total of 600 fully drawn deep comb and about half of those have capped resources. If I can get 20 to make it I can build up pretty quick! Thanks for the video and looking forward to seeing these again. 🙏 that we all have a successful 2024 season!
@DuckRiverHoney So I am gonna do a mite wash on my dead bees today. I don't think at the moment it was a mite issue. I think a lot of them froze out due to small cluster size during the deep freeze. I had low mites in Sept and all of them were alive with 2-3 frames of bees in late December early January.
@DuckRiverHoney no sir these were double stacked 5 frame nucs created in mid-May or double deep colonies that were packed out with bees in Ausgust/Sept....
@DuckRiverHoney I have a mite treatment program on them where I run 3 rounds of OAV in Dec and then hit em a couple times in January. In early March I use apivar strips in them and remove them in April when they are ready to be split. I hit them one more time prior to splitting. I complete the splits and then let them go through the flow. I hit them with 2 50ml/30ml rounds of Apigaurd in mid-August after sourwood flow depending on nuc or double deep. Then test in Sept 2 weeks after treatment. If still problematic mites I hit them again with Apigaurd. I only had one with this issue.
I lost my smallest colony during the snowmaggedon/arctic blast. I have 6 colonies left. Here's hoping the groundhog was right and spring is coming early this year...or, at least, no more deep freezes.
Like your videos. The info you put out helps a lot for us newbies. Keep them coming. I'm starting year three. I'm in Maryland and have 9 colonies in one apiary. they are looking good so far. Looking forward to doing splits and raising queens. I will also be putting out swarm boxes, your info helped with that.
I know, it sure feels good to be back in the bees. Inspected all the hives last Saturday. Lost two small NUCs so far. We had several mornings in the 3 and 4 above zero (Southern Ohio). Love the spoofs too.
Yep, that cold weather is hard on small colonies. I have lost one nuc so far and another one is down to 1 frame of bees so the next cold snap will take them out. But I am not trying to expand and I like to go into winter with 30-40% more bees than I want so I can replace winter losses and sell a few nucs. With your small nucs you took a gamble and you lost. Next year I might work out great. As far as timing of the nuc starting, the date doesn't make as much difference as the size of the nuc you make. Late May and early June nucs I bet would still work but you need to make 1/2 as many twice as strong as an April nuc. Just a thought.
Nate, on the nuc you started I. June. You should have no issues getting them through the winter. Because here in Connecticut I am making nucs and they will make it just fine through the winter. The key is making a strong nuc and feed
@DuckRiverHoney our nector flow stops mid-July, and we may get a late August to mid Sept flow if we are lucky. I typically don't make splits in August due to fewer drones, and it seems more dragon flies
I had 2 very small nucs going into this winter season, but I moved the frames into a ten frame box and parked each one over a strong colony with a double screen between. They were doing great when checked Feb 1 and had small brood patches also.
It looks like you have something to grow with for this upcoming season!!! It was great meeting you at bee expo and wishing you and your family all the best!!!
Ha we have had the same weather here and I hear we are going to have another artic Blast later this month, sorry about your bees I am still waiting for some warm weather to check my bees hope everything works out for you have a Blessed week.
The freeze outs are disheartening for sure. I , like you, am trying to build up snd lost 6 of my late splits to -16°F and 55mph wind. I may have to choose from producing honey or bees. I really was hoping for a good bit of both. It is what it is. Thats farming.Anyway sorry for your loses.
😉 to the comedy. 🤐 to the losses. The start of the season, some years , can put a lump in your throat. Then, 2 months on , the bees are on fire and managing them can take ALL of your effort. Persist. Persist.
Small hives are definitely hard to overwinter. My experience is the ones that make it explode in spring. Hopefully our spring is consistent. That late winter blast seems to always take a few of mine. Overall yours looking good. Should be a big growth year for you. Good luck and take care.
Wish we got that in Charlotte NC. Our bees are being in pollen and brooding up. Some trees are blooming in Rock Hill SC. Too early for this. We usually get ice or snow mid February.
Nice video thanks for sharing. I notice Some nucs made for honey frame. I think to short for survive to winter. And seed wild mustard near bush area. Your bees will be more healthy..
You said you lost a few small nucs. How many made it? I live in central pa. And I can get nucs through the winter, but I run deeps and there’s more honey over head that stays warmer. A single medium would not have enough overhead to make a cold winter. I like the layens (sp) but not a standard, which have a deeper frame. I would never run a single medium here, and a lot run double deep. My preferred is deep with a med on top heavy with syrup or honey
Lost some weak ones here myself, NE Iowa 40*F here now, should be 10, 6 weeks ago it was -20*F, mother nature is not helping at all so far. BTW, nice Camaro, those old truck are nice, but I prefer the 50's fords more, but that Camaro looks good.
Hi Nathan, I use the Provap18 as well, have you had problems with the OA measuring, It tends to build-up OA residue behind the "piston" causing that the set OA volume progressively decreases.
Are you planning to sell bees next year? Seems like a reliable revenue source. I am still deciding on a good mix between selling more bees or more honey production. From 60 hives I'll sell 50 nucs and still plan to run 40ish production hives to make 4,000 pounds of honey. I lost 4 small ones too. Should have just combined em, those late splits aren't worth the risk
@@DuckRiverHoney close Around the hives would help from hauling a mower around and maybe keep ants at bay Not trying to talk you into it just having a conversation I’ve not tried it myself
1. They had fondant on top of the cluster. 2. When it’s that cold small clusters can’t move to access food, so they did starve, even with food available. 3. ALL CAPS MAKES IT SEEM LIKE YOU’RE YELLING.
I got a question not bee related… I’m trying to grow a little beekeeping/farm UA-cam channel. How did you get yours to grow and start out? Did you just be consistent on uploading videos? Your channel is doing great and I would love any advice you would be willing to share.
Try to make stuff that people want to watch. Education or entertainment, the best performance will have both those. Video and editing skills help. I’m self taught.
@@DuckRiverHoney do you use a go pro? What do you use to edit? When you started how did subscribers come about? Just from you posting? Thanks man. Appreciate the content and your feedback
@barkersbees I’ve got two GoPros, two camcorders, a podcast setup with four mics and headsets…but my vlog is filmed with an iPhone. The convenience is the only way I can keep it going. My first swarm trapping video jump started my channel. My advice is don’t start a channel looking to make money. It can be fun and can bring other opportunities, but the hourly wage is low.
@@DuckRiverHoney yeah I just use my iPhone. I got some videos out and I’ve put some time into the edit and stuff they have done ok. But just can’t seem to pull subscribers. I’m definitely not looking to make money. Just wanna do pretty much what you’re doing and just show the things I do on the farm and with my bees. But maybe with time it will grow.
Quality draws subscribers. You can have low video and audio quality but excellent content quality (EXPERT advice, tips, etc) and you’ll draw subscribers. You can have excellent video and audio quality and mediocre content quality and you’ll draw subs. I try to put out stuff that others will find valuable, either entertaining in a wholesome way, or educational.
Trolling Ian Steppler and a Monty Python clip in the same video….I feel this is some of my best work.
LOL I LOVE IT !🤣🤣🤣
😎
Thanks for continuing this content sir
Blaha ha ha!! Listen to that snow crunch! No wonder you are drinking Baileys, even when you don't drink! Complaining about the cold in an old black work jacket sipping coffee loving the only thing in that moment, Baileys in the coffee, LIFE IS GOOD ha ha ha keep up the good work
I love the utube beekeeper interactions. This almost as good as the " That ain't a sunflower patch" with Bob B and Ian
👍
I like the ones Bob Bennie has with holes in top for jar feeders. Also, you can put some pennies under the lid for more ventilationl Yes, I've had moisture problems with the migratory lids,.
OH look at that shop.👍
They do good work.
Great video. Thanks for sharing 👍 with us.
Thanks Brian!
You had me a little longer at the beginning then I would care to admit but then I had a good laugh.
As always Thank you for the content
😆
Always a nuckle biter in late winter when planning for spring. Equalized out those overwinteted nucs will get with the program. Good luck this year...
Thanks, you too!
Channeling your inner Ian!😂I feel your pain I lost 3 of my small colonies. I only had 30 colonies so far and this will be my second year in May. Great video I enjoyed watching you playing in the snow with your kids. Enjoy them when they’re little like this because before you know it you’re playing with their kids the same way.
Thanks! Kids are growing fast!
🤣Sounds like ya have been watching to much Ian and that Canadian Beekeeping in an Ice-Box..
Nature has a tendency to put things in perspective.
Thanks!
Man I laughed hard at the Ian reference! That was great!
👍
Nice video! Here in Denver, I overwinter nucs over strong hives, as you do. In Feb, I can find some of the nucs have dwindled to small 1-2 frame units. I can bet that a week of cold in later Feb or March will do them in. So, I find a double deep that is strong with bees, steal a frame of bees (little consequence to their home hive) and put it in the weak nuc. The goal is really just to have that queen survive until early April. The nuc will have a rough go of growing, but by then I can throw frames of bees from the strong hives that I'm trying to slow down that time of year. My goal in Feb is to add bees so that the queen survives till April and I can add even more support. You probably don't have to worry about cold days ahead like I do.
We should be cool, but not deep cold from here.
I used the 4" PVC sewer pipe to make my pollen sub feeders instead of the Sch 40 pipe and used a test plug instead of the cap which helped to cut the cost to about $11.
Thanks Dick
Loved the Ian parody
It's what I do - drink coffee, and troll Ian Steppler.
@@DuckRiverHoneyjust need the scene transition sound he uses and a bomber hat and say brilliant a bunch of times
Follow through!
I believe the PVC is less temperature stable than wood. Adding 1 inch of insulation board on top might help with your condensation issue. It does add another piece of kit to manage though. Good luck.
I don’t know if PVC would condensate more than a HDO or wax dipped wood lid. I do believe they condensate more than an inner cover and telescopic lid.
Nathan, I made early July NUCs after my last honey pull…. I used New World Carnie Queens ordered from Strachan Apiaries. We had the same freezing weather here in WV. I over wintered them in single deeps…. They all came through well and are very strong…. Not sure the time you made them is as important as building them up mid summer and fall which I did…. Just thought I would Share…. I did this after seeing Kamon’s do July NUCS…. ECP Chris
It was a tough summer here last year.
Great work Nathan! Love how you tell the story! Speakers voice.
Thanks Tim!
Maple are getting close here in southern Illinois. Some are already in the begining of bloom in the far southern part of the state. Springs gonna be early again this year.
Getting started here, then four days of rain, then cold again. 😐
I feel your pain. I went through mine yesterday and found 26 of my 60 were dead outs. I changed nothing from my 2022/2023 season where I got 38/40 through winter. Is disheartening, to say the least. There is always a bright side as I now have a total of 600 fully drawn deep comb and about half of those have capped resources. If I can get 20 to make it I can build up pretty quick! Thanks for the video and looking forward to seeing these again. 🙏 that we all have a successful 2024 season!
That’s a tough loss. Any guesses on what happened?
@DuckRiverHoney So I am gonna do a mite wash on my dead bees today. I don't think at the moment it was a mite issue. I think a lot of them froze out due to small cluster size during the deep freeze. I had low mites in Sept and all of them were alive with 2-3 frames of bees in late December early January.
Were they late splits?
@DuckRiverHoney no sir these were double stacked 5 frame nucs created in mid-May or double deep colonies that were packed out with bees in Ausgust/Sept....
@DuckRiverHoney I have a mite treatment program on them where I run 3 rounds of OAV in Dec and then hit em a couple times in January. In early March I use apivar strips in them and remove them in April when they are ready to be split. I hit them one more time prior to splitting. I complete the splits and then let them go through the flow. I hit them with 2 50ml/30ml rounds of Apigaurd in mid-August after sourwood flow depending on nuc or double deep. Then test in Sept 2 weeks after treatment. If still problematic mites I hit them again with Apigaurd. I only had one with this issue.
I lost my smallest colony during the snowmaggedon/arctic blast. I have 6 colonies left. Here's hoping the groundhog was right and spring is coming early this year...or, at least, no more deep freezes.
Warmth and consistency would be nice.
Like your videos. The info you put out helps a lot for us newbies. Keep them coming. I'm starting year three. I'm in Maryland and have 9 colonies in one apiary. they are looking good so far. Looking forward to doing splits and raising queens. I will also be putting out swarm boxes, your info helped with that.
Thanks, good luck this year.
I know, it sure feels good to be back in the bees. Inspected all the hives last Saturday. Lost two small NUCs so far. We had several mornings in the 3 and 4 above zero (Southern Ohio). Love the spoofs too.
Thanks Tony, good luck this year!
Yep, that cold weather is hard on small colonies. I have lost one nuc so far and another one is down to 1 frame of bees so the next cold snap will take them out. But I am not trying to expand and I like to go into winter with 30-40% more bees than I want so I can replace winter losses and sell a few nucs. With your small nucs you took a gamble and you lost. Next year I might work out great.
As far as timing of the nuc starting, the date doesn't make as much difference as the size of the nuc you make. Late May and early June nucs I bet would still work but you need to make 1/2 as many twice as strong as an April nuc. Just a thought.
Very true Russell, thanks.
Nate, on the nuc you started I. June. You should have no issues getting them through the winter. Because here in Connecticut I am making nucs and they will make it just fine through the winter. The key is making a strong nuc and feed
Bees don’t like growing in our dearth. Further north you have nectar and pollen all summer.
@DuckRiverHoney our nector flow stops mid-July, and we may get a late August to mid Sept flow if we are lucky. I typically don't make splits in August due to fewer drones, and it seems more dragon flies
Sorry for your loss. I know your pain. I went into winter with 23 and now I have 18. All over wintered nucs took the losses.
It’s part of it, but not a fun part.
I had 2 very small nucs going into this winter season, but I moved the frames into a ten frame box and parked each one over a strong colony with a double screen between. They were doing great when checked Feb 1 and had small brood patches also.
I’ve got some that size that made it but several didn’t.
It looks like you have something to grow with for this upcoming season!!! It was great meeting you at bee expo and wishing you and your family all the best!!!
Thanks, I appreciate it!
Ha we have had the same weather here and I hear we are going to have another artic Blast later this month, sorry about your bees I am still waiting for some warm weather to check my bees hope everything works out for you have a Blessed week.
I appreciate it!
Sweeeeeet sledding hill! Thanks
The best, with a nice stopper hill at the end.
The freeze outs are disheartening for sure. I , like you, am trying to build up snd lost 6 of my late splits to -16°F and 55mph wind. I may have to choose from producing honey or bees. I really was hoping for a good bit of both. It is what it is. Thats farming.Anyway sorry for your loses.
Ups and downs, live on the average. That’s farming.
Might want to check your water trap on your compressed air system. Looked to be a lot of water coming out of that staple gun.
It was extremely humid and cool that day. I noticed it too.
😉 to the comedy. 🤐 to the losses.
The start of the season, some years , can put a lump in your throat. Then, 2 months on , the bees are on fire and managing them can take ALL of your effort. Persist. Persist.
Thanks!
Small hives are definitely hard to overwinter. My experience is the ones that make it explode in spring. Hopefully our spring is consistent. That late winter blast seems to always take a few of mine.
Overall yours looking good. Should be a big growth year for you. Good luck and take care.
Thanks Garry!
I'm still wearing shorts in CA 😆 Which of your frame feeders do you like best?
I prefer the Mann lake cap and ladder feeders.
May is my threshold on splits that’s pretty much when the nectar flow starts fading .
Agreed.
Wish we got that in Charlotte NC. Our bees are being in pollen and brooding up. Some trees are blooming in Rock Hill SC. Too early for this. We usually get ice or snow mid February.
Hope it stays relatively stable.
Youre in my neck of the woods if youre shopping at Albert Zook. I havent been back since his young daughter passed. I hope hes doing well.
He was out when I was there. That was a tragedy.
@@DuckRiverHoney Indeed it was. I was there the day prior. I'm down in Pulaski TN.
Nice video thanks for sharing. I notice Some nucs made for honey frame. I think to short for survive to winter. And seed wild mustard near bush area. Your bees will be more healthy..
Thanks
I think if you had put some of the reflex (double bubble) under the lids you many not have had condensation issues.
Maybe.
Ian must have gone back to bed. He commented on Bobs video this morning already. I was looking forward to seeing his reaction 😂
He’s busy, eh.
@DuckRiverHoney oh I'm sure he is. Aren't we all!
Did you ever settle on Swarm Commander vs Lemongrass
oil
Vs other lure?
Keep that fondant on them and they will make it.
You said you lost a few small nucs. How many made it? I live in central pa. And I can get nucs through the winter, but I run deeps and there’s more honey over head that stays warmer. A single medium would not have enough overhead to make a cold winter. I like the layens (sp) but not a standard, which have a deeper frame. I would never run a single medium here, and a lot run double deep. My preferred is deep with a med on top heavy with syrup or honey
I’ve got 12-15 small nucs that made it ok. A single medium can make it here, but I winter them with fondant over the cluster.
Lost some weak ones here myself, NE Iowa 40*F here now, should be 10, 6 weeks ago it was -20*F, mother nature is not helping at all so far. BTW, nice Camaro, those old truck are nice, but I prefer the 50's fords more, but that Camaro looks good.
👍
Hi Nathan, I use the Provap18 as well, have you had problems with the OA measuring, It tends to build-up OA residue behind the "piston" causing that the set OA volume progressively decreases.
No I haven’t run into that yet, but I don’t have a ton of time on it yet. More time on the InstantVap.
The weather we had really did a number on my small nucs too. Where did you get your pvc lids?
Midway Bee Supply on the lids. Amish supplier in Ethridge, Tn.
4" pvc test cap is only $0.78 at home depot much more reasonable than the cap.
Appreciate it!
Are you planning to sell bees next year? Seems like a reliable revenue source. I am still deciding on a good mix between selling more bees or more honey production. From 60 hives I'll sell 50 nucs and still plan to run 40ish production hives to make 4,000 pounds of honey. I lost 4 small ones too. Should have just combined em, those late splits aren't worth the risk
I’ll make a bunch of nucs but plan to keep them all. Next year I should be selling nucs.
Do you think road salt or sidewalk salt would be safer than grub X ? It should kill the larvae if put down heavy. Just thinking out loud
Salt would kill everything growing in the bee yard.
@@DuckRiverHoney close
Around the hives would help from hauling a mower around and maybe keep ants at bay
Not trying to talk you into it just having a conversation I’ve not tried it myself
Where do the plastic lids come from?
Midway Bee Supply in Ethridge, TN.
Did you make or purchase the PVC lids. What thickness are they?
Purchased from Midway Bee Supply, they’re 3/4” thick.
No bear fence??
No bears, at least not yet.
HI, @ min 5:30 was not to small to make it !!!! THEY STARVED. !!! You DID NOT FEED THEM !!!
1. They had fondant on top of the cluster.
2. When it’s that cold small clusters can’t move to access food, so they did starve, even with food available.
3. ALL CAPS MAKES IT SEEM LIKE YOU’RE YELLING.
Sorry about your losses are you still or did you get more colonies from Bob Binnie?
Still planning to. Hopefully this month depending on schedule. I got booked up with speaking engagements every weekend.
Single medium… that not much head space to move up.
Yes, but it works in Tennessee.
@@DuckRiverHoney I’m in Louisiana and it takes 2 deeps. I guess we have more warm days than you and it possible takes more stores.
So you can’t winter a 5 frame nuc?
I got a question not bee related… I’m trying to grow a little beekeeping/farm UA-cam channel. How did you get yours to grow and start out? Did you just be consistent on uploading videos? Your channel is doing great and I would love any advice you would be willing to share.
Try to make stuff that people want to watch. Education or entertainment, the best performance will have both those. Video and editing skills help. I’m self taught.
@@DuckRiverHoney do you use a go pro? What do you use to edit? When you started how did subscribers come about? Just from you posting? Thanks man. Appreciate the content and your feedback
@barkersbees I’ve got two GoPros, two camcorders, a podcast setup with four mics and headsets…but my vlog is filmed with an iPhone. The convenience is the only way I can keep it going. My first swarm trapping video jump started my channel. My advice is don’t start a channel looking to make money. It can be fun and can bring other opportunities, but the hourly wage is low.
@@DuckRiverHoney yeah I just use my iPhone. I got some videos out and I’ve put some time into the edit and stuff they have done ok. But just can’t seem to pull subscribers. I’m definitely not looking to make money. Just wanna do pretty much what you’re doing and just show the things I do on the farm and with my bees. But maybe with time it will grow.
Quality draws subscribers. You can have low video and audio quality but excellent content quality (EXPERT advice, tips, etc) and you’ll draw subscribers. You can have excellent video and audio quality and mediocre content quality and you’ll draw subs. I try to put out stuff that others will find valuable, either entertaining in a wholesome way, or educational.
34°C here, humid as anything, want to swap?
Nah, I’d rather not jump straight to late summer. I enjoy spring beekeeping the best.
Your box building bench is to high. Lower it so that the staple work is around your belly button. Your arms will thank you.
Have you tried pvc for bottom boards?
Sweet Stingers made pvc bottom boards, and until you get some propolis on them, the boxes slide, but he said he likes them.
No I haven’t.
You go by "C" now? Great.
😎