Beginner Beekeeping FAQ 25 How to Keep Bees Robbing Screen BetterComb by BetterBee

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For beginning backyard beekeeping enthusiasts, welcome to episode 25 of how to keep your honey bees.
See today's questions below:
1) Have you ever noticed bees having trouble keeping track of sugar syrup without volatile additives such as essential oils?
2) I live in North Eastern Michigan, is it too late to split a double brood 8 frame hive doing a walk away split?
3) Are thermal treatment methods for Varroa Mites Effective?
4) Will you show us how to make the Hive Visors?
5) Could you please discuss back-filling vs what a normal frame of brood adjacent to food stores looks like? What are the bees trying to do when back-filling?
6) How do you stop robbing on newly made splits/nucleus hives - From Ireland.
THERMAL MITE KILLERS - most thermal systems increase hive temperatures to 106 deg f and higher for periods longer than 30 minutes, some recommend 160 minutes per application. Dr Thomas Seeley's research has indicated that "temperatures above 99 deg f "disrupts larval metamorphosis". Therefore, this is not a method I'm personally willing to test on my own colonies. My mind is open on the subject. Please feel free to post links to real science.
Read about Better-Bee new synthetic drawn comb inserts- (I have no affiliation with BetterBee and have not been compensated) www.betterbee.com/frames/adfb...
Beesmart Design Robbing Screen and Mouse Guard combo: amzn.to/2JvjJFK
Don't want to pull honey supers and would rather drain honey on the spot? What do FlowHives Cost? Find REAL FlowHives here:(50 dollar discount link) mbsy.co/hpFB2
Acorn - Heavy Waxed Food Grade One Piece Frames: amzn.to/2l4zB8n My Bees choose these!
Have questions for FAQ 26? Please post them in the comments section. Thank YOU for watching and contributing!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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14 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 167

@Adam.Holmes. 3 года назад

1) Have you ever noticed bees having trouble keeping track of sugar syrup without volatile additives such as essential oils? 4:03 2) I live in North Eastern Michigan, is it too late to split a double brood 8 frame hive doing a walk away split? 8:32 3) Are thermal treatment methods for Varroa Mites Effective? 14:55 4) Will you show us how to make the Hive Visors? 22:00 5) Could you please discuss back-filling vs what a normal frame of brood adjacent to food stores looks like? What are the bees trying to do when back-filling? 25:05 6) How do you stop robbing on newly made splits/nucleus hives - From Ireland. 34:50

@andytane4406 5 лет назад

I've been binge watching your videos since discovering your Channel a week ago. I'm definitely fascinated with the subject, and am still deciding whether I should get some hives of my own, so am absorbing as much info as I can find. Your channel is definitely the most "info laden" bee channel. I've heard you use the phrase "Unless the Queen's wings are clipped" on a couple of occasions. Can you discuss wing clipping in an upcoming video? Why, Pro's, Con's etc.

@BuzzLightyear9999 4 года назад

Beautiful opening tracking shot with the drone... I particularly like the way you added the audio track in place of the drone’s own noise... nice 😉

@DruMcDoo 9 месяцев назад

Great video Frederick. Regarding bee and wasp robbing I look at hives as castles so defence is paramount. With this in mind robbing bees are like a legion of Romans baying at the door with a weak colony of bees being like trying to defend the entrance with a few guards with pillows and pitchforks. No matter how small the entrance inevitably as we all know devastation often happens. With that in mind and wishing to keep a full unrestricted opening I've been testing a device for a year with 100% sucess rate. Ideally, like you mentioned it is best put on last thing at night when all the bees are in. If piranha type frenzied robbing is in full play, then it has to be put on during day, however there will be a little mortality due to worker bees out and about not being to fathom way in. It will also be able to be used on super entrances by remaining on throughout season, so if you get timing wrong there's no fear of robbing in a a dearth. This means extra honey due to les time of workers spent in hive. Lastly wiith zero robbing disease and viruses passed on through contact will be reduced. Do you think there will be a market for these devices?

@FrederickDunn 9 месяцев назад

In areas where robbing is a big issue, there may be a market. It would be key to make prototypes and make plenty of videos demonstrating their effectiveness. Today, shoppers are visual and need to see something working, and it needs to serve a need. I hope it works out!

@larrycollar1322 5 лет назад

Very nice Aerial photography. I enjoyed those segments. You live in an attractive area.

@steveschinnerer8465 5 лет назад

I love the common sense information you share with your audience. It’s great to find someone who will put in the research to answer a question instead of making one up. Well done. Thank you. I was just given a two frame observation hive from a long-time beekeeper near me. Can you discuss the process of setting it up with bees and dos and don’ts to maintain it successfully?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Hi Steve, here is how I set up my Observation Hive - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jZsvDvO-BKA.html I think the 8 frame is the smallest I'd attempt and I wish it was actually taller. A two frame observation hive just wouldn't make it in the long run. As for maintaining one successfully, just keep feed available and leave it in a dark room or provide covers (mine is in the dark) and be prepared to deal with varroa if they get in there as you can't just pop off the cover as with other hives. But I consider a two frame to be a portable teaching hive rather than a full time home for a bee colony. I hope that helps!

@gordonlassen2626 3 года назад

Fred, have you every categorized your episode subjects so that those of us that follow your work can more easily find a subject amongst your many, many episodes. Right now I find it overwhelming to track down a specific topic. Your work is impressive and most helpful. I'm trying to use it more efficiently.

@FrederickDunn 3 года назад

There is a topic list in PDF form on this page :) www.fredsfinefowl.com/honeybeefaqvids.html

@gordonlassen2626 3 года назад

Thanks so much. This is a great help. Keep up the fantastic work Fred. It is invaluable to a lot of people that love bees.

@popquizzz 5 лет назад

Beautiful place you have Fred. Too bad all that corn is not something more pollen friendly to the bees.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Thanks Glen, that farmer only plants corn and soy... he never does cover crops which would be a huge boost to my bees!

@CMT.STM. 5 лет назад

Fred - i LOVE your videos. Can you do a video on your solar powered system do's/don's and lessons learned.

@mohammadsalah3319 5 лет назад

this is a good one

@mohammadsalah3319 5 лет назад

there is something else in my mind solar energy may be very good in Egypt as we have all the sun in the world but where he lives would it be better to have a wind energy system???

@brainzend 5 лет назад

I haven't watched all of your fantastic beginner FAQ eps yet, so maybe you've covered this, but concerning your flow hive, what requisite maintenance procedures do you recommend to ensure the health and success of your winged friends? A thousand thank yous for your affectionate resources.

@mikes1345 5 лет назад

My mentor just mentioned on the phone about robbing screens. He is 30 miles south and his flow is over. He just said my flow should be slowing so its inspection and strength checking time. Your timing is on time, thanks.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Thanks Mike! I'm glad to have given some just-in-time information!

@wendybachman6224 5 лет назад

Thanks again for another wonderful video! My BetterComb is arriving on Monday. One of the users on beesource.com said he had them for a few weeks and his bees were just using them great, like they had drawn all that comb on their own. The only negative thing other people had to say about it was the cost, but they didn't try it themselves so I took the plunge. I will be using 5 frames to move one of my nucs to a deep 10 frame, and then I'm going to experiment with cutting it down to fit into medium frames for adding my first honey super to my Caucasian hive!

@danskisbees7348 5 лет назад

Hello Wendy, that's great to hear, my order came in yesterday, they seem like they're going to be a game changer for the bees. I can't wait to see how your Caucasians do!

@wendybachman6224 5 лет назад

Thanks, Dan! I hope your bees enjoy the boost this artificial comb may give them!

@graemesingleton-hayden2326 5 лет назад

Thank you Fred for answering my question. Very informative. I have reduced the entrance holes ,so the robbing guard sounds a good idea. Thanks again. Ps the observation hive is flying away. Queen very busy laying and still soo fascinating watching them with all the activities going on. Now thinking of an aquarium hive 😆. Thanks again 😀👍🍀🇮🇪

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Absolutely! Thanks Graeme - and good luck with your aquarium hive - I think there is one here on RU-vid - enjoy your bees and thanks for contributing!

@mihaiilie8808 5 лет назад

I was set up to build my own thermal treatment system for varroa by using 200 wats light bulbs with thermostat,fans and a stirofoam box that covers the hive.It works and its a treatment you have to do at the begining of winter when there is no brood. Ive quit experimenting because its possible you can kill the queen from the heat( when the bees decide to kill a queen they kill it with heat by ,,cooking,, her). Oxalic acid its better for a bio treatment,milder on the bees and effective.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Thanks for sharing your experience and innovation.

@mihaiilie8808 5 лет назад

@@FrederickDunn Was zero inovation on that.All the knowledge and the plans on how to build it was from an old beekeeper. Innovation will be the gas vaporisers im building( allready got the blow torches).There i dont copy nobodys design.

@58Kym 5 лет назад

Going to check out a couple of points you raised about the thermal parasite control. I hadn’t even heard about it until you mentioned it.

@ClementDupuis 5 лет назад

Great Coverage, THANKS

@karenbytherideau 5 лет назад

Love the drone footage! Thank you for sharing,

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Thanks Karen, it's always nice to see your comments!

@weasleoop 5 лет назад

I love those rain guards also. You could really sell a lot of them if you made them for people.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

HI Carlos, I'll show everyone how to build them with normal wood from the hardware store :) I honestly don't have the time to sell them but I'm not against earning $$$ :)

@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork 5 лет назад

Wow! Beautiful where you are! Love the drone intro! 8 frame hives.. That's all I have here.. so far I like them... though I have no "comparative experience" with 10's. I don't like the meteorological forecast of winters coming sooner and lasting longer! lol To the thermal management veroa concept.. I don't like that idea at all.. It's like growing medicinal herbs and trying to use stress to bring more essential oil production.. it works.. but good foliar feeds and better plant health is FAR more effective. Never stress an organism if there is another way would be my rule. Your point about the brood is excellent.. all organisms (plants animals and humans) have critical points of influence.. with the GREATEST effect (whether positive or negative) the EARLIEST in the life cycle. Regardless, I am interested in hearing the results.. I always enjoy seeing an experiment's results. I am curious now that you mention the drawn out brood comb.. Do they make drawn out bees wax foundations? I never even considered but I figure you would know. Thanks for another excellent video on bees Fred!

@robertmathurin2544 5 лет назад

Jus Done Watching.. Thank You Sir...Mr.Dunn.🇱🇨👍🙏❤

@Jcewazhere 4 года назад

You've tested various concentrations and types of salt and sugar waters. Plus different essential oils vs none, but have you ever tested soda vs sugar water? Do bees like Coke, Pepsi or a smaller brand more? Dr. Pepper vs Mr. Pibb? Barq's vs A&W vs local root beer? Or how about sweet tea vs sugar water? That'd be a lot of testing if you kept it scientific and only changed one variable at a time so having a poll on your Facebook or on a newer FAQ video to pick the first head to head would probably be good to narrow that down. (It could also drive the RU-vid algorithm's user interaction) It is awesome how you're looking at comments on these older videos, I have a lot of free time lately so I'm binge watching them all. Thanks for great content.

@FrederickDunn 4 года назад

I haven't had a soda in decades... (';')( ';').... but it's an interesting parameter to explore.

@danskisbees7348 5 лет назад

Great video Fred! I liked the drone view, you have a beautiful piece of property, I know it's taken a lot of work. I have 4 Beesmart robbing screens, I leave them on all of the time, they work great, I just use the thumb tacks that came with them, no problems. I also have the Mann Lake robbing screens, I really like them too, but I think the bees may have a harder time finding their way out initially, I'm still experimenting. Thanks again Fred!

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Thanks Dan and also thanks for sharing about your robbing guard screens. It's also nice to know your preference between the two designs.

@andytane4406 5 лет назад

Dan, have you noticed whether the robbing screens block workers from clearing out dead bees? Do you have to remove them occasionally to allow for cleanup?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

@@andytane4406 That's a great question Andy!!!

@danskisbees7348 5 лет назад

Hello Andy, that hasn't been an issue with either screen. When I take off the screens for my oxalic acid treatments, there isn't any debris, a little propolis only. Hopefully, I'm going to go through my hives this morning. I'll make a video and take off the screen so that you can see what's behind it. With Fred's permission, I'll post a link. I already have a video of the Mann Lake robbing screens that I can post.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

@@danskisbees7348When you do that, feel free to post your video link here Dan! :)

@sissydewoody8717 5 лет назад

Fred thanks for such thorough response to each question! l can't keep bees, but am fascinated by them - so experience - nil, interest - high. QUESTION: When you described what takes place when lack of space forces the empty brood cells to be filled with nectar .... does one put an entrance in upper boxes to make it easier for workers to deposit nectar ? BTW the Luna moth video was great...ditto for bees drinking rain water... and think your product reviews are very useful.... will be interesting to see how the bees like that new comb product. Regards, from Ark - Ozarks.

@weasleoop 5 лет назад

While an upper entrance is suppose to lesson brood nest congestion so returning foragers can enter up where the supers are.....My bees and their returning foragers do not use the upper entrance at all. All they do is beard up on it and washboard it all day.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

HI Sissy, thanks so much and particularly with my Flow-Hive Supers - the upper entrance speeds things up quite a bit and the hive traffic is split around 50/50 upper and lower entrance activity. My hives with upper entrances during a nectar flow built much faster than those with the upper entrance closed. BUT, as soon as the nectar flow dwindles I close the upper entrance and leave it as a vent only. Only fully loaded colonies get the upper entrance opened. It's another entrance that must be defended.

@sissydewoody8717 5 лет назад

Fred ... thanks for reply. By the time l'm 90 yo [soon], l'll be an expert bee keeper :)

@jamesnoell5848 5 лет назад

thanks for the info,. going to do it this next week. getting help with the split, cant see eggs or my queen!

@Blgtn43 2 года назад

Thank you.

@SuperAdam1313 3 года назад

Your stack of blocks with the feeders on top looks like your own personal stone hendge

@sonofthunder. 3 года назад

thanks for the visor dimensions

@FrederickDunn 3 года назад

There is an entire video on how to make your own :)

@carlcattau6291 5 лет назад

I'm curious to see peoples response's to using the Bettercomb. I ordered some and plan to use it next week on the last splits I'll do this year.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

I'm in that boat myself and will be adding these samples to two hives that have feral swarms in them. I do hope the bees use it as it will certainly speed up their ability to begin colony building.

@carlcattau6291 5 лет назад

Fred do you have any updates on the Bettercomb? I used 2 frames in each hive placed on each side of brood frames. In 3 hives the bees skipped the bettercomb and moved onto the next Acorn frames. In 2 hives they started to place pollen in the bettercomb but no eggs I can see. With all the frames they did clean up any damaged cells pretty quick.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

@@carlcattau6291 I have not opened the boxes with bettercomb in them yet, I also think we are heading into the late summer swarm season and I have bettercomb loaded swarm boxes ready to go. I'm waiting until I have a cross-section of potential acceptance/rejection. It's interesting that your bees are avoiding them. I'm still in the wait-and-see mode.

@carlcattau6291 4 года назад

I’m starting to see pollen being deposited. Hopefully soon I’ll be seeing capped larva.

@wadebarnes6720 3 года назад

Bought the first one in the second one was free should have been you promoted them really well

@susanbrockbank4670 5 лет назад

Very interested in your trials with the synthetic wax pre drawn combs. Not sure if we have a manufacturer for these in the uk but am scanning the internet. Thanks for sharing your knowledge i look forward to friday nights and your tutorials. 🐝💕

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Thank you Susan, I"m looking forward to seeing what they do with them also and I'll be certain to keep you all posted :)

@WesterStarThunder 3 года назад

Good morning. Thank you for your helpful insights. What do you think of the line of thought that treating for mites stops the natural development of resistance, like the Asian bees have done? I am a first year keeper. My girls seem to be very hygienic. The oil trap has many mites at this time, and they seem to have sustained damage. I have often seen aggressive grooming of returning foragers by two workers at a time. I know it is a risk but I am leaning towards no treatment this year. Our hive is a Flow Hive 2 seven frame that has a bottom spacer and a medium super between the brood box and the flow super with wax foundation. I also installed a beetle blocker at the entrance and reduced the access. Thank you again for your willingness to share your knowledge.

@FrederickDunn 3 года назад

I will discuss this in my next FAQ session on Friday :)

@GaryBoyd02 5 лет назад

My word look at all the Solar. Somehow Fred I am not surprised. You ARE the dude! Can you make a video of the system and how you store the power?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Hi Gary, I don't store power, I'm still grid tied and my solar credits are banked with the utility and I use them up during periods of cloud cover or heavy winters. I did a video of the system install : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jHi27IknPI4.html

@danskisbees7348 5 лет назад

NEWS FLASH: Mechanical drone swarmed by killer bees, dies, more details at 8 pm

@rickl192 5 лет назад

Really appreciate the topics you cover. This video in particular was so timely as I just got back from my hives and now I know why I have an over abundance of honey and next to no brood in the top brood box. At 32:33 you talk about a dearth and maybe that’s when we should consider “condensing it a little”. How do I go about doing that?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

I don't condense during a dearth unless it's at the end of the honey production season. The less often we alter their hive, the better for the bees and all the interior work they do. BUT, if you're at the end and preparing for winter - I put vapor boards on and drive the bees down and out of the top super and remove it. Then see how they do, if their numbers are down, I do that again until they are at just two boxes for wintering (brood and honey-super) I will be demonstrating that process at the end of Autumn.

@framcesmoore 5 лет назад

Ha u did it again great video keep them coming they are great

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Thanks Frances! :)

@thenotsurechannel7630 4 года назад

Hey Mr Dunn. I recalled that you had a section on this video dealing with BetterComb. On the second week of February, it got up to near 70 degrees for a couple days in Central North Carolina. So I took the opportunity while my bees we're out and about raiding mother's peach tree and the surrounding Red Maples to open up the hive and swap the upper brood box frames to the lower box since the lower frames were practically empty. I put all 10 of my BetterComb frames in the upper box. So far, with a bit of maintenance on the bees' part... some of the frames went from looking like this: i.imgur.com/Ex5HHoc.jpg to being used and looking like this: i.imgur.com/8Ul4jRN.jpg All the frames in the lower box needed to be replaced anyway. I got a good disk of wax out of those frames... color came out like a fiery yellow orange.

@FrederickDunn 4 года назад

Thanks for sharing!

@tfeerst 5 лет назад

Question: first year hive with no drawn comb. Can you overfeed the bees? I feel like I overfed them earlier in the year and they started to backfill the broodnest. Really trying to get the comb drawn. Any tips? And love the weekly FAQs, great job and keep it up!

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

You can't really overfeed a starter colony - they need to build that comb and I suggest a constantly available resource for them to do that. As they fill the comb, they will make more and then expand by adding another box.

@eberntson 5 лет назад

Enjoyable video! Build videos are popular you might want to show you visor build. It will be a adventure for you.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Tomorrow!

@polvotierno 4 года назад

If 8 frames are doing better, that supports the idea of keeping bees in a tighter space. They seem to build faster.

@FrederickDunn 4 года назад

Tighter spaces fill faster, are easier to control, but also encourage swarming sooner so smaller hive bodies must be monitored frequently. Two 10 frame deeps would be a standard sized colony by the end of June where I live. So with 8 frame boxes, that's three boxes.

@robertraatz2030 5 лет назад

Thanks. Informative as always. It's been really hot and dry here in Wisconsin. Does nectar become more concentrated and easier for the bees to reduce to honey during heat and drought? Also, during an inspection the other day I saw some cells that looked empty except for royal jelly. Do workers ever put jelly into empty cells, or was the larva removed? Leftover from an emerged bee? I thought it might be heat related. At what temp do eggs and pupae start dying? Maybe ant related? I have seen ants running off with what appear to be eggs during inspections.

@garethdungspreder8353 5 лет назад

the rime a swarm of bees in May comes from 17th century England

@johnmcneill923 5 лет назад

Loved the drone footage. What do you have? Thinking of getting one for our “Let’s Find Out” OC Chapter of CRFG.

@SuperBuickregal 5 лет назад

Hello Fred I am watching you in Canberra the Capital of Australia.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

The only United States War Ship to be named for a foreign capital was the USS Canberra... just a touch of trivia there for you :) always nice to see your comments Thomas!

@SuperBuickregal 5 лет назад

@@FrederickDunn Interesting I vaguely remember hearing that name and now I know the connection. When you fly South to Oz land you can see both the Big Dipper North Star and the Southern Cross at the same time from the plane, I do not know if there is a place on the earth at ground level to see them both maybe you could answer that. It would be a bonus trivia question/answer next week and I will be back next week. Look forward to next Friday! Tom

@6Deep6 5 лет назад

Hi Fred - thanks again for another excellent FAQ. I had a couple of questions about the robbing screens you showed. In your experience, have you had a need for something like this due to your entrance reducers not being effective enough? Do you think the robbing screens would impede with the effectiveness of bees venting the hive on the landing board? Keep cool! With all my best, MK

@stgermain1074 5 лет назад

Fred, what if you had a hive entrance that consisted of a PVC pipe with an elbow, and eliminated the landing board altogether? Robber bees couldn't fly straight in, they'd have to come up through and crawl through the elbow. Sort of like the entrance for your observation hive.

@arogue469 5 лет назад

I made Vertical Entry bottom boards for my hives for this year. The bees have taken to it quite well, and I haven't seen any indication for concern with robbers, yellowjackets, or anything else finding their way into the hive. It's not a common design, but if you search, you'll find a few examples out there.

@arogue469 5 лет назад

I built Vertical Entry bottom boards for my hives for this year. The bees have taken to it quite well, and there has been absolutely no indication for concern with robbers, yellow jackets, or anything else finding its way into the hive. It's not a common design concept, but I'm glad I did it that way.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

That's an idea, but I only have "potential" robbing issues with new colonies that can't defend their landing boards. There is electrical conduit 1.5" as the entrance to my observation hive and they have never been the target of robbing as it does make a 90-degree upturn into the hive. So, you may have something there! When you are assembling your pvc pieces, consider rubbing the interior surfaces with beeswax as it really gives them good footing and speeds their way.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

@@arogue469 Thanks for sharing Adam!

@dmanc53 3 года назад

I like the Beesmart robber guards- they worked well last year, no robbing with combo of upper feeder. but wonder if they hinder housecleaning of dead bees. Starting over after a dead out. I have new colonies, and want to do it right. Would it be wise to wait a month to use the Beesmart guards till they get used to their new hive?

@FrederickDunn 3 года назад

After a dead-out, I'd clean the dead bees out of that colony before installing new bees and the only need for the BeeSmart robbing guard is when you're in robbing season or if the colony is particularly weak. During productive times I wouldn't leave that on and instead just provide a small entrance that the bees can defend. Thanks for watching!

@nancynolton6079 5 лет назад

Can you discuss/talk about refractometers and how to use one (calibrations?). Recommendations on which one is a good one? Lots of confusing info out there.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Hi Nancy, There are already many demonstrations on RU-vid showing how to calibrate and use a refractometer. Since the ground is so well covered I don't think I'll do one of those, but I will share a link of one that I think is pretty good! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7ljt7E7rZ0A.html

@wadebarnes6720 3 года назад

If you think they have a hard time sit a bucket of sugar water on your porch go inside make you a cup of coffee then think you going to go outside and use it you will have thousands of bees on your front porch I would say less than 5 minutes

@thomashoog782 5 лет назад

Fred, you started off by saying you rotate your hives in and out. what did you mean by rotate them ? I am not understanding that. aside from that, great videos. I have watched since the 1st one.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Hi Thomas, I rotate old hives out by giving them away with bees to starting bee keepers. Then I replace them with new hive ware. :)

@Tailss1 4 года назад

Using a robbing screen like the one you showed (39:20) will this stop the worker bees from being able to clean the hive? Also are mice actually a problem, I would think they would quickly get stung and give the attempt over real quick?

@dmanc53 3 года назад

this was my question also

@FrederickDunn 7 месяцев назад

Bees can still pull their dead out over the robbing screen. Regarding mice, they tend to move into hives during winter and can make a real mess down below the wintering cluster. On warm days, the mice just run out and come back at night when the colony is clustered up again.

@steveng6269 4 года назад

I am a new beekeeper and want to install robbing screens on my 2 hives. I like the Beesmart screens you show in this video. If you put the pins in for the mouse guards, will robber bees be able to go under it? Or are you suppose to wait till the fall to use it in that capacity? Thanks

@FrederickDunn 4 года назад

robbers can indeed get under them, so yes save that for after the growing harvesting season.

@staffordmike4174 2 года назад

On the Better Bee mouse guards. For winter with guard in mouse position, are the top flaps closed?

@FrederickDunn 2 года назад

Yes, with the BeeSmart robbing screens in place, raised with the mouse guard pins, the top alternate entrances are closed off.

@staffordmike4174 2 года назад

@@FrederickDunn Thanks. I'm in Oregon and the rain has finally arrived. For the most part, I'm really happy with these. Definitely helped to slow robbing during the dearth.

@thehomeplatespecial597 5 лет назад

For 7 to 10 colonies or hives how many lbs of sugar would a keeper who feeds sugar go through on avg? Instead of sugar and water can bees be fed honey and water or would they just be fed straight honey if the keeper wanted just to feed them honey?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

You would have to pose this question to keepers who feed all of their colonies. I only feed my packages or recent swarm captures. I never feed honey to the bees other than to allow them to clean up recently emptied honey supers. Adding water to honey would allow it to spoil, so if you're going to give them honey it's my opinion that it should be full strength.

@cyrusrussell2062 5 лет назад

In previous videos you've talked about replacing your equipment every one to two years I would like to replace a couple of brood frames but there is always eggs larvae or capped brood how would you go about this

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

You transfer the frames from the old box into the new ones and as there are unused or unoccupied frames, swap them out individually.

@brucewest4862 3 года назад

Here it is 12 noon (6/5/21) and it appears that my examination of individual hives has set off a robbing frenzy that needs to stop now. I had an entrance reducer on this hive but now it looks like World War Z on the outside of the hive. I have the smart bee reducer you just talked about but you mentioned putting it on at night. What can I do right now to stop the robbing and prepare for tonight without locking out the foragers that are out for the day?

@FrederickDunn 3 года назад

Hi Bruce, when there is active robbing going on, don't wait to put that robbing screen on, do it asap. Installing one at night is optimum when putting it on as a preventive measure, not when there is active robbing. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Dr8QUVi-15s.html

@yaddahaysmarmalite4059 3 года назад

I'm wondering what to do for a colony that has just been robbed out. How can a robbed hive be rehabilitated?

@FrederickDunn 3 года назад

You have to fix the entrance so the robbing has completely stopped and then they will require feeding inside the hive with a hive top feeder system. Being robbed out can destroy a colony.

@weasleoop 5 лет назад

Love the into Fred. Did you get a drone?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

I have had drones for many years :) I use them in my regular work and they are pure fun... I have a commercial FAA Drone License - so I can do it as part of my professional work flow :)

@weasleoop 5 лет назад

@@FrederickDunn Is that different than the normal FAA drone registration? You make it sound like you can mosquito spray and deliver for Amazon. Not that I would be surprised. You are this generations Indianna Jones.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

@@weasleoop It's profoundly different from drone registration... it's a pilot's license and requires certification/testing at an actual flight school right along with side pilots of real aircraft. I think it's completely silly, but it's the LAW PeeWee Herman! (';')... ( ';')... If you charge money for aerial services, it's a requirement. So.. there's that. And of course, I have to be insured!

@wendybachman6224 5 лет назад

I have a question about brood pattern: What are the determining factors to differentiate a 'Spotty Brood Pattern' from normal, Hygienic behavior? I don't seem to ever have a solid frame of capped brood in any of my 4 colonies when I inspect; there's always open cells among the capped brood. I have seen photos of other hives' brood frames and they're a much more solid sheet of cappings than my bees have...At what point do I determine if I should I be concerned?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

We shall talk more about this in FAQ 26... If your frame gets mostly capped with some open cells among the solid fields, you're fine. If the cells are not capped in clusters and open cells are not in any particular order, then there may be issues...

@wendybachman6224 5 лет назад

@@FrederickDunn Sounds great! I did find a good explanation and some excellent pics at about 56:00 in this video:ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JOa_SOWVdmk.html But I'd love to hear anything you have to add on the subject! I personally feel we should all petition Mike Palmer to write beekeeping books!

@wadebarnes6720 3 года назад

For as the clover which one gives the most food to the 🐝

@FrederickDunn 3 года назад

White Clover brings in the most nectar here :)

@michaelnicassio8426 2 года назад

Can Bees still keep their hives clean of dead bees, broken rubber bands etc. when you install a BeeSmart Robber Screen?

@FrederickDunn 2 года назад

yes, it just takes more effort.

@houssembenabdallah6599 5 лет назад

Here in North Africa, I do feed 1:2 sugar/water, they drink like crazy. I'm not sure, but I think that is beneficial because evaporating water helps them reduce the heat plus nutrition. your thoughts!?

@FrederickDunn 7 месяцев назад

Water forager bees and nectar collecting bees are separate. So providing high water sugar syrup isn't going to be used to cool the hive. Those that collecte water exclusively will do that.

@mohammadsalah3319 5 лет назад

90 F is super hot hahahahahaahha You have to visit Egypt ;)

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

I remember Egypt well and yes, it was very hot there!!! :)

@mohammadsalah3319 5 лет назад

@@FrederickDunn Next time make sure to tell me before you come so I could meet you in person & arrange a nice tour for you to see the Egypt that only Egyptians can see Keep the amazing nature videos my friend

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

@@mohammadsalah3319 I will be certain to do that! Thank you Mohammad!

@oneoldcurmudgeon403 5 лет назад

Fred, This is my first year bee keeping. I've been watching my bees, and have noticed that, in the evening, they congregate on the landing board. This is full dark 21:00 in the evening. I live in Northern Virginia. It has been 80 degrees, and humid in the evenings. They aren't fanning, just clustered on the landing board. Is this common?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Yes, very common and I'll discuss this further in FAQ 26

@wendybachman6224 4 года назад

Fred, why do you have the brick pavers on the ground in front of the hives?

@FrederickDunn 4 года назад

I was told that this would pevent skunks from being able to eat bees as "skunks need grass to roll bees in to eat them"... I was given some incorrect advice there. But, that's what I did :) I could probably just remove them now, but that's way down my to-do list :)

@huntersolvang1951 5 лет назад

Is there a reason to not leave a robbing screen/mouse guard on your hive all the time?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

Yes, it does slow things down and makes dead bee removal difficult for the workers.

@linusritter9280 5 лет назад

I have fogged my bees with mineral oil and wintergreen once a week when I have honey supers on (16 oz 25 drop) and it seems to keep the mite load way down, have you ever tried that? beginning of the year I Oxalic Acid them and in the fall, I don't try when honey supers are on.

@FrederickDunn 7 месяцев назад

I can't say that I have ever tried that.

@bradgoliphant 3 года назад

Hey Frederick, I have a question that I need help with. I live in NYC and am starting a new hive this upcoming April. I have several appointments this week to meet with Garden owners to place my hive and have a question about sunlight. Some of these gardens are North Facing. My hive would be facing SouthWest in the garden, but still the garden itself is North Facing. So in the hot Spring and Summer, it would get shade in both the early morning and early evening, but during the days it would have full sun. Yet in the winter and late fall, it would only have reflective light and a lot of shade. Will this be ok for my bees? Thanks so much. I need the help with this. Brad

@FrederickDunn 3 года назад

HI Brad, that's not optimum... shaded hives seem to draw more pests and don't perform as well during winter. BUT, if it's the best spot they have, then it's better than nothing :)

@bradgoliphant 3 года назад

@@FrederickDunn Thank you. Yet do I really have to worry about pest during winter? Thanks again. I'm going to try my best in getting a sunny spot.

@mrcreditunion1 5 лет назад

Thanks again Fred! Question for another episode; What is the average length of time for bees to fully draw out comb on a deep frame? Trying to gauge expansion rate (slow/fast) within a brand new super drawing from Mann Lake wax frames.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

I've been testing the Mann Lake waxed frames this year and they are the slowest for the bees to accept and build on. Acorn frames are outperforming them by a lot. I placed a swarm in a new box and within a week, they had four frames fully drawn and stopped at the Mann lake frames - it was a tad frustrating - I added a medium super with Acorn frames and they went right to work on them. They do ultimately use the pre-waxed Mann Lake frames, but the difference is notable. It also comes down to the bees themselves and how productive they are and how many you have. They can construct comb at an incredible rate.

@mrcreditunion1 5 лет назад

Frederick Dunn , thx for the feedback Fred!

@mrcreditunion1 5 лет назад

I’m a first year bee keeper. Checked on the frames this morning from my two hives and noticed 3-4 bees that were noticeably smaller, lighter in color (like sun bleached cardboard), and hairier around the eyes & midsection. I remember you saying that honey bees come out the size they will always be throughout their life. My bees are Saskatraz and worried I might have some free loaders. Thx again!

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

@@mrcreditunion1 Those are recently hatched brood, they often have golden or even silver appearing hair. It's true that bees hatch out the size they will bee, BUT, they can get fatter and their abdomen will extend as it's filled with resources. It's unlikely that you have uninvited visitors :) When I say they are the size they will be, that's regarding the legs, eyes, thorax, antennae and so on, the abdomen is in a constant state of flux and will get larger and smaller seasonally. Look at the heads, thorax and legs of the bees you are suspicious of and see if they are not the same size as their hive mates :)

@DanK00707 5 лет назад

What is honey bound? When do I know it’s happening in my brude boxes and how to mitigate?

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

As long as you expand and add boxes when they need it, you won't have a problem.

@actionkey8042 5 лет назад

Frederick Dunn - 0- 1-00 nice pictures

@temijinkahn511 2 года назад

If you put the robbing screen during the attack, what happens to the robber bees trapped inside the hive?

@FrederickDunn 2 года назад

They go right out the exits.

@FrederickDunn 2 года назад

Also, any trapped bees that are robbing may end up dead at the gates.

@testpiloterb1828 4 года назад

Fred, I notice every time you talk about a build you made you’re always using stainless screws is there a reason why I couldn’t just use exterior wood screws? Or do they have to be stainless?

@FrederickDunn 4 года назад

I just like stainless screws, any exterior screws work fine :)

@testpiloterb1828 4 года назад

Frederick Dunn ok thanks, stainless is nice I just have an abundance of boxes of wood screws from past projects and stainless isn’t among them sadly

@idunasorchard 5 лет назад

Will bees use dry salt? That is, will they lick from course salt like a large Himalayan salt crystal? Would there be anything wrong with putting one in the brood box? Thank you from Southern Missouri!

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

I would not personally put the salt inside the hive - the bees do want the minerals but if you make them available as a solid-saltlick instead of in mineralized water, they need more moisture to process it. The most bee-friendly way to make sea salt available to your bees is by putting out drinkers of fresh water with 1 teaspoon of sea salts per quart. Nice to hear from someone in the Show-Me State :)

@idunasorchard 5 лет назад

Frederick Dunn Thanks. Your videos are very appreciated.

@FrederickDunn 5 лет назад

@@idunasorchard Thank You! :)