Beginner Beekeeping Frequently Asked Questions 15 How to Keep Honey bees 

1) What happens to bee colonies in the wild that lose a Queen and don't succeed in producing a replacement? 3:14 2) What are the Pros and Cons to having upper entrances? How can you tell if your bees are getting enough venting? 7:40 3) How do Africanized honeybees end up taking over European Honey Bee hives? 13:30 4) Why do some beehives have round entrances and others have rectangle shaped entrances, what's the difference? 21:11 5) What about frame spacing in honey supers or even removing a frame from the brood box? Does a slatted rack need to line up? 27:24 6) How do you strain or filter your honey? 33:02 7) Do you have Small Hive Beetles? Have you heard of nematodes? 36:02 8) Do you use a locking system to keep your bee boxes together as you stack them? 43:36

Great video Fred. You really need your own show on pubic access or something. You would make a great host.

Thanks for FAQ and thanks to the answer to my question. As a person that has learned almost all he knows about bees and bee keeping in the last few weeks from watching bee videos, I have an opinion on the getting started videos: A lot of them assume you know more than I did when I started watching the videos. They used terminology I didn't know and they glossed over aspects of bee life cycle that were unknown to me when I started watching. I think a beginning bee keeping video is a hard thing to get right. There will be people like me that don't much more than a few widely known facts about bees and there will be people that have a fairly good knowledge of bees but are more looking for a video that provides recommendations rather than basic bee keeping knowledge. Of course, it goes without saying that one thing all the getting started bee keeping videos I watched lacked was a host as well spoken and entertaining as the host of this channel. So I'll be watching.

Your videos really helped me take the leap into bee keeping. I started last week and i am going to buy more stuff today. I also caught a swarm on the same day as my first full blown hive inspection. The bee club i am with had a colony swarm while we were inspecting mine. We watched them march out and then cover the sky flying like crazy but couldnt find their cluster. Later that afternoon i found it. We hand scooped them up and expanded the base bee club. Thanks for helping me get in a new hobby

looking forward to 16 :-).....thanks for this...peace to you and yours

Thanks for another excellent video Mr. Dunn!! My weekends are always better when I can drink a cup of coffee (or tea) and enjoy your FAQ’s, then apply that information to my new hives. Thanks for what you do and keep ‘em coming. 😃

haha! "it's raining again"... same here.. every time you say it.. here too.. :) So upper entrances are Bee Hive DMA (Direct Memory Access) :) yep... the Africanized bees info was great.. summary: monitor your colonies' behavior. hehe... on the entrance... yeah so bees don't have a whole different set of physics? gravity works on them too? (tongue in cheek) thanks again Fred! Looking forward to the next one!

To expand on the africanized bees. They did a study that african queens hatch out one day earlier than European bees as well. So the good queens do not have a chance To help slow the spread they have stopped replacing queens and switched to the drones. They flood the bee yard with non african drones so it ensures less african mating.

The discussion of Africanized bees was fascinating. I wonder whether the BeeWeaver bees aren’t Africanized given that the breeders live in Texas. In Los Angels I’ve heard from my bee association that 80% of the feral hives are Africanized yet attacks on people or animals is rare. In a previous video, I think I recollect , you shared how to destroy an aggressive hive. That was very helpful given that requeening an aggressive hive is not necessarily an option in the city as opening the hive may provoke an attack on neighbors and/or their pets. Ps ... thanks on your amazing discussion on the longevity of Beeweaver queens!😃🐝

...it's raining again. That says a lot right there. Fred I'm not sure if this is a question for the beginning beekeeping FAQ but I will ask it of you to hopefully get an answer one way or another. My minor goal as a beekeeper is to have some backyard colonies for hobby/enjoyment while my major goal as a beekeeper is to have a few apiaries with about fifty hives each as a side business with my son breeding queens and selling nucs locally up here in the Columbia River Valley in the Pacific North West. I will be getting my first batch of mated Saskatraz Queens next week and hope to have at least twelve of these in hives up and running by the end of May on my first brood hatchlings of Saskatraz bees by the end of that month. I want to stay out of the Honey Production business unless I can put a few colonies on some fireweed (best tasting honey ever). Which brings me to my question; can a beekeeper not producing honey make it as a supplemental income selling just Queens and Nucs and maybe a few packages here and there or does one need to also produce and sell honey to turn a profit? I am looking to not lose more than 20% of colonies coming out of winter every year, and hopefully closer to 95% once fully populated with Saskatraz bees. (edited for typos and english grammar for the most part

I have enjoyed all of the bee FAQ episodes. In episode 14, you mentioned ordering queens in the fall and having them available to requeen a hive in the spring if needed. What do you do with the queens if you don’t need them? If all your hives made it through winter with viable queens.

Great video Fred I found your video to be very informative I am a new bee keeper here in West Virginia and I am trying to learn all that I can about bees so that is why I watch a lot of videos of yours because you know a lot about bees.

Just brought one of those little hives, it was too cute. Also have 4 of those Saskatraz on the way to add with my Russian and European. Hopefully getting some Buckfast out of Canada next year 🙂

Thanks for the great videos, Fred! You've given me the knowledge and confidence to give beekeeping a try. I wonder if you could suggest a list of budget minded equipment for a beginner. I love the flow hives, but I think they're something for down the road for me. Right now, I'm looking at an unassembled deep box with unassembled frames, two medium unassembled boxes with frames, and a queen excluder all from Mann Lake. Then an ultimate hive cover/bottom board, smoker, hive tool, and jacket with veil from Amazon.com.

Barnyard Bees has a wonderful RU-vid video titled How to Create Swarm with Mated Queen Easy Way to get Extra Hive. Definitely not for new bee keepers like myself, but which you might find intriguing as an experienced person. It’s one of the most fascinating videos I’ve ever seen.

Another fascinating Q&A. Looking fwd to the new bees and setups.

Yep Fred, it's raining again in Texas too! I've got to dodge the thunderstorms in order to check on my bees. We're going to have to buy some ducks soon if this weather continues to be stormy. Looking forward to your next topic.

I just found that Depot has 2 types of stainless steel, self drilling screws for assembling supers. The 316 grade stainless is more resistant than type 305. 316 is by Simpson and slightly cheaper per unit that the Grip-Rite!

Mr. Dunn; In your learned experience. do field bees actively seek a new (future) home 5 or even 7 days prior to them actually swarming? Before the queen has even left the hive and set up a cluster somewhere.

Who! Another friday of awesome info! Beeutiful shots

I'm looking forward to your episode on the dead mite on the bee. This q&a definitely covered a broad range of info and certainly helpful. Your wildlife videos are simply relaxing. I didn't know the correct name of a comarant until I was nearly 30. They were called water turkeys here and nothing else. Thanks

Thanks for the information on the africian bees I needed to know that as well your videos are great hope u keep doing them u have a wonderful day

Your content is amazing. I had to stop watching for a month while in training for a new job but I'm catching up now. Bought two nucs from Kansas bee company in early May and both are filling second bodies already. They love the alfalfa.

This is Cyrus from Russell farms I've watched all 16 videos I find them very useful 3 questions first question I have three bee boxes I have them on a covered porch I don't know if that is good 2 how do you mark a queen and question 3 I'm going to start treating with oxalic acid can I do that with my rapid feeder still inside the hive

I would like to hear more about the story of the Africanised bees, how they arrived and the impacts and what's being done now? Th new plastic hives from Turkey have latches on the sides, each box locks down on the one under.

As I understand it. The flow hive works by breaking the back of the capped honey cells. My question, if this is correct, How do the bees know these capped cells are empty so they can be refiilled? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

This channel has lots on information on many topics. Thanks

I hope that the next week come soon :)

Mr Dunn, I have started my bee hives this weekend May 4th I have done everything following your great info but I have a question I have vented my hives like yours with the metal discs do I open them to vent for air flow we are having 70/ degrees and I also have entrance reducers on when do I take those off? I have a nuc and a new package. Help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Lora

Just a quick question about the Beeweaver bees. How would you rate their tendency to swarm? Closer to carnis or Italians?

Thank You Mr.Dunn,🇱🇨👍

Another great video, thanks Fred!

Quick question Mr. Dunn. Going into week three with my new bee’s. Hive 1 is an 8 frame deep and I have an inner frame feeder, so only 7 frames. All have drawn comb, all but 2 have capped brood. When should the feeder come out? And when should I add an additional box to the top? They are still emptying the feeder about ever two days I’m filling it with about a gallon of syrup. Lots of pollen coming in, but maybe not as much nectar yet? Or are they just spoiled because of the sugar syrup? Thanks again as always for your amazing videos and willingness to help out us new guys and gals on our bee journeys. 😃

I was in my bee yard today and picked up 9 ticks! Is it okay to wear bug spray (OFF, for example) while working with bees?

Informative video. Thank you

Hey Fred, I really enjoyed the video. Especially the information about the upper and round entrances. Very helpful. I have a question. I’m hoping to add second brood boxes to the hives in the near future. And I was going to move a couple of frames from the bottom box to encourage them to move up, replacing them with new undrawn frames. Since I’m first year, I only have new frames and foundation. I was thinking a frame of resources and one of capped brood. I would really value your opinion on this. Thank you and keep up the great work!

Bees with not enough ventilation will even beard up on the outside and stay out past dark if the brood chamber gets too hot to lower temps. Especially hives in full sun.

I haven’t spotted this in your playlists: How about a video on protecting and maintaining wooden ware, specifically protective finishes for hive boxes?

Hi Fred, I've just subscribed, love your content. I'm about to put (build) a slatted rack for my flow hive as there's a lot of bearding on my hives north of Sydney and I just like the concept. I have a bit of broomstick size dowel which I'm considering using as the slats. Do you think it matters if the slats have a square or round cross section? Are you aware if any experiments have been done.

Those nematodes also go after ticks and weevils and other garden pests as well so I am thinking about getting some.

what are your thoughts on entrance reducer...I know we need to be diligent on keeping them small when necessary, but I am torn on making them bigger. I agree with a couple people who have said ferrell bees usually have a small entrance that doesn't change no matter how big the colony...thanks!

That demo hive is so cool!! Did you make it ?

can u list the pros and cons of the weaver bees? Im in West Texas very hot! Almost no winter

How have the BeeSmart Plastic Tops and bottom Boards worked for you. I'm using them for my first two hives. I get my first bees May 11.

What's the latest you could do a b restriction

Your apirary is fairly close to your house. Have you ever had issues with bees being attracted to house lights near dark by the windows? I have read that can happen.

So Fred. I just pulled out my pest management tray. First time since installing the nucs. Lots of mold, cappings and dust etc. But I found about 4 to 5 dead or barely alive Varorra on the bottom pest board. I know Texas does not treat. And I am not sure if they can crawl back up into hive from that tray. They seem to get stuck in all the wax trash cappings down there. Do I need to put like material in the pest tray to snag them up or any liquids? I kinda am new to this flow hive pest tray. I am not too concerned with Varroa because the colonies seem strong and are hygienic. I am not sure if 5 mites down there is even excessive or not. What do you think? I am also surprized how dirty it got in 15 days. Is that normal for beeweavers? How often do you clean yours or do you put anything in them?

I told you about those clamps because i was worryed about the weather and storms in US and i would use locks and straps ( this comes from a beekeper that made cast concrete foundations to every hive so i might exxagerate with the safety).I use them because i have tall and thin hives almost like those small ones you have on the table ,they are stained green then dipped in parrafine wax.And propolis doesnt adhere too well over parrafine.As for the migratory part,this locking system allows me to add the cap box over the brood box in case i want to go away with my bees( these locks are compatible to different heights of the beehive).I uploaded a picture with my alpine/delon style beehives.i.postimg.cc/zBDzL3mq/IMG-20180113-110900.jpg I look forward to the discussion about the small bees about wich i know a thing or two mostly from the Lusby family and Michael Busch but also somme that i came up with .

Hi Mr. Dunn, I picked up my Caucasian Nuc. last Saturday, and the Saskatraz worker bees & Queen are smaller than the Caucasians. The size difference is most noticeable in girth, but the Caucasians are a little longer in body than the Saskatraz as well. The Saskatraz Queen was so tiny, that when I pulled her out to release her I put her in this one-handed plunger type queen cage ( www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F3TDB58/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) to clip her wing, and the plunger didn't move up high enough to hold her in place so I had to hold her thorax in one hand and do the clipping with the other. I don't think I was ready for that; it was quite a nervous affair. But it worked (I think - can't check for her until this Friday), because I watched the UOG Honey Bee Research Center RU-vid video several times prior to attempting it ( ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-igGLBXJDW4Y.html ). I was just scared. On a side note, I haven't seen drones from my Saskatraz package yet, but my Caucasians have drones, and I'm in love with those big ol' boys! Anyway, I'm really curious to see if your Saskatraz package bees are smaller in size compared to your Bee Weaver line. The Saskatraz are plumping up really nicely since their install, and I have been in communication with Bee Smart Designs regarding the drowning. They say their Saskatraz are not smaller in size than their other lines, and they have never had drowning as I've described. Their suggestion was to add the inner cover between the Ceracell Hive Top Feeder and the Ultimate Hive Cover because that border on the inner cover is wider than the top of the Ceracell shim, and coupled with weighting down the Ultimate Hive Top Cover with rocks or bricks (which I did not do in my ignorance), I should have better contact. I'm willing to give it a try, because when I released the Saskatraz Queen on Friday, the number of live bees is staggering in that hive (it really did feel like more than 3 lbs when I installed it, but I didn't think to weigh it myself). I've also placed the Ceracell under an Ultimate Hive Top Cover on my Caucasian hive, and I'm really curious to check for drowning this evening. I did ensure both hive stands are perfectly level East to West, but they both have a downward tilt towards the entrance of the landing boards for water management. As always, I'm so very grateful for your level-headed, logical approach to beekeeping, and want to thank you for helping me bridge the gap between wishing to be a Beekeeper to actually becoming an honored Steward of these wonderful creatures.

What’s your he deal with the salt?

I want bees soo bad...but instead plant a lot of flowers to welcome them...and I dont use chemicals...i would love to have bees.but am afraid id kill them..too old to count on regular care of them...if i could just let them live natural and in place it would be great ...but i cant count on feeling good enough to take care of em...so sad.

Can you put a post on how to become a registered beekeeper

Wait... Dragonflies eat queens?