Biggest mistake was trying to do beekeeping "naturally" without any treatments for mites. After three years of failing, I finally realized that yes, bees have been around for a long, long time. But they have not had to deal with varroa mites that whole time. Once I started focusing on making my bees as healthy & strong as possible I've had much more success.
I use Oxylic Acid Vapor treatments, with a Lorobee. I treat early spring, after the first honey harvest and then late fall. If I can find a mild weekend in December, I will treat then. I use quilt boxes over winter and provide a sugar boat and Honey-B-Healthy fondant.
Keep learning, I've been doing it for 25 years and I am still learning. I mentored 4 beekeepers last year. It was a lot of work but very rewarding. Consider being a mentor and letting them do hands on work.
Ha, ha, I'm a beekeeper in my 5th year with 42 colonies All I wanted was to get a little honey. Also, starting a RU-vid beekeeping channel. And, one of my ideas was to do a video of why not to start beekeeping. May still do it. You hit the nail on the head on this one. I've been there on everything you talked about. Great video.
I am so happy you loved it and this video was received well! A lot of hard truths in it but if anyone wants to be a beekeeper they all must be faced at some point in their beekeeping journey ♥️
Thanks. I’ve watched 30+ videos in prep to start keeping bees. BUT after seeing this, I am sufficiently discouraged. I don’t enjoy failing and if anyone can fail, it’s me. I don’t wanna be responsible for the loss of thousands of bee lives. I don’t see how they don’t freeze to death in winter. Also those mites look horrible and I don’t think you can pick them off like ticks off a dog? SO, I think I’ll take yer advice and try to find a local source for local honey to help with my dog’s allergies, since that was one motivation. I also wanted to replenish the bee population for pollination, but since you said they negatively impact the native bee population, I don’t wanna hurt more than I help the environment. The other thing is I’d become emotionally attached and would take a loss very hard. I hate any suffering from any creature. I found a still born calf in my neighbors’ field today, due to complications, and the mom may not survive. So that ruined my whole day. A coworker pointed out that it’s a cow that I don’t even own, but that’s just how I am. So thanks so much for this wake up call. Great info and video!
Great info, as always! My biggest mistake was probably starting out with only one hive. I ended up with a failing queen and eventually lost the colony. It's always best to have at least one more colony available to share resources as needed.
Thats actually false, I failing hive is a result of lack of food during the winter (beekeeper not inspecting or being greedy with honey) or disease and in that case you don't adding resources wouldn't do much. A single Hive can survive on its own, it sounds like beekeepers neglect that killed that hive and I'm sorry if you're offended but it's true. I've learned alot about bees but I'm no expert, it's just kind of common sense. Check your bees and don't just leave them for months. It's best to check them every 3 weeks depending on the season of course and if it's winter rare checks most times you can just put your ear to the box and hear them buzzing to keep warm. It is possible that cold could have killed them but then again that's still not fixable with another hive. You will have to insulate them more proper and monitor their food before they shut down for the winter. I believe if you try it again and follow those steps and stay on top of your buzzy friends they'll do alot better. But again bees thrive just fine on their own in the wild without other bee hives, it's no different with these.
Just gives me much to think about. It sounds challenging, but I’m willing to try your enthusiasm for beekeeping and accepting failure time overtime is very rewarding.
In my first couple of years of beekeeper, fortunately, I never mess up the apiary, this year, the fifth year, I lost 12 family and I don’t know why!! But you say never give up! It’s true, we always have to learn from this addicted animals 🐝 and start a new year with a new lesson. Thanks for your video!! Greetings from Italy 🇮🇹 ciao
I’m a beekeeper and the only way I can collect my honey is when I’m totally drunk. I found that being drunk helps me to not feel any bee stings. For those that are interested in being a drunk beekeeper I recommend insure you have no less than nine strong shots of tequila prior to working your hives.
Emily, this is my 4th year and I’ve lost one colony due to starvation my second year. I only have 4 because I don’t have much room and I didn’t split last year and 3 of the 4 swarmed and re-queened. Ended up with 260 lbs of honey from 3 producers. One conventional and two flow hives. I love what you’ve done because you young lady are fearless! Keep the great videos rolling.
I started out with one hive and I had no idea that I should making sure I had a laying queen. By September I was queenless with laying workers and that was the end of that hive 😭 this is my 8th year and I have 5 strong hives with no varroa thanks to OA vaporization. The last time I bought bees was 6 years ago!
great video. I did some temporary work for a Finnish Beekeeper in 2020 and now I have an opportunity to start my own business. I remember there was not a day that would pass without being stung multiple times - but I actually liked the feeling and the effect it has on the body. e.g when I was stung on my face it hurt but was really funny to see a new face for the next week. I love bees!
My mistake was letting my daughter have one small hive. The remedy would be to sell her, but apparently that's not allowed. She now has six hives and I have two, she considers it a free hobby as she doesn't have to buy anything. Need a new hive ask dad, more bees, new tools, free sugar and pollen etc, just borrow from dad.
Oh my goodness, hilarious. My daughter can ignore me for a month and I carry on as if she was the most loving, affectionate daughter who ever lived that was forever wanting to do things with me. She is the only investment that I am fully satisfied with even at 3% return.
Love the vibe, and yes it's very addictive, i started with 2 now I'm up to 8 and I'll be picking up a few more from you I'm on the email list, and love the side kick taking up camera time have a great day🌻👍
thanks for the video you definitely helped me figure out some points i was anxious about, im planning to see if i can find a place to try out beekeeping for a while before picking it up as a hobby before i spend a lot of time and money on it
I have a semi large garden in MI. I thought about putting up one hive to promote pollination of my veggies. I changed my mind and, instead, intercropped a lot flowers with the hopes of attracting bees to the garden. It worked great and will continue doing it this way. There's a farmer down the road where we can get our honey when we need it. Great vid!
I'm from PA. Im going into my 9th year. I think and I had to learn the hard way keeping the mites under control is the number 1 thing. I use to use a pan heater to kill mites. Lost a lot of hives. Then I got a provap look a like. That runs on 120 volts. Now don't lose hive like before. Now my problem is to many bees. Last year i had 23 swarms just out of my own hives. I have 3 bee yards now running about 70 hives. I treat in the spring july and fall. Every 4 days 4 times. Only takes 20 seconds to do a hive. And I make all my own bee boxes frame lids bottom boards inter covers. Get wood from the Amish saw mills. I plan it down.
Hi i am a Pilipino and i like bee keeping beacause its very challenging to me and its give a incredible experience 😂 being a beginner of beekeeping... Thank you for your video..
Ur the Bees Knees, Emily☺️This video totally reminded me of being a cyclist, my friend and I are always saying Man we Definitely picked an Expensive hobby! But literally all the points u hit really reminded me of my Expensive hobby but the difference is mine Is a hobby whereas urs is a Life Changing experience, an experience I am So Happy u got to find☺️🐝🍯💛And especially since this is something where ur dealing with living breathing creatures that you are now responsible for so that right there should 100% be taken into account before u decide to get into Beekeeping, its like ppl buying a puppy for Xmas, that's not a Toy that is a decade minimum of Responsibility for this creature its Not to be taken lightly! Happy u found ur Home in the Beekeeping community and thats a perfect word that's how I feel about cycling it feels like Home so Happy Ur Home my Favorite Keeper☺️p.s. Ur hair looks Amazing👏Thanks for another Great video and I'll see U in the next one my friend😁#emilyisthebeesknees #riverraisinbeekeepingclub #beefitbeekeeping #beefitbeeyard #beekind #savethenativebees #beekeepingfever #beefithoney #emilyisthebest👑🐝💛
I agree with all you said. I had to laugh at the 1920s slang. I haven't heard "the bees knees" since about the early to mid 60s when I was a teen. My grandmother used the term since she was born in Sept 1902 and entered the 1920s as a 17 year old.
Wonderful video. Between Varroa, moisture, bears, etc. one learns all the time. It's fascinating and when you make it through the winter you feel like you've untied the Gordian knot.
Hi thanks for the great info, I am in Scotland 60 year old and wanted to put something back for the grandkids, after watching you I have adopted wildlife bees and put up some rest homes for the single bees, keep up the good work
The Financial estimate to start is incorrect. It Costs $200 for a Queen right 5 frame Nuc. $150 for a package of bees with a queen that may not be accepted and then a starter Hive set up is also about $200. realistic cost is is about $500 per colony if all is being purchased. Once you get a few Colonies then costs are reduced for new colony reproductions. The prices vary on equipment / Hive Bodies and frames, Bee suit and veil, hive tools.. I started with a double Deep and 2 mediums complete costed $425, 5 frame nuc $225. Realistic cost to start was $800 for first hive and $500 minimum for each additional Colony. Not trying to beat you up, but the cost realistically is greater than expressed. I do like the videos you do and the education, all is valuable for those learning about Beekeeping
We are in a period of Inflation. Prices may have increased between the time she made her video and your comment. The folks selling bees and equipment may need to increase prices just to stay solvent.
are those hives all yours are they like a group of keepers together???? is it a comunity setup with otherkeepers sharing???? or are they all yours I couldnt afford all of that!!!
Been doing research for the past year, still don't feel quite ready. However, I am currently "feeding" the local population hoping they will stick around when my garden comes into bloom and will pollinate for me! I'm in Arizona so our "winters" are mild. These came from I have no idea where but I get hundreds, maybe thousands each morning to feed. While we have "africanized" bees here in the desert these seem to be very gentle. They don't bother me at all. I hope to have my own hives one day....but I'll be moving out to some acreage so will wait until that time. Good video, thank you.
Thank YOU for watching ☺️ I’m jealous that you have a local population that small! The best way to be “ready” is to just do it 🤣 I was never truly ready ♥️
There was a time, not long ago, when every swarm or wild colony of bees in Arizona was considered to be "Africanized". Swarm catching is still not as common in Arizona as in most parts of the country because swarms are feared by most people in Arizona. They didn't get the name of being "killer bees" for no reason.
The way you said this is what you feel you were put on this earth to do, I feel the same ways about bees 🐝 and mushrooms 🍄 now my poorly father is no longer with us there’s is no time like the present 💙
Thought I'd buy couple hives .. ended up buying couple nucs but they came from Florida and they had very little brood and hive beetle infested.. they struggled along finally fed them 1/2 gallon of honey and they turned around took off made honey.. then I bought out bee keeper with a bad back and he said I needed to get bees on all that comb so I ordered package bees . Ended up with 17 units but I had mite problem brewing... Finally did oav treatment in Oct had thousands of mites dropped.. ended up losing all 17 that fall and Winter.. wasn't for Ian stepper I'd quit.. he's been great helping me.. Ian said helping me gives him motivation in his operation . Now I have lots of local bee keepers under my wing . I need to join our local bee group just haven't done it yet
I live in Traverse City but I’m from Monroe. This is going to be my first year beekeeping and would love to pick your brain sometime that I’m in Monroe.
Ms Emily, I'm not into bees for the honey or as a job.. OK, the food stuff in a hive is the only thing that has made a positive impact on my health and I have been frustrated with medical doctors feeding me poison for profit.. My roots go deep in agriculture and I have a desire to offer pollination services to the local farms in addition to the small orchard I started on my property.. Georgia queens don't overwinter well in cold areas when started in the fall, but my Carni queens are doing just fine (I lost 1 of seven nucs in December). I have not cracked the cover on most hives unless there was suspicion of a problem.
@@beefitbeekeeping OH it is super easy. I just drilled a bunch of holes in the firewood under a carport facing the sun to the south side and they just came by themselves. It's amazing and easy
Welp. I'm in. I'm curious about keeping bees in a fairly densely populated suburb. I live in a pretty built up neighborhood with 100's of houses in the sub-division, do you think I should be discouraged from trying my hand at this for that reason?
I've seen several videos recommending your hives should be totally out of sight behind a tall and solid fence or hedge in the suburbs. One went so far as to say if you had a shed or workshop in your back yard to put another door in it to be the only entrance into you hidden beeyard. This was to keep nosey neighbors or passers-by (think Karen) from checking out your operation and forcing the bees to gain altitude so as to be less noticeable and more unlikely to interact with people on their flight to find nectar and pollen. Otherwise, ANY sting whether from any random bee or wasp will be laid at your doorstep, and you may have the task of educating the public and possibly local government or even the court that there could have been a colony of bees within a 3 mile radius of where the sting took place. But if they then know the sting happened within 3 miles of your hive, then YOUR bees are the culprits.
I see you have a bunch of Apimaye hives in the background. They should help with your moisture problems. Will you be doing a video about using those hives in the future?
Emily, I really like your new video intro and you’re doing some great editing on your videos. If you want the beekeeping experience of your life purchase a Hive Live ticket as soon as Kamon offers them for sale this summer. Was that your Apiary behind you in this video?
@@cyndilanders1409 Most Natives are solitary. RU-vid has videos on Native Bees and/or Native Pollinators. If someone feeds you the answers to your questions, that info will fade away relatively fast. I can't even remember all my teacher's names much less what they taught me each day. Research it yourself and the information will stay with you much longer. Maybe even a whole year or even longer.
I started during the Corona lockdown. I did everything - hives, frames, smoker, tools... I don't buy bees, just find swarms. Last summer I lost my old and strong one to the hive moth. It was a huge colony that I 'harvested' from a tree and housed in a horizontal hive in my backyard. In Israel there is a strong regulation and the country is 'divided' between the big commercial beekeepers, so I am actually not allowed to keep hives. But I'm addicted... so I keep 'secret' hives in various places - in the backyard, on a relatives roof, and in several hidden places outside of town... This year's season started with a 'flood' of 10 new swarms, some of which will go to veterans with PTSD. just love tham
It won't be easy just to go to the farmers market or a store when society collapses, so I'm taking up beekeeping. Thanks for the video I shall take your advice
I learned that ccd and most bee issues are microwave.before you say mine are next to a tower,are they out of the beam path? They work like floodlights and there is a deadzone.never face a beehive at your wifi or a celltower.this also increases varoa mites just as a sick dog attracts more fleas.thats why the outback was importing bees to usa.there are no radiotowers in the outback.next is splitting,i lost half my splits with missing queens.luckily i tried again immediatedly with a fresh frame of brood.sugar is a manditory.pour the syrup to them until the freeze.as much as you can.they will build more comb and have stronger colonies coming into spring.
Liked your video. You are spot on. Im addicted and finished my 3rd season . 1st season with 1 hive and poor queen, didnt make it through winter. 2nd season 2 hives and queens lost to formic pro within 24 hrs .the hive made it through the winter queenless and was given a queen end of april. This season i bought 2 more hives so i had 3 going into fall .Then the relentless yellow jackets ganged up and all 3 hives absconded, one each week. Im starting over again if i can get bees in june. If i cant keep these , maybe its not meant to bee. Do you have experience with the hivegates to deal with yellowjackets?
Lol you said a mouthful 😅 an your words ring so so truefull.. But I have seen a lot start an go out the second year .. lost hives ? For a first timer it “can” be the straw that broke the camel back! Forget the expense involved the mental psychological feeling of failure is enough to make many throw their arms up in the air.. with out a mentor to give them encouragement and explain that it’s not their fault that it is life and crap happens for no reason at all… I have found that bee keepers who start on their own “alone” ( if they stay in it ) are the beekeepers who make to the end. Beekeeping is not just throwing a bunch of hives together, and letting mother nature take its course you have to have the want the desire honestly the love of the bees to be a long-term bee keeper. You can be in it for years an have 1000 hives an all it takes is for luck to go against you an your life long work goes down the drain.. my words to new bee keepers?? Do it for the love of the bees an a hobby. If you’re going to be doing it for the money.? Unless they win the mega million drawing my advice like yours, just go to the store shelf and buy a jar of honey!
@@billc3405 A lot of Commercial Beekeepers went out of business with CCD. If they wanted to continue as beekeepers they generally started with only a few hives and a lot of money tied up in equipment.
@@makingdreambees6876 please dont unsub over that she just cant afford all those hives thats all. she is still trying and just walked through a randon apiary thats all
I’m taking up beekeeping as a new hobby. I’m wanting to have one colony. Do you have any major suggestions on keeping 1 colony and my biggest fear is swarming I bought 2 deep compartments but I’m worrried it still won’t be enough space
So have an already prepared box ready to go in case of need, remembering to keep any wax you have in the freezer until needed. Be ready to clean up everything to start over when your one colony dies in some catastrophe or just fades away to zero. Then just buy new bees or pick up a swarm and keep going. Beekeeping equipment is expensive so if you decide to sell it all when you give up, remember to clean it up so it looks almost brand new for a decent sell price. Even if you just give it away you don't want it to look like trash.
Bees produce several things, among them is wax. Wax is used by the beekeeper, but beekeepers also can sell the wax, so it becomes a source of income. Consider it as a little payback on all you've spent on the Bees. Bring an empty bucket when visiting your bees. Tossing small pieces of wax is just calling for pests to start living near your bees. Collecting wax in a bucket lets you stockpile wax until you decide to do something with it.
1) It has been expensive. I'm at 20 hives now 😂 2) lots of problems to solve 😂 3) That's me at the local bee club 😂 4) My wife is concerned I spend too much time on my side business 😂 5) Lots of failed attempts doing things. Tipped hives, wax moths 😂
Splits are best done in spring when the pollen flow is starting and temps are appropriate. Splitting a strong colony into two smaller colonies in the fall makes it rough to get them through winter. They lack resources and population, all of which will work against their survival. Here in Wisconsin, I do everything I can to keep my hives producing large numbers of brood right up until the daytime highs are about 57 degrees when i stop feeding them my 1:1 syrup. The more bees the more heat they can generate. The bees made in the late summer and fall are your bees of winter physiology, which live up to 6 months and in some cases longer. They get your hive through winter, and I want to go into the cold Wisconsin weather with as many as I can.
As well this time of year hives are beginning to kick out all the drones. So raising a queen and getting her mated is risky. You could easily end up with a drone laying queen this time of year unless you already have an extra mated queen for your split or have access to one.
Splits are like swarms. At best they are half of a colony that you may have to feed until the next good nectar flow. After summer is over, they have a very small chance of surviving until spring weather gets to wherever you are. And you know springs. Sometimes they are early and sometimes they are late, and sometimes the weather seems to bounce up and down for what seems forever.
Awesome suggestions Emily, thanks for sharing your insights. Pretty much checked off all of those boxes... and as a successful life-long failure, I think I've mentally got this! Now, I've just got to find a nearby location for hives next season.
It sounds like you do got this! Start with 2, it’ll make it easier if you ever have problems with one. Excited to hear how your first bee season goes!!!♥️
I remember seeing something about that in a video some time ago. But it's just a vague memory of an old man that is losing his memory. I think the video was about Native Pollinators or Native Bees. Something like that.
Hallo Miss...my name is Sonu Yadav and I am a student of bsc agriculture in government agriculture University in India. I want to start apiculture after graduation . Please suggest how to start apiculture...😇
FYI there are many, many videos on RU-vid you can get that information. She may already have a one or more videos of just what you are looking for. Go to RU-vid and search for "BeeFit Beekeeping" to have access to all her beekeeping videos.
Or any other kind of livestock. I once raised hogs. I once had bees. I also once had aquariums both big, medium, and small full of guppys (most profitable). They all took interest, learning new things, doing new things, and commitment of time, energy, and money. None were conducive of my chosen career in the US Navy. Lt USN(ret)
I only got through the first 3 but I'm sorry to tell you they apply to almost every endeavor a human can undertake in life and therefore are mute. Sitting in a room doing nothing solves them but that is not a life.
How many students does it take before the person handing out the knowledge is considered a teacher ? How many teams does it take for your game to actually be football ? If you take care of one hive, my friend, you are a beekeeper !
okay so you're lack of knowledge is 2 reasons for why not to be a beekeeper and the last two reasons are true of anything. Beekeeping is not this bad people and I would recommend not listening to this video
I think you are a bit negative all the about this video to say " not to be a beekeeper" I can see that you made it. So anyone can do it and learn the process. Is not rocket science to be a beekeeper! Beekeeping has centuries!! Also you asking for people to build your portfolio?? What??
