Which Size Honey Bee Hive Is Best To Start? Very Important. 

You got some GREAT bees sir!! The package i ordered from you was stuck in transit fer SIX days!!. Only had about 100 dead ones ! Super Barnyard Bees!!💪💪💪you will be getting all of my future business👍👍👍👍and ive not spotted any verroa in package bottom or bottom board ..😎

Just got my first ever Barnyard Bees queens! Thanks to your videos, I feel that I have a better chance of overwintering at least a few colonies this year. Your free instruction is priceless. I have learned so much from you that the least I could do was buy something-- you definitely earned my business.

Great video for me being a new beekeeper! I bought a full 5 frame NUC from a local beekeeper and moved them into a 10 frame hive, minus one feeder tray. I could only comfortably fit 8 frames in since the NUC frames were really full , AND the feeder frame was a little larger than the other frames. I was stressing about forcing that 9th frame into place. Now I feel better about only have the 8. I do have some extra space between the 8th frame and the feeder, but that should be easy to manage. I have soooo much to learn and thank you for this information!

I am starting bee keeping again and ordered packages from Georgia. Due to the severe cold weather there this year, I will not get my packages in Michigan until late May. Getting the bees off to a quick start is critical for me now. This video is just what I need today. Thank you.

I jumped into purchasing too fast and now I am the owner of a ten frame hive, awaiting a package of bees that I wish were coming from you. I almost went eight frame. I changed my mind thinking ten was the standard and the easiest to buy accessories for. Maybe ten is the standard, but you and several beekeepers have convinced me I will go with five frame from now on. Take care.

I started with 5 frame deep box. Then I add another 5 frame on top of it. Both full . Transferred it to 10 frame deep box last week. Kept two frames in original 5 frame nuke. Both boxes growing. They are doing very well. University MN bee lab recommend 10 frame boxes. I agree with David. They seemed to do better in David's 5 frame boxes with a Top feeder That I purchased from him with my Bees.They are definitely easy to manage my hive in a five frame and Temp reaching 96 deg F

I'm not sure if it was just a coincidence with this information, but the timing of this video couldn't have been better to make up my mind! I had already planned to order a package from Barnyard bees and had a 8 frame deep brood box I was going to install them in. This changed my mind. I received them a couple of days ago and put them in my 5 frame nuc. This was my first package I've ever bought and installed. Even though I had what seemed to be a larger amount of dead bees to me, I called Barnyard bees and they gave me a partial refund. I am very happy with how calm and healthy the package bees were. Thank you for the great customer service and bees! I'll definitely be ordering again from them and will let my friends know. 😁🐝

This is a no lie video...installed my packages this year in 5 frame nuc. In a month I'm three boxes high and have split one into 3 and adding double boxes to them already. Last year I got a package that barely filled a 10 frame box all summer. Listen to what Dave is saying. Yes, bees naturally build down...but you could also say they build vertically rather than horizontal. You can put a box at the bottom if you choose...I have not tried it because my nucs have attached bottom boards.

I don't know about you guys but across the border into Alabama we've had over twenty swarms from just four hives this year and we know of two that got away. This is after going through them and removing Queen cells and placing them in splits. And increasing to deeps and supers. Whew, we never expected this to happen. Some the swarms were so large they went into 10 frame deep hive boxes. This is in addition to three wild swarms coming in while we were in our bee yard. Then yesterday one of the new hives that had been inspected just over two weeks ago swarm with an outrageous amount of bees and I inspected that hive again and had to add another super. I ran out of nucs and hive bodies. Have to wait for payday, but I've had to convert cardboard boxes into Nucs just save them. Yesterday's swarm about 6 to 8 pounds of bees and had to make an 7 frame deep hive/Nuc out of a couple of cardboard boxes from the local store. Gee whiz. Need bees David?

I totally agree with installing a package or making a split. But the best way for a new beekeeper to started is with a nuc installed in an 8 or 10 frame box.

David, you are saying bee's like to go up. That is true, but please don't discount horizontal bee hives. I have seen many dozens of video of cut-outs where bee's have huge hives horizontally in floor and ceilings. I have 2 Langstroth Horizontal Long hives from Dr. Leo Sheraskin's design. Both were from feral swarms in late May. One produced 50# of honey and the other had 32# in just 5 months through the summer derth. They were simple to build and I only have to lift up 7# frames instead of 50#-80# boxes. Too easy! Also, I don't have to disturb the hole hive to check if I need to expand with more frames. I would like to thank you for all of your free training. I have learned a lot from you as a NewBee. You truly have a kind heart!

Some of the most valuable bee information for new keepers

Wow thank you this was a big decision for me this spring. I had never thought about even using a box this small ❤️.

Bees naturally build down not up. I think the desire to have the nest longer vertically is strictly due to the fact that heat rises and the bees know this very well.

I've purchased Barnyard Bee's and will in the future, they are great bees. I will also buy supplies from their store, great customer service!

Small hive is best for new bee keepers

Well that would explain why my bees absconded when i first put them a layens hive. Caught the swarm and put them back in and reduced the amount of frames. They have done very well since then. Thanx for info David..

... or like myself, get yourself a few of every size and shape and experiment. Im going to build some obscure hives also. Options are endless. I have 2-10 frame deeps. All bring different management tricks to keep you learning. Thank you for the shared knowledge!

I keep 7 frame apimaye nucs on hand but I can use a divider board to make them 3 frame. I had a dying colony so I put it in the nuc to transport and it did so well a few weeks after.

thank you for the video! you just convinced me to keep my swarms in the traps instead of moving them into the big hive till they get their numbers up. keep the videos comin man. you and a few others convinced me to jump into beekeeping. this is gonna be my first year whenever some bees move into my swarm traps.

I have already grown some sunflowers. They are about 14 feet tall.

Awesome info mate thank you... new beekeeper here... please keep up vids huge help

thank you for such knowledge you give, i am learning much for from your videos, i cant wait till spring,,,when you speak of hive growing faster in a tight area VS, a large area as a 10 frame,, can you, by putting a solid frame such as wood like a wall sorta on either side of your 5 frames installed to a 10 frame box can be the bees be tricked into believing its a tight area then after some grow time remove the solid frames for more growth,,, if you understand what i am explaining,,, n i thank you again,,

David I am a brand new bee keeper and I have purchased two five frame nukes for this spring. I’m building five frame boxes to put my bees in when I get them. My question is, When I put my bees in those five frame box’s should I put a box on top with frames in them? love your videos I have learned a lot! Appreciate you.

Thanks for this tip! Will definitely keep it in mind for future.

You always talk about starting with a frame of drawn honey. But a brand new beekeeper wont have that. Can you clarify please?

Love your videos! So helpful and fascinating! Thank you for sharing these awesome videos and information!!

Great video. Have you ever tried to super a five frame see the honey production?

I hope I have all of this info figured out by early next spring. That's when I want to start my bees. But, some of this gets confusing. Keep them in a small space, give them room to grow, don't overwhelm them, they need to work, Uhhgg.

This advice is some of your best. It's hard earned knowledge and I completely agree. Thumbs up!

I did learn this the hard way, excellent advise.

Your help has been fantastic

thank you for the video!

Great and very common sense advise!! I’ll follow it by the dot. Thanks.

I have been watching a lot of videos on bee keeping. I have come to the conclusion that horizontal hives is the way to go. You start off with a low number of frames with a partition frame to keep bees in small area then just add frames and move partition to increase hive size. No disturbance of bees moving them. I was wandering what your thoughts were on horizontal hives?

It sounds like the optimal solution would be to start off with a 10 frame box but only put in 3 or 4 frames. Then as the population gets large then start adding more frames.

I started building my own 7-frame boxes this year. Can confirm that they will build out a 7 frame box faster than 7 frames in a 10 frame box.

The only real major reason I use a top a top bar hive is resources make sure the bars fit a modern hive and reduces cost of having to purchase frames and time to draw out bars also it the same as using a 2x6 to build three frame mating boxes I don’t have all the time and money to make feeders so I can put in a frame feeder until the box is full pull the feeder insert a bar or frame when it’s full up again I can pull a brood frame and drop it I. A ten frame

New beekeeper here, or will be in the spring anyhow. I've ordered a 5 frame nuc of over wintered bees. So I'd be best leaving them in the nuc for a while before putting them in to a 10 fram brood box?

Thanks for the videos they are great, I've always wanted to ask what type of wood is the best for the boxes? Thanks

I live in the middle of a 20+ acre orchard and would like to keep bees but the orchard gets sprayed all summer long will this affect bees?

Thank you for all the good info! All your videos are so informative. I m learning a lot. Keep up the good work! 😃

And I have a microgreen business and sunflower is my biggest seller

The less space they have the easier it is to defend

Thx

Hello my friend David. How are you? I have a question about catching a swarm this April-May. I plan on using The Guardian Entrance Guard on my hive because I hear some friends swear by it keeping beetles out of the hive. My question is, should I have this on or off to catch a swarm? My thoughts were to keep in off then after catching a swarm put in on. What do you advise me to do? Thank you David.

what about using a following board in 8 or 10 frame boxes or top bar as well? Just thought they would help keep space small and allow you to open more room.

Oh man, good timing. I just got my first set of bees and installed two 10-frame deeps plus a super. Gonna go remove one of those deeps!

Do you still believe those beginner beekeepers should start with a five-frame hive?

Hi from Trion !

Great info thanks David!

*I need to build some nuc boxes. IF IT EVER STOPS RAINING! I need a workshop. I could build one... IF IT EVER STOPS RAINING.*

5 frame nuke is good for a split. 10 frame is good for a strong hive.

Great video

Hi Dave, Informative videos! Keep it up. The nucs we get are 4 frame (2 brood, 1 stores and 1 foundation) so I’m wondering if i should put them straight into a 10 frame hive (Langstroth) or maybe into a standard 5 frame nuc box for a few weeks first? Thanks.

Another good one David...Thanks! Do you think it's possible to manage a 5-frame only bee yard (stacking deeps and mediums) and produce Ross Rounds? Or will the hives become too crowded and invariably swarm, without splitting? I'm a backyard keeper and I don't want a whole bunch more colonies but I love the lighter weight of the 5 frame boxes.

What is the size of the entrance opening in your five frame nuc? I am getting my first bees this June.

I built 5 frame /tall hives. Do I just start the single hive ? How do you know when to add a second 5 on top? Thanks. I love your videos. Pretty straight forward.

Great advice, thanks!

Could you explain how bees regenerate a queen? Thanks. Great videos..

When bees go in hollow tree i tell me they start from bottom NO!!! THEY START AT TOP N BUILD DOWN....

*Oh, those are gonna be big ones! I planted some of those, but the chickens ate them. Lolol!*

Im sure it varies county to county, but are there county regulations on how far bees must be kept from neighboring homes, or can only raise bees in rural zones?

Could I use a large super and only use 5 frames to start? Would I have to use a division board? Good video! Thanks, appreciate it.

Hello, this may sounds like a newbie question but what happen when the nuc is full, do you just put another one on top of it ? Also what type of hive would you advise for someone living in a hardiness zone 7 ? Thanks

Good video

Do you think odd frame hives are better than even ones? Mine are nine frame and was wondering if having a center frame is better than not.

Thanks !!

Have you ever tried a hive with the frames set vertically?

This exactly the info I wanted

Thanks, very helpfull

How much honey do you make? I know you make bees but mgt bees with out swarmiing with 100 hives as a weekend keeper It seems like a lot of extra time with multipale locations.

Whant to move from 10 frame to 8s, what ya think about 8s with all mediums? Was going to Stay with 8s and deeps for Honey production. Opinion...

Great video David, do you guys still have packages? I live in Michigan, should I just call the store and talk to someone? Thanks again!

What if you ordered a 5 frame nuc? Do you put them in a 5frame medium then just go up to 8 then 10? Or something like that?

Is that APIs cerana? could u share box dimensions?

Do you have dimensions for that medium NUC? I don’t think I’ve see you show mediums before?

I'll be nice, I won't enter. I'm in ND, and, well I'd win with Sunflowers. Huge industry here. Sunflowers love the heavy alkaline soil here.

hows shipping on queens? Its 100* here in Tx rite now. Will the make it thru that?

Love your videos! Do you sell the 5 frame nuc boxes or plans for them? Thank you!

Is it to late this year for a new bee keeper. Can you make money from bee keeping. Selling nucks. Queens. Honey....etc

Thanks Dave. Sorry, I didn't get the name of the plant that you use for healing skin wound. Can you please type it here. Thanks and swarm regards

What are the dimensions of a 5 frame deep nuc?

David you should join my Facebook group Northampton Veggie Gardeners.

How do you deal with fire ants in your bed yard!

I noticed some like mold or mildew looking spots in the corner of my inside cover, what can I do about this? The rain is really a pain in the nether regions here in middle Georgia.

Hi Tom, I want you to know I am taking your advice. I got a swarm 5 weeks ago. It was the 3rd swarm from that hive and I am assuming I had a virgin queen. Said virgin queen has disappeared. I put 2 swarm cells from another hive on the brood frames yesterday. I watched your video today, realized only 5 frames have anything on them and just put those 5 frames in a nuc. There is a flow on here. I expect queens to emerge Saturday, Sunday or Monday. We will see if the build up faster. They have a brood frame, 2 nectar/honey frames and two partly built up frames. Any advice?

Looks like you're already sold out of packages!

You said in a different video that you gotta love your bees. You obviously dont. It wouldn't hurt to make sure you are not squashing them when you put the top back on!! I dont care if somebody wants to be a smart ass with what I said. At least none of mine will be squashed. I will be starting next Spring, maybe, unless I change my mind, but I'm pretty set in my mind that I will. I have a wooded area, I own quiet a bit of property. I intend to catch my own swarm as there have been several come through before. I noticed I haven't seen that mentioned in any videos LOL getting your own bees and not "ordering"

Bear with me for a moment. This video screwed up my plans. I have just ordered a three lb package from you. I have a new deep 10 frame I intended to install them in with New wax foundations. I also have a couple new 5 frame nucs. I have NO drawn comb at all. Which one do I want to start with - the 10 or the 5? HELP?

10:01 into the video what was the name of the plant for bee stings.

Yo

if you had put them in ten frame they would not have swarmed

I want to get into bee beekeeping but it is pricey