Building a Bee Business Vlog #23

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[@tommychew6544]

Great to see a new video from you. Burnout affects us all at times.

[@calebowenby7118]

Agreed

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍

[@geraltofrivia8529]

I think we all go through it at this time of year, all exhausted, pulled/pulling honey, monotony of extracting and jarring, losses and trying to build up for winter. Soon we can all relax in our sheds with our woodwork for the winter.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It’s winding down now.

[@3boysbees]

I can tell by the bees and kids and the dog, that you are blessed.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I am! Thanks

[@cypher8855]

New subscriber. Enjoyed the video. Plan on watching them all. Keep up the good work and tha ks fornthe content.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@tonyandric4380]

Use 2 peppermint candies (like you get from Sonic) on top the bottom box in opposite corners, it does wonders to get rid of SHB. Everyone in TX is using it with great success. I can see the frustration from the heat of summer, bless you! I've enjoyed your video series, you're doing a great job. (I'm the bee vacuum guy)

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍

[@johnemmenecker4859]

Forreallll?

[@tonyandric4380]

@@johnemmenecker4859Not kidding. It does need to have 'real' peppermint in it. But candy from sonic, even pieces of a candy cane can work. But not too much or it'll drive the bees to abscond. So just the equivalent of 2 candies. One on opposite corners on top of the frames on the bottommost hive body (talking Langstroth). Try it, you will be amazed. Other warning: check your bee suit pockets before washing it!

[@danielbounds6363]

I have a friend that has 200 hives in south MS and every hive has swiffer pads non-scented, the bees ruff it up and the beetles get stuck in it. It is a great way to stay on top of the beetles.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I tried swiffers and Dixie sheets without much luck.

[@danielbounds6363]

There is a assortment of essential oil that can be used also. Tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and camphor oil can be put on the frames and bottom boards. The beetles does not like the smell and stay away. I am thinking about putting these oils in my hives through the winter to see if any beetles will come back in the spring.

[@grantsimpson9211]

Do you store your honey supers wet or do you let them get robbed out. Thanks Grant

[@danielbounds6363]

@@grantsimpson9211 let them get robbed out, because the honey can ferment while in storage and ruin the wax.

[@forbeessake2049]

Great tips on moving your non-breeding stock to an out yard, and using the blower to re-combust the smoker. Keep it up Nathan!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@nancynolton6079]

Had some bees today balling a big black ant... thought for a second they were balling a queen but it was just the bees having no part of an ant in the hive! My brothers and I loved tying thread to June bug legs too and flying them in circles! Have done the same sorting at extraction... even go a step further and do some quick scraping down of the top, bottom and side bars and of course the boxes as well... simple to do while you have the box over the cappings tank. Also sort out old old comb and comb that may have had a drone layer. On that drone frame... just give that honey back to the bees

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Nancy!

[@gregmiller1951]

The reality of building a bee business. Thank you Nathan for keeping it real. I always enjoy your perspectives on the different things that come along in a season. They will always be different year to year but it adds to that knowledge base we lean on. When a person is spent but perseveres , the rewards are more appreciated.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Greg!

[@randyhahn3346]

For SHB skip the candy and go to peppermint oil extract, I mix 50/50 w sweet almond oil, a couple drops in each corner of box when you are in. Also diatomaceous earth sprinkled under hives kill larvae. My oil traps in hives stay empty.

[@daverowden-RowdyBeeFarms]

It was great see you at Hiveorama your presentation was great. I always like to hear about sales of the honey. I have a day job and selling the honey can be time consuming. Looking forward to the Bee Expo in Louisville. Glad to see your a Vendor there. Thanks for the video like always.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Dave, great to see you again. I’m working on getting some hats made. I’ll have to send you one when they’re ready.

[@russellkoopman3004]

Nathan, Thanks for the video. Sorry to see you in the dog days of summer. You have been so busy and yet you find the time to keep us informed on your journey. Hope to shake your hand again in KY next year.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Russell, it’ll be good to see you again!

[@aidanquick3151]

Hey Nathan, I switched from oil to Diatomaceous earth, cheaper and less messy. I also use pool salt around the hives, cheap weed control and it desicates the hive beetle larvae in the soil. I'm not a fan of hive beetle.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@johniac7078]

Put them in a nice row on pallets so you can drive the truck right up there. Got to stream line as much as possible, especially for old guys like me.....nice vid.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@blacktalonbased]

Always enjoy hearing/ watching your journey

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@DialedN_07]

I have the same problem with my extractor. I actually modified the frames rather than changing the extractor. I wanted them to keep the wooden frames snug. I just took a soldering iron to the edge of each frame to make sure it fit the inner holder

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks

[@jimbonevideo6941]

Consider placing your push pins on the bottom board and not on the hive bodies. It makes it easier to swap boxes and equipment without worrying about losing track of your push pins.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I could, but in the hive body helps tell me which year it is.

[@dcsblessedbees]

I'd be contacting Hill Co. about that design flaw and allow them to off to fix it. But your right a simple grind would fix it. I like the square bottles, I think they stand out better in displays from the more standard honey looking bottles, people expect those. Have a Wonderful Lords Day Nathan.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

John reached out and said they’d get the design remedied. Great CS. Thanks!

[@dcsblessedbees]

@@DuckRiverHoney Way cool, that show a responsive respectable business owner.👍

[@power2u987]

Talk to John, best constumer service i have ever had when i had an issue with my extractor.

[@byrek]

Nice to hear from You, I've been waiting a bit worried and curious of what You're up to these days. As for the stinging, I'd say it all depends. When I've started beekeeping, I thought there are two ways: either You wear full protection or You collect stings. Initially I've been wearing leather gloves, suit and even paid attention to put socks over my jeans, as several times I've experienced how does it feel, when occasionally You feel the bee climbing up Your leg higher and higher underneath the trousers. And it was all WRONG. Running across apiary in a hot, summer day fully dressed isn't funny. I'm not looking for a stroke or heart attack ;) I've managed to familiarize with the bees behaviour enough, to carry most of the tasks in just a veil. My next protection measure is a smoker. If these two fail, then I put a blouse to finish a colony and quite often I go back to the veil before I move forward. I have the comfort of working slowly, unlike in a full scale operation. I just don't have to check time and calculate efficiacy. When I crack the lids, boxes and hear the bees humming, I can always move forward to another hive to pry next elements and get back a few moments later, when they chill out. When I am opening the hive and I see the bees triggered alarm I simply freeze for a dozen of seconds and wait unil they forget of what they meant. And I pay attention to not only stand back of the hive, but also not to cast the shadow over bees. Sure, there are some queens with nasty behaviour trying to kill me even when I'm trying to install a top feeder. A pivot point for me was one of the Randy's Oliver speeches (YT: "Tips on Working Bees Randy Oliver NY Bee Wellness"). He just said, that everyone should learn to work without gloves. Most of all, it gives You much more of a precision and control of You're doing. That's true, I've been darn clumsy in a leather gauntlets, no wonder bees triggered on me :D And I see the difference, my hands are OK, bees don't sting me. My fingershave a familiar aroma, not a smell of animal skin. Next habit many people do is they used to knock the hive with a hive tool. I've seen You doing that several times on the video, my first thought was what's gonna happen, when You open up the lid :D Making long story short - if You have the comfort of not rushing the apiary job, You don't have to be afraid of being stung. Randy, when asked: - Why does the bees don't attack You? used to reply: - From the same reason You're not attacking me! Cheers, Mike

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Mike!

[@esauer1014]

Hang in there!! I use peppermint candies to help with my hive beetles. Also, Greg Burns with Nature Image has a video on making a hive beetle butter concoction that is supposed to work.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I saw that.

[@michaelmcnair1880]

The Grub EX really works against the beetles. I treat the soil in each yard one time in the late spring early summer and i never see a beetle even in the weak nucs.

[@jeffcotton2235]

Bruce of Bruce's Bees started doing the same thing. I hear adding a certain nematode to the soil kills the beetle's grub cycle also. Elevating the hives helps also and keeping the vegetation cut down to bare soil.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks

[@tomahawkmissile241]

bob binnie had some promise on research for Univetsity of Georgia trying to be passed but if there are grubs than grub ex is the way to go.

[@rockcray7525]

Here in SE Texas, I'm having succes with peppermint Essential oil and putting a drop on top of each corner of the inner cover

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Lots of folks are saying it works.

[@tonyandric4380]

BTW, per Bob Binnie, a dry environment will pull moisture out of the honey through the wax capping. So you are dropping the moisture content for both the capped & uncapped cells.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It will a little bit, but very slowly. Uncapped is easy to move moisture from.

[@craigmartin822]

I’m watching you dealing with the Small Hive Beatles in Vlog23. Don’t you think that putting your hives up off the ground more with screen bottom boards help? If the screened bottom board is 18-24” off the ground and the bees drop the Beatles out through the screen, it would take a lot for the beetle to climb back up. I use 4x4 on standing Cinder blocks.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Adult hive beetles can fly 20 to 30 miles.

[@nancynolton6079]

Yeah every time I think I have everyone queen right and heading towards finalwinter preparations I find a hive drawing down queen cells or virgins failed to return. Thankfully I've some backup queens on order. Agree seems early on the Fall bloomers up here too - has me some worried that our Fall flow will be poor given the early blooming and lack of rain which ends up with less nectar in those blooms. Say what? Corn syrup!? Just had a Dr. David Peck at our club from Better Bee on hive beetles - oil traps between frames seem to be the most effective. Gave a great talk about he SHB lifecycle. They come in the hives at dusk. Larvae drop to the ground (solid surface below hives can deter pupating in ground under and around hives). Well maybe then it was a good thing you were not able to make those queen cell slits as planned given the hive beetle issue. We had -17 this past winter and still have hive beetles up here in Pennsylvania. I have more issues with black ants than beetles or wax moth. Smoker lighter on those ticks! I wear gloves but then I also were capri pants so legs are always exposed... have one hive I can count on to sting an the ankle everytime. Gloves also do not gaurantee you won't get stung. Shoot sometimes I cannot even remember where I got stung when I come in - generally just get a pimple at the site. Wow those are some beetle counts on those oil trays no wonder the hives are having trouble policing the frames... is there much pollen in those hives with high numbers of beetles? Could that account for someof the hive beetles? Per Kamon they like pollen. Been feeding some syrup here too in hopes for some rain for the Fall flow but may be too little too late even if rain does show up. Hang in there Nathan - go take a quick look at the moon tonight - sure is pretty!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Nancy! Not much pollen in the high beetle hives, they were just overrun and barely making do. I’m hoping I can save some of them now.

[@reindeersbees]

I don’t like bottling honey but I find it very satisfying when I am finished.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Lol, I’ll agree that it’s one of the jobs that is fun when it’s over.

[@HoskinsHoneyBees]

I have 10 hives that 0 mites in the wash,and The harbo assay. 3 hives had only 1mite doing the assay and 0 in wash 3rd year no treatment. But to be fair the closet hives to me are 9 miles as the crow flies. I'm going to start Artificial incriminating next season. Great video

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Awesome!

[@KajunHomestead]

Nice video, I have been having luck with swifter sheets controlling the hive beetles, Ive had to replace some sheets after 2 weeks cause they are full and can't fit more beetles , its crazy bad this year.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I tried swiffers and didn’t like them.

[@mrwonk]

Can you talk a bit about how you locate and negotiate for bee yards?

[@honey_bee_live]

Hey great video. Do you use the same hive tool in every yard? Do you clean it between yards? Just be cautious about spreading bad stuff from hive to hive…

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I leave a couple hive tools on the lids in each yard, year round.

[@vasilisstellatos2659]

Great stuff. A bit different from here but lots of good info

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@tonyfox5422]

Hi, I have requeened on basis of varroa resistance. Just done my varroa counts. 1 hive is for treatment. The colonies are bigger because of low varroa and associated issues. I go into winter with 38 colonies.....at the moment. I am in UK so we haven’t got SHB yet. I like to have queen cells to use as soon as I find issues and that seems to work ok. I also am just at the point that I can take one frame of brood from each nuc to boost either smaller nucs just created or young colonies that just need a boost. I just keep trying. I hope with 13 nucs I get some good sales next spring particularly as they are varroa resistant. Hope and optimism and next year.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks and good luck!

[@michaelshelnutt3534]

Hive beetles- following the Bruce's Bees method, Grub Ex spread around the hives, and Dixie 700 towels cut into thirds, putting one in each hive across the top. I will report back.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

The Dixie’s get propolized and make a huge mess. They didn’t catch many beetles for me.

[@Peter_Gunn]

I agree. This year is by far the worst year for hive beetles. I wonder if it has anything to do with all the rain we have had.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Dunno? We had a dry spring…

[@BrownAndDaughters]

IgE is the allergy immunoglobulin while IgG is the immunity immunoglobulin....kinda, lol. It's pretty complicated as to why some people develop allergies and some don't but it has a lot to do with the type and number of exposures. Interestingly, IgE is meant to treat parasitic worms and possibly offer immunity to venom. The problem is with the parasite side of the equation. At low levels, IgE activates mast cells that release compounds that fight parasites but these compounds can also lead to anaphylaxis at higher levels. Since venom can also activate this pathway, if one's memory B cells are programmed to produce IgE instead of IgG in response to bee venom, a type I hypersensitivity reaction can occur. Sorry if this sounds like babble, it's a super, super complicated subject but also an amazing one. Historically speaking, it's still a pretty young science so we are learning a lot each year. Take care, Conner

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Conner that is super cool. I’ll ask my sister in law about it. She’s got a masters in tropical diseases and parasitology.

[@bradyjames2786]

Hey Nathan, great video! i noticed that the grass and weeds were brown and dead around your hives.I was curious what you are spraying the grass and weeds with around your hives to kill it, but not hurt the bees?. Thanks, Brady

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Glyphosate. I try to spray late in the day.

[@DavidKalinowski-xn2pc]

To stop the Beatles, you need to break the cycle. Use Gardstar 40%EC in front of the hive on the ground. The larva from the Beatles leave the hive to develop in the ground. Your hive should be on blocks to prevent skunks from bothering your hives. The swiffer sheets and oil works well to kill them. But you really need to stop the cycle in you yards. Just my thoughts to help… like your videos…

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍 thanks

[@ChrisFiggatt]

Scott’s GrubEx is supposed to work well also, I’m giving that a try this year.

[@jedsackett5255]

I'm a third year bee keeper. 1st year when I was stung I swelled up. 2nd year I didn't. Haven't this year either. My daughter is totally different. 1st year when she was stung she didn't have a reaction. During that first year she was stung several times. 2nd year the first time she was stung she had to go to urgent care twice. I guess it can go either way. Needless to say , I do bees by myself now.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Get stung a lot or never are best I suppose.

[@jedsackett5255]

@@DuckRiverHoney I'd like to know a bee keeper that has never been stung!

[@arnoldfarmsbeesandhoney]

My Hilco 24 frame extractor has the same issue with plastic medium frames. But the deep plastic frames fit fine.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍

[@tallgrasshoneyco]

Where do you purchase your bottles? I like the looks of those better than the ones I use. Thanks!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Berlin or specialty bottle usually.

[@taylorboysoutdoors]

Been using grubex too. What kind of dog?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Well, he’s a supposed to be a feist mix but to be more specific I’d say he’s whatever breed that has a compulsive desire to eat paper and/or cardboard. His mommy doesn’t like that and she takes it out on me.

[@subsy83]

Hey Nathan, some ideas for your hive beetle problems on the cheaper side. Us Texas folks have been using real peppermint oil peppermints in corners of the hives and that has shown to be a great deterrent. I'm going to see about just a drop of peppermint oil in corners would do next but I'm afraid that would possibly too astringent, so it's on my to do list for an experiment. Bruce Jenne has some shop towels that you can buy in bulk and use one sheet per hive can go a long way, much like the swiffer sheet but this seems cheaper than using oil traps. I did something like that one year and one year only as the oil is just too messy and a pain to deal with. Diatomaceous earth (non food grade is better) would be just as good as oil traps and would be a lot cheaper too. Hope some of these ideas help you out.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Diatomaceous earth wets out pretty quickly.

[@subsy83]

@@DuckRiverHoney yeah y'all do get quite a bit more rain than us. If you had your hives off the ground more you'd have less likelihood of it getting as wet. Best of luck!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Most of mine are up on blocks, just the mating nucs are on the ground. Diatomaceous earth will actually harden off here from humidity in the air.

[@ronbrendag7131]

What about using used fryer oil from fast food joints in the beetle traps?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Don’t know, should be cheap. May cause coon problems.

[@mkirkland616]

Why secure the entrance reducer upside down? Makes it harder for them to drag debris up and over the lip in the reducers entrance.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

My OA vaporizer fits better.

[@masonh2260]

Diatomaceous earth in the traps works better than oil.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It wets out pretty fast in our humidity.

[@woodlandharvesthoneycompanyllc]

Sorry about your massive SHB problem. Now strangely, here at my place the population of those blank blank things are low this year. Here is a question. While doing inspections for queens and brood etc. I came across a couple of hives that were packed out with bees and I didn't see the queen, eggs, larve, nothing only a ton of bees. Also almost every frame was filled all the way up with what looks like a mixture of nectar and pollen. There is no place for a queen to lay, if there is one. What do you think is going on and what should I do about it.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Singles or doubles? If they backfilled the broodnest or you’re in dearth the queen may have been shut down.

[@ThomasEdwards-qx8de]

Try getting an old CD case and break the ends off and put Combat Roach Gel in it and it will kill your hivebeetles

[@evonnewhalen9794]

You know you would think they could figure out a product that would like hive beetles and verroa mites the same time.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It’d be tough. Varroa is a spider, beetles are insects.

[@ronbrendag7131]

What brand plastic frames do you use hat don't fit the extractor?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Acorn for sure. Pierco maybe. Mann Lake for sure.

[@TennesseeTim38451]

I like that OA wand, what brand is that? I’m trying OA dribble, shop towels and hitting them with the pro-vape depending on wash numbers. Been low numbers so far. What are you seeing?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It’s a Pro Vap EZ. Mites don’t look to bad so far, not many with high numbers.

[@themartinzoo]

have you ever tried lime in beetle traps. I've found it works good on the beetles and doesn't seem to harm the bees

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Cut up lime slices?

[@themartinzoo]

@@DuckRiverHoney powered lime. Like what you put in gardens

[@gpawoodyshoneyhole]

Do you have to sign some sort if land lease for the yards? I've got a few farms willing to let me put hives on and wasn't sure if I should draw up a lease or permission form.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Mine are verbal.

[@honeybeerescue9482]

looking good

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@aerobodkin]

How do you like that uncapper?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It’s got pluses and minuses. It’s good for the price point and scale I’m at currently.

[@ronniemoore961]

Do you have the link for the Bettle trap?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

You can search for freeman bottom board. The ones I use now are Amish made.

[@Cumberlandhoneyfarms]

The body can go through periods of around 7 years where you may be sensitive to one thing and 7 years from now you may not. The immune system is strange.

[@sentimentalbloke7586]

No beetle traps?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Don’t like them. Have tested but they work so so.

[@sentimentalbloke7586]

@@DuckRiverHoney I have been using them for many years, and the only issue that I have had is the bees propalising the openings but by then the things are pretty full, and are a throw away proposition.

[@growinghereincanada]

Hi. What would you say is the amount of hives it would take to earn part time living.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It varies a LOT as there are a lot of ways to earn income with bees. Full time I suspect 200-250 minimum, part time could be 10 or 20.

[@Cole778]

I currently have 2 hives and Id like to go to 50-75 hives over the next few years, Ive got a few places to put hives but my main concern is Bears. Any good idea of how to prevent them besides killin em?

[@sharonc.2207]

Electric fence?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

☝️

[@austinortiz367]

Can you try beer as a cheaper alternative to oil ?

[@soakedinsaki]

Bud Light maybe.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I hear you can buy it real cheap.

[@NevadaBeeMan-nq3po]

Your problems sound just like my bee problems… I live in northern East nevada Moving volume of honey is easy for you but you probably don’t make the most money that way price per unit we find that at yuppy farmers markets you can demand the higher prices and they pay

[@ronniemoore961]

I lost three colonies to hive Bettles, talking one day they are good the next bees are in the trees. open the box and 2 to 300 crawling around. I HATE HIVE BETTLES.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Me too!

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Enjoyed the video. Lots of real information. Hopefully the beetle population decreases soon. It will be nice once your permitted. Thanks and take care.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Garry!

[@sentimentalbloke7586]

It is hard to get the message through, that the honey is 100% pure unadulterated cold processed goodness. Unfortunately there are those that prefer to adulterate the product giving everyone a bad name and opening minds to suspicion.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Exactly

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Next year just bring them up here make few hundred pounds of honey instead of feeding. We have room for ya .. im 12 hours north of you steady flow all summer

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I’d miss the kids!!!

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

@@DuckRiverHoney just drop them off I'll keep eye on them.. bring the kids up camping enjoy the great lakes

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I’d like that, I really want to try smallie fishing up there.

[@jamesguy8087]

Mash those SHB. !

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I do!

[@claybunner1059]

Wonder what happened to you. Beekeeping I’m finding out is harder than most people will ever know. Keep up the good videos when you can. I miss your old into music. What is it exactly?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Martin Klem. I’ll keep using the music.

[@Cole778]

Bummer what happened to your neighbor

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Yep, I hate it.

[@daveferrell1137]

Go big or Go Home!!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍