Building a Bee Business Vlog #30

[@claybunner1059]

You’re gonna love the Lorobees Instant Vap. Best thing I’ve bought so far. Did over 100 colonies today so much faster and easier than drafting cords around. Great video keep them coming I always learn something to use for myself.

[@keithmryeasr7248]

I'm glad I got one. I have 9 colonies now. I get it done in 20 minutes instead of one and a half hours. Will be great when I get double to triple as many colonies.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I like not loading the generator and dragging cords.

[@sharonc.2207]

Thanks for sharing all of your insight 👍

[@claybunner1059]

There is a study that is coming out on Swiffer sheets where they are finding micro plastics in the bees gut and in the honey. Fred D. Had it on one of his videos 3 or 4 weeks ago and has the paper on pdf so you can read it.

[@eddybarker5072]

I really like your push pin marking system. Very organized.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It’s simple but works pretty well.

[@BrianCooper901]

It'll be interesting to see how some of those come through the winter. At least you are getting good data points to see what will survive the winter and what won't. I like your method and do something very similar. Thanks for sharing!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Brian!

[@chuckgross6024]

Cover crops, could be winter wheat or rye.

[@richardhyatt-beekeeping]

Awesome bee vlog. Picked up several tips I plan on using in the future. Liked the push pen color code. I was successful overwintering a small colony by putting together a double 5 frame nuc with a spacer on top and putting 10 pounds of sugar on top of newspaper. I've got several I need to protect this winter and I've been thinking of using a double screen board with them. Keep up the good work. Oh no! Hope that plane was not dropping something that will kill your bees. Ugh! Oh, well, maybe the wheat won't be an issue. But, I'd be concerned about what they may drop next time. So far I haven't seen as many hive beetles but, I do have some issues. Well done but, scary with all the issues. I'm right with you in many ways. I'll be talking about some of the same issues in the future on my KZbin channel. Let's both get thru winter!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Richard!

[@jameszdepski8132]

Excellent video Nathan. I have 60 colonies in West central NJ I've been using Oxalic solely for 5 years. This year I used about 25 formic strips....it knocks the snot out of the colonies, I don't think I'll use it much again. I've seen the worst mite counts I've ever seen this year. Many colonies last year had a single mite in a wash on 9/3/22 this year after 1 formic and 4 oxalic treatment I have 30+ mites. And I've done some late season cutouts. The feral bees are sick with parasitic mite syndrome. I lost one to formic treatments 2 others I think will make it. Personally I think this is a bad year for mites region wide. I predict huge colony losses in hobbiest Beekeepers if people aren't paying close attention. I wish we had a place to report real time what we are seeing in our areas as far as mite loads to see if it's a trend or local to our area. My oxalic method is in years past , once a week until the mite drop is zero on my screen boards....that usually doesn't occur until Christmas. But in spring I come out with nearly all zero mite count on washes in April/May....it works

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I’ve had good winter survival as well.

[@jameszdepski8132]

Me too, last year I carried 31/31 through winter with oaxalic treatments only... still treating once a week this fall until I see zero drop again. In late sept., early Oct. I did 4 treatments in 2 weeks to hit them hard. now dialing it back.@@DuckRiverHoney

[@nancynolton6079]

LOL "Better" still looks pretty bad on those hive beetles! Hoping that HB treatment improves things next year. Starting to chill down here in PA have a few nucs I'm still feeding but once they finish the current jars thats it for them. Have 48 frames of capped honey frames in the freezer to add back in if need bee over the winter. Will be doing an OA clean up treatment or two if we get a nice day before winter sets in. Like you said always something to do in the bee yard. Did manage to straighten up the bee shed so thats done!

[@haroldmarsh5156]

Praise The Lord Awesome

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Fall always a crazy busy time for me. Mite treatments can keep you running. Having that instavap should help. I hope you make through winter well. Looks like your prepped. Take care Nathan.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Garry!

[@countrycraftsman]

That instantvap is as handy as a shirt pocket. I really like mine.

[@markmiller4047]

Life happens brother your doing great don't sweat the little stuff.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍

[@BeeGeeTheImp]

i hope this coming Winter is kind to y'all and your bees.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Barry!

[@deecull8750]

Really enjoyed your vlog .Its alot of work

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks

[@alhambraorchardapiary4882]

Curious if the high mote load colony made it through winter?

[@woodlandharvesthoneycompanyllc]

Good video Nathan. I agree with you on the Hive Alive. I started using it last year. Its more costly but I believe the benefits out weigh the cost. Also the ones that had it on coming out of winter last spring were more robust and built up earlier. Also I don't have screened bottom boards on all my hives but use the ones that I do have to gauge what is going on in my yard. In the future I plan on having more screened bottoms and use UBO on the ones showing low mite drops. Because of the cost I don't think it would pay to use UBO tests on colonies that are not showing VSH traits. For me it will be a tool to select breeder colonies out of the best colonies showing VSH traits. Any thoughts you have on that would great.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I think a first tier and second tier testing method is prudent. Since UBO is nearly $20 per test I may Harbo test any colonies that are questionable.

[@BeeToZFL]

How do you deal with weeds around hives?

[@tonyandric4380]

Have you tried the peppermint candies yet for driving away SHB?

[@tomkingsley4398]

I agree with you about the fondant. Bees really do well on it. Curious about the foil left on formic, do you puncture the pack at all? Thanks for the video.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Cut the foil in half so it only covers one side of the pad.

[@philipmontgomery5626]

What type of madok were you wearing with clear face mask?

[@jimbeachboard3228]

Would you consider coming to talk to the bee club in Crossville?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Email me at [e-mail].

[@neilroberson2964]

There is no substitute for mite washes. The results you would see would likely change your approach to mite management. Like it did for me. It’s really better data than drops, and that matters.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It’s a question of scale. A commercial operation with 10,000 hives may only wash 3-4% of colonies. We need testing methodologies that make it economical to get mite data on every hive.

[@brianbennett4374]

How many yards do you have and how many hives in them. Also can you talk about bee insurance and if you have it and your view on this. Thanks

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I’m aiming for 24 colonies per yard.

[@3Beehivesto300]

Just my 2 cents Yards with less than 20 hives don’t turn a profit. If I can’t spend 2 hours working in one spot it’s not good time management.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I’m setting yards up for 24 colonies, but this year I had more yards and fewer hives.

[@R_Brickner]

I made 1276 pounds of honey this year off of 16 hives in my yard and generated more than $5000 profit. With 400 hives you ought to be making well into 6 figures regardless of your yard size.

[@3Beehivesto300]

@@R_Brickner wow you made 2 barrels of honey. If your selling bulk honey it’s not at a retail price. You are on average for most. A barrel for every 12 production colonies.

[@R_Brickner]

Those 16 hives had 4 below average performers due to swarm and queen issues. They only averaged 35 pounds per hive while the other 12 averaged 92 pounds, down from the 142 pound average last year (due to no Black Locust bloom this year). I harvest 4 times a season, not just in September. @@3Beehivesto300

[@aidanquick3151]

Hey Nathan what are your oav doses and how many rounds do you do this time of year? Any thoughts about backing off the syrup to see if the beetle slows down? Cheers mate

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I don’t think the beetles are reproducing in syrup that much. My applicator holds 4g per dose.

[@corygriesemer645]

Have you had any success using the Scott’s Grub EX? Does the fondant attract hive beetles like pollen Pattie’s?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I think the grub ex will take time. We’ve been so dry it hasn’t all dissolved into the ground yet. Beetles don’t like the fondant as much as pollen patty, but bees can police it better due to the packaging, plus it’s cooler.

[@jimhughes6794]

Is there a difference in mite and beetle load in your white, painted hives versus the brown, darker hives?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I haven’t noticed any difference due to hive color. Shade makes a noticeable difference even in the same yard.

[@keithmryeasr7248]

I notice you have your entrance with the opening on top of the entrance reducer bar and not the bottom, why is that?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Easier to get the OAV applicator in, and ice doesn’t close the opening as easily.

[@keithmryeasr7248]

I ended up drilling a 1/4" hole in the back then blocking the entrance for the same reason. I'm not sure what ice closing the opening means. Thanks,

[@3Beehivesto300]

You stress me out. I keep 400 hives and work 3 days a week.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Why do I stress you out?

[@gregwaskom552]

Where did you get you stand levelers

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Door shims? Is that what you mean?

[@gregwaskom552]

No what you have your 4x4 s on

[@3Beehivesto300]

You need to make a beetle shake trap. Rubber made tub with a screen on top to shake infested frames and lids onto. Beetles go in but bees don’t fall trough the screen.

[@philipmontgomery5626]

You show a lot about growing bees,but not much about business or money. I'm here for business info.