Hive Split Checkup - [How to do a post-split inspection]

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Hey there! Thank you for stopping by. If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we'll get back to you soon! We run a beekeeper supply store, so we're not always able to respond right away. Thanks so much for watching! Check out our online store at www.centralbeekeeperssupply.com!

[@garrybrischke53]

Thanks for taking the time to produce these great tutorial videos . Great camera work and no bs commentary . Cheers 👍🇭🇲

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!

[@greghill9958]

Been a bee keeper for a long time.But i still love your videos.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Thanks for watching, Greg! There's room here for all skill levels.

[@leetlebob8203]

This is possibly the best channel on KZbin when it comes to bees, very educational and explained in a simple and entertaining manner by a very likeable keeper, hope to see more of John and his bees soon.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

That is extremely kind. Thank you for the comment! We're trying our best.

[@americanjedi5952]

You're very thorough explaining all this and I find it fascinating.

[@4windsfarmstead]

That looks great. Might need to look at one

[@richardbarksdale3810]

Hei buddy, I don't have any bee hives, but I just really enjoy your videos 😊 it is so much informative and not to mention entertaining 😀. I have never seen anyone with such a caring and imaginative way of producing this kind of interesting video's about bees before, so keep up the great work. Thank you for sharing this!

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

e're glad you enjoy the videos! Thanks so much for watching. ❤️

[@kennethtitus3879]

Please disregard my questioning of the queen excluder as I had not viewed this video, again this is a very informative video and we appreciate your willingness to share, along with your knowledge and you're beautiful bee footage.

[@johncolson5705]

Great show..

[@bradgoliphant]

About the queen excluder--I agree with you. How I work with them is to leave them off the hive until bees start working in and on the new super--like around 18 days. Then I go in a make sure the queen is not present, and then all the queen excluder. Once there is worked comb they will return to it. All the best. And great video.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Sounds like you're doing a great job! Thanks for the comment, and thanks for watching!

[@perrycopeland2107]

New bee keeper here. I bought a overwintered hive and caught a swarm that was in someone's yard. I appreciate your videos so much. You explain the what and why about your method of bee keeping in a very detailed, easy to follow and understand way. I feel more prepared to properly care for my bees by watching your presentations. Keep them coming, I'll keep watching and learning. God Bless

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

We love to hear that. Thanks so much for watching, Perry! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss our upcoming vids. :-)

[@brendacyrus852]

Cora, I am learning so much from watching your videos!! I am about your dad's age and will be starting my first hives next spring. Your videos are helping me get ready for that and I thank you.

[@gypsygem9395]

Love that Harley Davidson versus a little scooter remark, made me chuckle!

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

I'm glad it made you laugh. #RTBBF!

[@lannyhunt7231]

Best video’s ever on u tube easy to understand

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

We really appreciate you saying that. Thank you!

[@sandymiller1907]

I just found your channel. I'm fairly new beekeeping and have been very satisfied with Kamon Reynolds channel. I'm glad I reached out farther today as your presentations are so clear and thorough.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Kamon is a great guy with a fantastic channel. We're grateful you're watching us as well. If we can ever help, please reach out!

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Hello , Hello thanks for all your video’s and the way you put everything in great detail of how an why it is done . I had around 130 hives back in the 60’s - 70’s had to get out of it . This year in may I got back into bees again there are a lot I have forgotten and there are a lot of things that are different these days . Your video’s have been with great help. I like watching your new younger helper teach you how to work Bee’s. Lol . No just picking but it is great to have the younger ones getting in to this hobby because we all really need more ways to keep the bees going . Thank

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Kathy we're so happy that you're watching our channel! There's definitely a lot to remember and keep track of in the bee yard, but I have no doubt that you'll pick it back up with ease. Let us know if you have any questions, or if there are certain subjects we can cover in an upcoming video. Thanks for watching!

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Well here I am again watching this video I think it may be the third time. The best thing is I may run into something in my hives that I have forgotten or it may be just something a little bit odd or just to refresh my memory from year to year . I was going to ask you how long you keep your syrup feeder on when you are going to add supers but you answered that question there at the end so thanks . I have some syrups still in my frames from winter that I need to get out so I guess I will be extracting it this next week because I need the frames to us soon. Keep your video’s coming. Thanks John

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Kathy we really appreciate you watching the videos. I'm glad they're proving to be helpful. We love giving back to the beekeeping community!

[@shannonhambridge2380]

Thanks for the tip on washing new queen excluders! New beek here and so far no one else has said that.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Happy to help!

[@chepindichepindi3328]

That was a good,good beginners lesson thank you very much

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Glad it helped!

[@TERRY47ful]

Another great video John. Putting out some great videos. Keep em comings

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

More to come! Thank you!

[@tommydent]

Great job! Bees look happy!

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Thank you for your comment. #RTBBf!

[@dougferrell7066]

Didn't see any hive beetles! Nice!!

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

The scourge of the bee yard! Haha. I'm super glad to not see any hive beetles. 😊

[@frankiez3652]

Why don’t you use an upper entrance so bees can come and go and not have to go thru the Queen excluder all the time.

[@doctortcbkk2027]

Also, why the queen excluder when you split?

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

The queen excluder was keeping the queen in the deep hive body until the split. That allows for more frames of brood for me to move with her. Great questions! Thanks #RTBBF

[@doctortcbkk2027]

Do you still have the excluder cleaners on your site? Could not find.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Sure do! You can find it here: www.centralbeekeeperssupply.com/onlinestore/Queen-Excluder-Cleaning-Tool-p102587478

[@heatherstacks8275]

I split a hive today and carried over a swarm cell into the new hive. When inspecting for a swarm cell, I forgot the order of the frames and am scared I may have smashed the queen cell. Should I inspect it tomorrow or leave it and check back in 7-8 days?

[@sylviabain8416]

I notice you have not painted your boxes or lids on the outside and top of lid from what I can see on your video What are your thoughts on painting and not painting How do you care for your boxes Do you do any maintenance on your bee boxes

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

You'll see this in one of our upcoming videos, but I'm happy to explain my reasoning. Most types of paint used on beehives are sealers, which means the paint doesn't give the underlying wood a chance to breathe. If the wood doesn't breathe, the heat and humidity from the hive will cause the wood to rot. High moisture/high humidity is the enemy. I use a product called Eco Wood Treatment. It's an all-natural stain that treats the wood for life. The wood (and hive) can still breathe, and there's almost no chance of rot. I highly recommend this stain instead of any paint on your boxes. www.centralbeekeeperssupply.com/online-store/Eco-Wood-Treatment-p91955744

[@bradgoliphant]

Where did you get your bee? Or at least start off with? I love their disposition.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Hey Brad, some of our bees came from Rural Route Farms, but we've also caught several wild swarms over the years.

[@mb3987]

Appreciate the video and all the time you are putting in to these. Learned a lot.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Glad you like them! We appreciate you watching.

[@doctortcbkk2027]

Question: spring 2023 will be my 5th season. If there is a flow when you split, do I still need to feed?

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Yes, you should feed them at least one feeder full after the split to relieve stress from the split and especially if you relocate them.

[@PapaBee165]

May I ask why you are still feeding sugar water during the nectar flow?

[@thepitpatrol]

Papa Bee, I am not sure but I think he feeds the same reason I do even during a nectar flow. We do it just as insurance so they have optimum food avilable at all times. It is pretty amazing to watch consumption of the food we feed go up and down as the nectar flow goes up and down. John's answer will be much smarter than mine lol.

[@schammond8993]

I believe it is also because the splits need the help. His honey flow is just beginning.

[@Chris-ft9kf]

I think it helps them draw comb. Also insurance for when the weather is bad for foraging.

[@russellkoopman3004]

This will insure that they have the carbs to draw out all that new comb and build a complete strong hive for winter. In the south they have a long dearth where bees will not draw comb.

[@thepitpatrol]

@@russellkoopman3004 so I DON'T need to have my bees on KETO?

[@karenryan6300]

Does the comb need to be empty? Can there be old capped brood? Or should I scrape that away? Love your videos! I learn so much!

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Ultimately the bees will clean up any old comb left in the hive, but if there's a way to help them out, a clean frame is the best way to go.

[@R_an_D]

I noticed you use inner covers without notches. Do you ever add an upper entrance on your hives?

[@lordsmobileigg8890]

You people are fortunate to hv those bees.. i am a beekeeper too but its very hard to dealt with Apis cerana..

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

It's true we are fortunate and blessed to have and keep so many colonies. Thanks for watching.

[@lennierosenkrans7015]

Another excellent video! I have been trying to have a two deep setup and I have put mediums and an excluder on top but never got any wax drawn in the mediums. I like your advice to put bees on top and have them work down through the excluder. I may also ditch the second deep idea and go directly to the medium super on top. I worry about swarming but your bees look cramped except for the place to put honey. Do you think a two deep hive has any benefit, say for a colder climate like Northeast Missouri vs warmer Arkansas?

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

A two-deep setup definitely has its advantages in colder climate states. Where the bees aren't as likely to fly as often as our bees do farther south. Thanks for asking the question. #RTBBF

[@bradgoliphant]

Question for you. Why keep feeding sugar water when it's spring???

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

We continue to feed the split in order to help them produce more comb, expand the colony, keep them fed, and give them something to do during the every-other-day rainfall we have here in Arkansas when they may not have a successful forage. It's just to supplement the bees and make their lives easier. 👍

[@roycadenhead3900]

Really appreciate your video. Also where can I get a hive tool like you use? Thank you

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Hey Roy, thank you very much. We put a link in the description to our online store where you can find the hive tool and many other tools and accessories for beekeeping. Thanks for checking it out! www.centralbeekeeperssupply.com/online-store/J-Hook-Hive-Tool-p91719837

[@savannahguest8347]

Great videos! Thanks for all the great info!!! I have to relocate my two over wintered hives this week. Then I plan to do a split depending on how.sting they are. How do I best prevent drift times 2 by moving , then splitting? I was told to put a nuke where I took the old hive from and carry them to the new location the next day. Do you agree? Tips? This will be my second year. First split..

[@Chris-ft9kf]

at 14:14... I think that's the queen on the bottom left of the inner cover.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

It definitely looked like a queen. Hard to tell, but you may be right.

[@michaelwitt5958]

Is it a more of a personal preference on using the supers vs a normal 10 frame deep when you go into honey production? Thanks for all your videos, it’s helped a lot in what we do.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Hey Michael, it's definitely a personal preference. I prefer the smalls because of the weight when they're filled with honey. Those boxes get heavy! Thanks for watching. Good luck with your bees!

[@markarnold8911]

Great video!

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Thanks Mark! Hit that subscribe button for us?

[@rachellehiscok7018]

I’m just getting into beekeeping... does anyone ever take the burr comb and squish it to a new, empty frame? Would it give the bees some wax to start with and help them draw out that frame faster or just give them a mess to clean up.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

I think it would give them some raw materials to work with, but it's also a mess for them to clean. So, both! I would just make sure they have all of the foodstuffs that they need in order to build the comb naturally. Start with a clean foundation like the one in the link, and they should have all they need to succeed. www.centralbeekeeperssupply.com/online-store/Plastic-Beeswax-Coated-Foundation-p102717723

[@donettjangalee2273]

Hi John good job well done ! From👍🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Hello Jamaica! We're so glad you're watching!

[@christopherspiteri483]

Hello John I’m new in beekeeping and I have 2 nucs and I am finding few bees on the floor infront of the hive and the amount is between 8 bees to 12 bees every 2 days !! Is this normal

[@christopherspiteri483]

?

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Hey there! I would say that's a pretty normal amount, but it could be cause for concern. I would check to make sure they have enough food, and check the overall health of the entire hive. With that amount of dead bees, it could be "nothing" or it could be a bigger issue. Hard to say for sure.

[@christopherspiteri483]

Thank you for your reply and for your support John!! I really appreciate.

[@HighQualityContracting]

I really like your detailed explanation, although I don't mean to critique anything you do, in my personal opinion it's hard to listen , when you're pausing after every word. Very tough for me sir

[@HighQualityContracting]

Keep up the good work. I dono if anyone else mentioned this sir.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Come spend some time with us in Arkansas and you'll soon start to understand it naturally. :-)

[@michaelfike7542]

Good job on explaining as you go. Caught a nice swarm Saturday my own bee's but i got them and they really working. 👍🐝🐝🐝

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

That is awesome! Good to hear. God luck!

[@paulawaldrep9882]

Love the tips 😍

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Thank you!!

[@thepitpatrol]

I'm noticing the male of a lot of the species: black widow spiders, drones ect, are getting a pretty raw deal.

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

When your only job is to eat, sleep, and mate....that doesn't seem that bad....right? 😂

[@leetlebob8203]

@@CentralBeekeepersSupply I mean you’re forgetting about the testicles exploding but up until that point sure

[@GODWINHONEY]

Good morning sir You’re leaving the feeder in when you put your honey super on want the bee put the sugar water in your honey

[@CentralBeekeepersSupply]

Not "sugar water" necessarily. The bees have many sources for feed around the hive. The feeder is there to supplement when food sources are low. So while there is some sugar water in your eventual honey, it's been through the proper process.

[@matthewmccormick2417]

Tomorrow morning i pull 28 6 frame nuke splits off 24 hives and then add 28 cells to them that night. Easy splits done via a second deep and a Queen excluder ftw. Proven fact also when a Queen returns she will always bring a load of BEEs back with her.If she does lay in second box being i use deeps and that is part of my split routine. Shake all bees off set excluder and let them hatch and boob they can backfill comb with honey