Dead Bees and Other Odds & Ends

[@Dampflanze]

Hi Bob, why don´t you use linseed oil or paraffin instead of oil/diesel ? Is that mix oozing into the ground ? I don´t like that especially considering you were talking about dead bees, spraying and the ignorance of others and what not. Thank you for the insights. Always appreciated

[@bobbinnie9872]

We add linseed oil to our copper mix for dipping boxes with good results. I like it and I'm sure it would work here too but would be fairly expensive. I appreciate your thoughts on oil and diesel oozing into the ground and wouldn't want to see much of it. Nor linseed oil and copper for that matter. I have been considering this sort of thing a lot lately. Although I'm steadily turning into an anti-chemical, anti-toxin advocate I think the contamination exposure in this particular instance is minimal enough for mother earth to handle it (break it down). I've come to the opinion that all of creation (us included) can break down a certain amount of toxins and contaminants, and I've been talking about this a lot in some of my recent speaking engagements. The problem, and the key here in my opinion, is to be mindful of what you're doing and not overdo it. Of course what "over doing it" means will always be up for debate. Thanks again for your thoughts.

[@Peekul1]

​@@bobbinnie9872that reminds me of the essence of "Tragedy of the Commons." 😅 Someone will inevitably overdo it and ruin the commons.

[@markridgemr]

Popular Science 1963: "Dig a hole in the ground with a post hole digger and fill it with fine gravel, then pour in the oil. It will be absorbed into the ground before your next oil change. Cover with soil." I guess we didn't know what we didn't know.

[@lenturtle7954]

I wonder if painting the white buckets would block enough Ultra violet light to prevent them from breaking down as fast . Definately the black and blue plastic resist the sun damage but pump syrup they suck in cool air at night then when the sun warms up the expanding air pumps out syrup and as the pail becomes empty the greater the pumping effect . Great idea to paint the dark pails I look forward to your sunday videos much appreciated

[@30farms70]

I always look forward to my Sunday morning coffee and watching Bob's videos. Good job as always.

[@ChrisFiggatt]

I always enjoy your weekly updates. Thanks for the video Bob.

[@papawsharvest]

Awesome work Bob! Thanks again for helping me out and getting your insight on my mite issue in my colony the other day. I’ll keep you posted on the results.

[@calebhutcherson6611]

As a sideline beekeeper I love watching your videos and learning everything I can from you. Your wisdom is priceless knowledge to all your viewers. Thank you so much Bob!

[@hillkid4mountains]

Great looking enclosed box trailer and signage, like a billboard on wheels. Terrific way to haul beekeeping supplies, merchandise, teaching materials and whatnot to all your bee meetings, fairs and conferences all while keeping them dry, secure and organized outside of hauling them in a large semi truck or exposed to the weather tied down flat beds. Thank you for showing all the odds and ins at Blue Ridge Honey Company and what issues commercial beekeepers have to deal with in their out yards of hives and colonies of honeybees. 🐝

[@aileensmith3062]

A relaxing Sunday Morning video Thank You!

[@BucketListBees]

Dipping the wood in diesel fuel and oil reminded me of sealing warehouse floors years ago. We used diesel fuel and tongue oil mopped on , let stand, then squeegee off. Let stand for 10 days. Could tell the floors were sealed by the brown color. Stood up to the test of time..

[@gwenyngruffydd]

Really enjoy these type of videos. America looks totally different to wales!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@bryanbetournay5557]

Thanks Bob. Great video. Keep them coming. Great way to learn.

[@dcsblessedbees]

Pressure treated lumber isn't made the same way it use to, the modern process doesn't work as well as the older version but more eco friendly.

[@Rhams3y]

The ice cream story is an interesting one. He dumped a sugary food product and it attracted animals. How is that surprising? It probably attracted a ton of mice and rats as well.

[@thill6771]

People ALWAYS blame the BEES!

[@dcsblessedbees]

Nice trailer Bob, coming from construction I can appreciate a good utility trailer.😁Looks 🍃like 🍁Fall🍂 found Bob's house. In some instances honey bees do not make the best neighbors and in some times it's the people. We as the Beekeeper have to work for a Balance between the Two and increase peoples Knowledge of Honey Bees. Blessed Days, Bob and Family...

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks 👍

[@thill6771]

Bob - You are giving away ALL the secrets! Sharing profit margins? Just kidding. Always enjoy your videos. I have two batches of mead fermenting right now; one wildflower and one orange blossom. Very nice. Maria taught me well! See you when we pick up our nucs and queens in April!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks Tom. See you in the spring.👍

[@jimallen1176]

Hey Bob, great job on the 4 way bee pallets & woodenware you built for me. I guess growth & development are good, but we're losing so much bee forage, not to mention where we can set up a bee yard. Uncle Jim's Southern Honey.....S.C.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks 👍

[@wpankey57]

What a beautiful area. I’m jealous. I live in the flat plains of Illinois

[@Manuherikiabeekeeping]

Great video 👍 very interesting especially the dumped ice cream and the "im gonna spray bee's" story, id move my bee's too😬 well, we are having a time of it in southern New Zealand, got another massive Antarctic storm which dumped three inches of wet snow on us again, its really thrown things under the bus, i had to run around and make sure all the summer floors were clear enough to allow ventilation and throw double screen boards on strong colonys to keep my nuc splits alive because they're not strong enough to handle a unseasonal dump of wet snow after three weeks of 80 degrees F that we've been having, talk about a walloping😬 nobody can remember a massive snow storm in late October here, usually it's warm right through to march from now on.

[@bobbinnie9872]

The only thing certain about Mother Nature is that nothing is for certain. Good luck.

[@heavymechanic2]

Progress is encroaching upon agriculture, it concerns me also as two neighboring farms were sold to build houses next to my bees.. I don't think your wood treatment is unreasonable as it repels moisture in addition to paying for treated lumber. All those buckets going to the dump, I know plastic decays quickly in the sun and manufacturing is worse all the time. Its good to see your crew doing side work as there are many things to do behind the scenes.

[@brucesouthernsassapiaries8316]

Urban sprawl is certainly a thing and it impacts us as beekeepers for sure.

[@robinkennedy9974]

Black plastic anything lasts longer because of the higher carbon content in the plastic. The specifics behind it is probably very elaborate ranging from UV absorption to higher thermal conductivity though i would have thought the latter was offset by the greater visible light absorption causing more heating and thus greater degradation. Whatever the physics and chemistry behind it is, black plastic wins out over colored plastic for longevity. Ask Mr Google for further info.

[@beebob1279]

Your trailer looks fantastic! Glad to see your bee issue wasn’t a big concern. Looks like new businesses are squeezing you out of areas. That’s a shame

[@mikefrench3800]

That was a lot of buckets!

[@Steele_Wings]

Had a few colonies totally calapse this year and it started slowly with a small pile like that. The only thing left was hand full of bees and the queen. Beetles started to slime it out.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Some chemical exposures can be insidious with a slow die-off like you describe. Hopefully we won't experience that here.

[@framcesmoore]

Ha Bob good to see you. your trailer looks good your friend did a nice job. I bought the video from the expo that u were in last year i really enjoyed your talk. I have watched most of it Greg rogers did good to. going to try that extended release oa next year. question if you do not mind. u treat in December with oa 2 times, in the spring u add the strips before u put your suppers on and leave them there till u pull the suppers. since oa is ok to use with suppers on now. is this right. Thanks and hope u have a great day and week. I hope the gas station does not hurt the bees and u have to move them. Moving bees s just a pain. Have a Blessed week.

[@bobbinnie9872]

That is correct. The pads keep the mite numbers from climbing too much between main treatments.

[@goldensilver793]

Thanks Bob...

[@philipmontgomery5626]

Cool video

[@prairiepinesranch]

I hate change. But really no one does. Right now in Oklahoma grandpa's farms are being parceled out and out of state people are moving here. My farm is not what I have always known for 31 years and no privacy as before. I don't feel like I'm even coming home now.

[@MerrittHoney]

Morning Bob! Looks like robbing aftermath at that yard. I’ve still got those 2 gal black buckets if your interested( about 150 of them I think). They have two small holes and a plug hole in lid. I can send pics.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Please do.

[@dadu63]

Good morning sir! Every year around August or dearth the store above my house and beeyard calls me and says my bees are in the trash can and could I come and get em. Lol. All they are doing is getting the soda out of cans. They just don't get it I reckon. Lol.

[@beebum1909]

We like the light gray buckets

[@bobbinnie9872]

Might have to try that.

[@jakeoz65]

Bees are our business- I’ve seen a that a lot from older Kelley advertisements

[@larrybanachowski2852]

Bee careful of painting the buckets. Some improper paint will cause the black plastic to be like a hydrogen embrittlement situation. Get a plastic compatible paint.

[@kevinogden4363]

My bees were going up to the local Casey's general store and getting in the trash in front of the store so the just moved them to the side of the building

[@timlewis9873]

Good morning Bob, have a good wk.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you.

[@BellsBees]

Bob, when drying the treated lumber, do you have issues with the lumber warping badly?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Yes, a few boards will warp.

[@ApiaryManager]

When your staff are at out apiaries, it would save you a trip if they just took photos and/or videos on their mobile phones. Most young people are so attached to their phones that they go nowhere without it.

[@sharonc.2207]

Any way to help educate others about bees and bee behavior is good... also, probably should adopt a different practice from the oil/diesel mixture for the coating... I'd be searching for a coating that is organic and inexpensive...

[@berwta]

Hello... I have a question that confuses me. Is the larvae itself locked inside the hexagonal bee house?

[@captainbillh]

Why don’t you find a local treater to treat (ground contact) your wood for you? Most treaters do TSO (treating services only) and can also dry it. Might be a more cost and environmentally friendly alternative than the labor intensive and messy diesel fuel/oil mix.

[@johnwilson3866]

Are u going to Kentucky on January 2,3,4?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Absolutely.

[@altaylor293]

Eliminating nature and replacing it with concrete and asphalt sure doesn't help the environment. Good luck with the new RaceTrac. Hope it doesn't affect your bee yard. Thanks for another informative Sunday morning.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks Al.

[@carloscrenz9433]

Hola Bob que buen trabajo que instalaciones tiene 👏👏👏👏👍

[@markbooth8458]

Hello Bob. I stop at that Exxon gas station. When I come to your place. I don’t know why but I have seen some dead bees at my bee yard at home.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Sometimes there's no telling what the bees get into.

[@drliptak1]

If I remember correctly, that yard abuts tomato fields. Was the farmer using Malathion? The store looks great. So glad its busy. See you soon.

[@bobbinnie9872]

That field was sprayed earlier but it had been quite a while ago. The farmer said they hadn't sprayed anything in a month. I had a Malathion kill once when pollinating cranberries in Oregon and it had instant results.

[@Peekul1]

Do vandals ever mess with or steal your hives? Sometimes I worry about my hives that can be seen from the road. I was thinking of hammering in a couple of posts and tying a green plastic mesh fencing to hide them from the road.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I've not had trouble so far but I know of others that have.

[@colingunn4822]

Good Morning Bob so depressed I lost 55 hives back in Aug. One week they were doing fine the next everything dead. Killing me being that I am about 50 miles from any other farmers. 5000lbs honey and no bees

[@Scott2510A]

Last year, I lost all ten of my hives in the fall after treating mites with Apiguard. Looked like colony collapse disorder. One week the bees looked fine, then a few weeks later, the hives were empty. A coworker of mine, also treated his hives with Apiguard. All 26 of his hives died. Our bee apiaries are in different counties of the state.

[@Manuherikiabeekeeping]

😮 that's horrible 😮 i hope you find the cause and it's fixable 😬 that's a tough break

[@Manuherikiabeekeeping]

​@@Scott2510A😬 not a great result

[@bobbinnie9872]

Sorry to hear of your trouble. Hang in there.

[@doctortcbkk2027]

Bob….im in atlanta…been so warm this past week. Started feeding again. Should I be doing a deep inspection now before the final cold? I have some that are double deeps plus a super.

[@bobbinnie9872]

It wouldn't hurt anything to do an inspection. I our case I'm trying to bring feeding to an end to eliminate stimulation so they become broodless for oxalic acid vaporization treatments in late November.

[@robertdemers5125]

Good Morning Bob !

[@bobbinnie9872]

Good morning sir!

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

I haven't used my feeders in over a year.. once I figured out the recipe for microwave fondant way better feed .. doesn't ferment sour and way less weight on the truck.. just like feeding that expensive inverted syrup bees really pop on it. Bees draw white wax down from it in the dead of winter.. spring its way to cold adds way to much moisture feeding syrup.. put it in ziplock i find a light one i can pile on 12 pounds of fondant not worried its causing robbing or fermented or drips on the cluster.. i can see myself just 100% fondant. I can add things to it . Probably could sell it fondant is very expensive. Its 50 cents a pound with the microwave recipe. Takes 3 minutes for 3 pound bag .. stove top stuff sours and very dangerous.. i start by grinding down the sugar to dust

[@bobbinnie9872]

Want to share your recipe?

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

@@bobbinnie9872 start out need a grinder I bought one off eBay grain grinder 160.00 .. the molecule of sugar is to large bees reject it like it's crystallized honey .. why they kick out the front door.. some reason when it's smaller they just eat it.. first we just bag it in ziplock bag and add water splash of vinegar.. that it's self is a pretty good feed. Then I thought why not microwave it.. so 3.5 pounds with moist ground sugar splash of vinegar and 4 minutes in the microwave.. turns it to liquid but not completely so when turns solid it remembers that small molecule size that bees love .. I splash it around before it turns solid make sure the vinegar inverted as much sugar as possible then lay it flat.. I normally let the air out of the bag 😞.. cook it to much it sours in 6 months.. at 4 minutes it lasts a year at least not sure none has soured .. lay on top bees just hollow it out turns it to liquid just melts into the comb and the bees draw white wax and clearly see the pop .. just like feeding inverted syrup from mann lake but less moisture.. late winter it's a game changer getting them fired up because I don't have all that moisture working against them. They don't need to process it like sucrose syrup. Nuc sales going to get started a month early feeding microwave fondant .. smaller units can't process syrup like a larger unit never see that pop early in the season. Like sets them back . Drips sours ferments Expensive .. zero waste with microwave fondant .. sick colonys syrup seems to set them back even more imo

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

@@bobbinnie9872 probably could just use a food processor for smaller amounts to grind it.. this were I got the idea .. I don't add as much water less vinegar and I microwave it.. this method is still zero waste just don't see the pop kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6KcoIGMoJx3r9Usi=nbcdS9sPM_qBfX4m

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

@bobbinnie9872 this were I got the idea.. only different I don't add as much water only little vinegar and microwave it .. this is really good feed as well but don't see that pop in the bees . Still zero waste with this method. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6KcoIGMoJx3r9Usi=nbcdS9sPM_qBfX4m

[@Peter-od7op]

How do buckets on hives in sun dont pressurize when half empty and push liquid into hives

[@bobbinnie9872]

They will leak a bit each morning but on average not as much as you might think because a vacuum can also be created by the cooler night temperatures or the bees continually feeding. Of course the black buckets would be the most problematic.

[@rtxhoneybees]

Do you think the degradation of the black buckets could be slower because they are painted?

[@bobbinnie9872]

No, it seems to be a different plastic. Even when they're not painted they take longer to become brittle.

[@Xray.71]

Supplies available to order & ship yet??

[@bobbinnie9872]

Yes but not yet online. Working hard on that. Calling the store works. 706 782 6722.

[@Cody-fc5br]

Good morning Bob

[@bobbinnie9872]

Good morning!

[@tarheelbeekeeper3971]

Most people don’t understand they just want to complain

[@toprakanaciftligi8037]

Hi Bob 👋👋👋

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hello.

[@aaronparis4714]

That’s a dirty stunt they complain and they spray them with shit that’s stuff would not go well in my small town lol you don’t ever want to do that

[@richardnoel3141]

Nope, all good and interesting content as usual Bob. Best wishes to all 👏🏻🫶☺️🐝🍯🧑‍🌾

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks Richard.

[@richardnoel3141]

@@bobbinnie9872 🤩🍯🐝🧑‍🌾

[@berwta]

Hello... I have a question that confuses me. Is the larvae itself locked inside the hexagonal bee house?