Did I Reverse Hive Boxes Too Early? Is the Brood OK?

[@Helveteshit]

I like the addition at the top, pointing out which hive you are checking!

[@jefflassila3242]

I'm looking forward to watching the hives that are going to be single brood chambers this year. I have watched Devan Rawn's videos and I am very excited to try this management in my own bees. good luck and keep up the awesome content!

[@vinofarm]

Yeah, all the Canadians are inspiring me to try new things.

[@jefflassila3242]

@@vinofarm I'm looking forward to not having yo go though two brood boxes.

[@maxkoschka4120]

Do you think about cutting drone brood later this year? It is a common practice where I come from. I give them one foundationless frame, so they lay drone brood in this frame. Just before the drones hatch I'll then cut out the brood and give them the empty frame again. I repeat this for about 3-4 times a year. The goal is to decrease the amout of varroa mites in the hive. Because of the longer brood cycle of drones, the mites prefer drone brood. So the drone brood frame will work as a "varroa magnet". By cutting out the brood I don't harm the hives too much, drones are not that necessary and they will still lay some drone brood elsewhere in the hive.

[@vinofarm]

I did this with my 3 big hives last year. Dedicated drone frame... they filled it up, I removed it and pulled all the drones out looking for mites. I found about 5 total mites on 4 or so full frames of brood and felt like it was a huge waste of resources. The bees spent a huge amount of energy and material to build those frames up for basically nothing and I felt bad killing all that brood. Not sure if it's going to be part of my plan this year.

[@craigentrekin5883]

On New package, are you at all concerned that they will extend the comb to the bottom of the box? It seems that the would end up sticking the frames to the box, and you would damage that area of each one...

[@vinofarm]

Nope, I've done it a few times before and they make an exact copy of a deep size frame out of a medium. They know when to stop because they always want "bee space" around everything.

[@jaredhotop5691]

I like the little side bar that you added to your videos. With all of the expanding that you did last year I sometimes have a hard time remembering how each hive started. Keep up the good work.

[@vinofarm]

Yeah... I've been thinking about adding something like that for about 6 months and I finally sat down and figured out how to do it. It's fun for me to do stuff like this for you guys!

[@willem504]

Vino Farm, thank you for your amazing videos I always enjoy them.

[@mrbodo69]

I understand the theory behind reversing hive bodies, but does it really make a difference? No one moves comb around in the wild and the queen lays where there's room. She doesn't necessarily prefer to lay up. Make room below and she'll head that way. Just make room is what I do.

[@vinofarm]

It's all about management. I'm trying single brood boxes on about half my hives this year. I can already tell how much easier it will make inspections. I used to notice with double deeps that the lower boxes were about 80% empty during the main season. The queen just didn't go DOWN to lay. They'd fill them up for winter, but all season long was just nothing in the bottom. So I'm trying to get them to just stick down there and use the space they're given. It's an experiment. I'll adapt as needed.

[@larrytornetta9764]

The queen likes to move up. Reverse or they will swarm.

[@mrbodo69]

@@larrytornetta9764 ya, I keep hearing that, but I haven't seen that to be true. Hives in the wild swarm when they get crowded. If you make room by checkerboarding for example they won't swarm either. Just make sure there is room and they won't swarm.

[@mrbodo69]

@@vinofarm My hive did what you're describing: moving up as the season goes along. The bottom box (I use 3 mediums as the brood chamber) was empty going into winter. I inspected 10 days ago and the queen had moved into the bottom box and is laying there.

[@larrytornetta9764]

mrbodo69 yes agreed but if you checkerboard too early you might get chilled brood if it gets cold.

[@CastleHives]

I worry about the same, chilled brood and having loss. When I went to check, Queen had already moved to lower deep and hive has 11 frames of brood (I use 8 frame Lang’s). Question, what do you use to edit your vids? I’m posting videos as well and not sure of what is a decent video editing tool.

[@vinofarm]

I'm on a Mac. I started the first year with iMovie and it was fine for 90% of editing. I started to want more control of text and graphics, so I learned Final Cut Pro over my second year. I'm still learning new things with it every time I edit.

[@CastleHives]

Thanks much. I have a windows based laptop.

[@drrota]

@@vinofarm - The front of the hive is a bit of a historical journal of what's happened over the last few days. So maybe you could see the chilled brood out front, etc.- Here's a tip you can add to your videos - "front hive observations" - you don't always look for signs in the front of the hive to see chilled brood, etc. Maybe you can do a video on this method of observation - rather than diving into the hives every week (as much as I love that part!) - You can try pulling some things out of this free book -- Perhaps these are "old school" observation methods, but very interesting reading for those rainy spring days ahead.: www.biobees.com/library/general_beekeeping/beekeeping_books_articles/At%20the%20Hive%20Entrance.pdf -enjoy

[@ThePixe35]

I love the new graphic of where the bees are!

[@AndrewAHayes]

all the cherry blossom is out where I live (South Yorkshire England) so the floor is pink with all the fallen blossom, I love Spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ingridsilvernale6027]

Unfortunately, I flipped and lost several frames of brood. I didn’t use the excluder so the queen is fine but lost potential bees 😢 Lesson learned. I’m just happy that I didn’t lose the entire hive.

[@vicstaroonie]

I love your new side bar so we can see which hive you're in and who lives there. I was starting to lose track. It was so much easier when there were only 3. Lol. Keep on keeping on, I love watching.

[@kevinnunya5113]

First comment on your videos. Huge fan recieving my first nuc this year in Western NY. All your bee videos right from year one have been great. Ive learned quite a bit from your experiences in the bee yard. Keep it up!

[@vinofarm]

kdizzle Nunya Best of luck with the bees!

[@johnn1a2]

Why would u put brood up and have only 4 frames in bottom brood which is weak. For sure do when honey flow on and you have 8-9 frames full of brood. You seem to have a lot of weak hives, if weather is warmer, and pollen comeing in. Pick a strong hive put newspaper on top of strong hive score (but not on frames in case queen is under paper) a little and add queen excluder. The week hives will flourish with the bigger work force. About 95 % of the queens will survive.

[@vinofarm]

We are REALLLLY early in the season. These hives are almost all stronger than anything I've seen at this point in the year. They are totally fine. The only really small hive is the Franken Nuc in the 10 frame medium, but again, they are stronger than the hive that survived my first winter and went on to be my strongest hive. I'm not worried about every single hive being a monster. They will all build. We are weeks away from any significant nectar. Also, our BIG flow is the fall, so they really only need to be strong going into September. At this time of the year, I'm extremely pleased with their strength.

[@RobertSchwartzLive]

I think your doing everything right with one exception - your flow is not on - feed those small colonies with sugar water. Free flowing sugar water will allow your bees to build up wax and ready it'self for the coming flow. We need dry weather - bee's need to dry pollen (protein) to help build hive to carry nectar.. Good job

[@MangoTheLegend]

Really liked the addition of the map and info!

[@segami2808]

I was one of the commenters. I was only worried about the one hive, double deep, no excluder. Putting them in the bottom is no problem. If they stay there. They can handle being in the bottom. However If she moves up and lays, the nursers will come up. Spreading the cluster out. Then u will chill lower bees and brood in the bottom, if u get nights in the teens. So u Just got lucky. I speak from experience.

[@vinofarm]

Perhaps you are right. But wouldn't that not be a problem since heat rises and the top frame would be warmer? I hope you don't think I was trying to say "I told you so" or anything. I was trying to point out that these comments made me worry enough to go check on things and make sure my instincts were correct. I love all the comments I get and they all make me a better beekeeper. (And hopefully they have the same effect on the thousands of people who also read them.) Thanks!

[@segami2808]

Nope I just figured I'd explain, them being in the bottom was not what I was referring to. And you're right, the queen and half your bees in top would be warm, and usually they're ok in that scenario. But the ones who stay down to finish brood, become spread out. Everything in bottom box dies. And I enjoy your videos, thought about doing some myself. But don't have the pc skills u have.

[@segami2808]

Myself, I don't use queen excluder. To remedy them moving up to soon. I checkerboard the middle of top box to prevent her laying up to quick.

[@segami2808]

Checker board with new, empty frames meant to say

[@vinofarm]

@@segami2808 I decided to try to super without queen excluders last summer. Even over a double deep brood box, every super I added was laid with eggs within a week. Lower brood boxes were empty. I added QEs and finally got a few clear supers with only honey.

[@ArcticVulpes]

The mini map is an awesome addition - good stuff.

[@joer5627]

Virtually everything. We do as beekeepers is up for review and 2nd guessing. We try something, it works sometimes, sometimes not. Weather is different from year to year. We do the best we can.

[@chadillac3006]

For Balboa instead of switching it to a 8 frame deep should just get a 10 frame deep as Balboa is the queen of the bee yard and deserves the best and just Bc they seem to have made it quite fine over the years in the 10 frame medium can always go 10 frame deeps also its a workout at the same time win win 💪😂

[@Sebach82]

I can hear the Rocky theme song playing in the background...

[@edcoffin3514]

The comb they are building on the bottom of the frame will be drone comb,. I just learned that today from theSkinnybeeman(Joe May)😎😎😎

[@vinofarm]

Yes. That's a great spot for drones!

[@kevincount]

@@vinofarm Great place to use for verroa trapping. I have the same happening in my hive.

[@julieenslow5915]

I agree, the side bar showing where we are in the yard, and the Queen's line, latest on hive, etc is very useful. Love the video, though I really did not doubt you about the weather trend and I knew you saw how many bees you had in the hives. However, glad you took the questioning thoughts seriously and did check. There are a few things I know: 1. you are not a noob any more, lost that designation after your second year. 2. you will never know it all - no one does. Those that think they do - get taught a lesson by their bees when they don't expect it. I chalk that up to the Divine sense of humor, intended to keep us learning and humble. Or at least, learning. 3. if you ever knew it all - beekeeping would cease to be fun. Its always fun to see what is going on at Vino Farms, thank you for a great video!

[@vinofarm]

Absolutely, Julie. I don't claim to know it all. I do still get freaked out by comments, though. There's a lot of alarm in people's messages sometimes. I read them all and take them all in, but I still need to get better filtering out what may not be the best advice. My first year was awful for that and I can only imagine the hundreds of newcomers just getting their hives going, reading internet comments and trying to apply everything to their hives. Every piece of advice is GREAT to hear. It makes you think and question everything... but not every piece of advice needs to be applied to every bee hive.

[@julieenslow5915]

@@vinofarm See? I told you that you had lost your noobhood! Yes, I really don't know how I would do if I had been in your position that first year, with the issues you had, but please believe me - I am sure I would not have done so well. Second year - same. After that, cant even imagine it.

[@Jay-jp2iv]

You insulate your hives and weather proof them also, rotating your boxes is really a non issue that people commented on. Great work. Trust yourself. You’re doing really well. Some people can’t watch without commenting negatively. Can’t please everybody. Keep up the good work beekeeper.

[@beekeeper77]

You don't need supers on your hives. One deep box is enough for next 3 weeks. Need way more bees for supers.If you put supers on all you manage to do is slow them down.Your bees whon t sworm in the next 6-7 weeks you dont need to be worried.

[@vinofarm]

I'm on the fence. What you say makes sense, but nearly half the comments a week ago were, "THEY"RE ALL GONNA SWARM WITH EXCLUDERS ON!" I only actually ADDED a super to the hive with the biggest population and a ton of capped brood expecting a population explosion this week. The others were already living in the space they have, but I moved them to the bottom. There are still wraps and insulated covers on for a couple weeks until the danger of below freezing weather has passed. I may learn a lesson here. I may be OK. I'll let you know.

[@normjacques6853]

You may have planted your bulbs a bit too deep. Different bulbs require different depths, and few want to be planted very deep (max. 6" or less). :-)

[@vinofarm]

There's no way they got to be 6" deep. I think maybe I planted them too shallow. I thought crocus were pretty bulletproof. We shall see.

[@vinofarm]

Everyone's beekeeping situation is different. Every beekeeper needs to learn their climate, watch their weather, and get to know their bees. Don't get stressed out about all the thousands of comments you read on youtube videos. Take them all in and learn what applies to your situation. What works for me MIGHT NOT WORK FOR YOU and vice versa! (And please don't stop commenting!)

[@BESHYSBEES]

Vino Farm it seems the vsh pattern is scattered in my opinion don’t be fooled it’s probably due to the breed the workers can tend to pull out larvae for a number of reason like varroa, usually they have been inbred to inherit specific genes for hygiene,vigour etc etc if the fertilised egg laid has too similar genes the workers can sense something wrong with it and abort the larvae. So I wouldn’t be too worried usually really clean bees

[@vinofarm]

@@BESHYSBEES Interesting, thanks.

[@BESHYSBEES]

Vino Farm try open feeding syrup to trick the queens into thinking a flow is happening prompting them to go up a gear with laying by the time they emerge you should have plenty in bloom

[@robertmalis4493]

I’m no bee 🐝 expert but I would think you’d want to give them two boxes before you put in the queen excluder because you’re going to have a population explosion here in the next week or two love the videos keep up the good work

[@vinofarm]

The population expands up into the boxes above the excluder. The only thing that stays below are the queen and the brood and the necessary nurse bees. The workers live and work happily above the excluder as long as there are plenty of boxes up there.

[@laurensmith3112]

I put an excluder in recently where the super actually had some eggs in it and the bees in the top super made a queen cell! The hive’s queen is down below but lesson learned: don’t use an excluder when the supers have eggs or larvae that they might want to make into a queen.

[@rolandmestayer8862]

Installed my first 2 nuc hives two weeks ago and will crack them open later today :). I see lots of bees loaded with pollen; how do you tell from hive entrance if bees are arriving with nectar? Love the videos. You've a real gift for it.

[@goodoleboy11668]

Great Video. I was concerned about what you did but I'm glad it work out for you. I wish I had your video editing skills. Is that your profession?

[@vinofarm]

Video editing skills come with practice. Go look at my early videos. After 200 of these things, you start getting better. Just start!

[@DuneGames]

Thanks so much for the orderly sidebar of where each hive you open is located, and the hive family it comes from. That is so helpful. I'm sure it takes a lot of extra time to put it together, but so worth it.

[@billb.2673]

Hey Jim. Really surprised about the Crocus. Those things are usually so hardy and robust. We’ve obviously had some really gross weather so hopefully once it warms up they’ll start poking through in earnest.

[@vinofarm]

I have no idea what happened. The Grape Hyacinths right next to them are in the same situation. One SINGLE grape hyacinth poked up out of 1000 bulbs. It hasn't really gotten warm yet and we've had a ton of rain so I'm worried they just rotted in the soil.

[@billb.2673]

Wowza....one out of a thousand. That's crazy.

[@OnlyKnowsGod]

There's an old saying amungst beekeepers "The best beekeepers are in the hive" . This is solom note in that beekeepers are there to listen and act only when help is indicated by the bees and note to preempt what the bees need by interpreting from a human perspective what the bees need.

[@2unruly]

I was wondering what make and model of camera that you use to make your videos? I searched your other videos and could not find any mention of it.

[@vinofarm]

Bill U Links to camera gear are in the description. For all of year one I shot everything on the Panasonic G7. Year two, I added the Panasonic G85 which quickly became the main shooter. I continued with that for all of last year. As of about 4 or 5 videos ago, I have upgraded to the Panasonic GH5. Now I use a combination of the GH5 and G85. Both are really great for KZbin. Don’t get me started on lenses.

[@2unruly]

Okay I really feel stupid. I watch your videos either on my xbox or my cable box and you can not read descriptions. I post comments from my phone and didn't realize I could drag down to see the description...lol I guess you are never to old to learn new tricks...

[@vinofarm]

Bill U No problem. It’s interesting to hear how people watch my videos.

[@eddeetz493]

Will you give the flo hive a go this year? It would be great to see it working and ease of harvest.

[@vinofarm]

Ed Deetz stay tuned.

[@isedhooah3683]

You're making all the right moves. You successfully overwintered all your colonies (most from package splits) which is saying something. You didn't split any brood when you moved your boxes (aside from one that had plenty of bees), and it is plenty warm. Great job! All I will say is that, just keep on top of them. Once their populations start to climb, those second year colonies will try to swarm quicker than you know, it really is impressive how fast they turn on that swarm impulse. Great video as always!

[@MaryMillerSpoolhardyGirl]

I had a hive where the queen was sitting on top of two mediums that had been completely emptied out over the winter and she had stopped laying. I suspected she was chilly, even though she was at the top and heat rises. So, I knocked them down to one box and waited, and worried that I had made things worse (but I always do that). Anyway, I checked on them yesterday and she is merrily laying again and it won't be long before I'll add back another box. I think there are some really great guidelines that beekeepers won't go wrong if they stick to them, but sometimes you have to asses what is going on in YOUR hives and do what YOU think needs to be done. More often than not, IMHO, even if you don't strictly follow the guidelines you still won't kill your hives. Of course, this opinion does not apply to treating for varroa!

[@scottrobbins9320]

I did a reverse a little over a month ago(Nanuet, NY here) coming out of winter. The top box had a lot of room and the bottom was loaded with honey. I just went ahead and flipped them. She should move down and start putting brood in that roomier space. If they don't like it they will move the honey around and put it back the way it is. And if I see that... I'll let them keep it. But sometimes they need a kick in the pants to make sure they have the hive the way they want it, and aren't just being lazy.

[@ernstrudolfhayward4078]

on new pkg VSH ITALIAN gen3/2018. I am pretty sure i saw an emergency swarm cell on frame number 4 from your standing behind the hive right side.

[@LuminaryXion]

love the new visualization in the corner :)

[@paulblackman3936]

Are your Crocuses in too deep? They need a good chill to develop flowers properly. The bulbs should only be planted really shallow. Just a thought! Do you have any wet or boggy soil on your property that you could plant Pussy Willow on. They provide some of the earliest pollen and nectar for bees.

[@09mouldy]

I live outside of Ithaca, N.Y. in the hills and I rotated my boxes a month ago. Everything was fine. I assume your about a month behind me.

[@drrota]

I love your new overhead view of your apiary! way cool.

[@crazybirdybird4312]

Hows the Fruit Tree problem, porcupines gone yet?

[@vinofarm]

No apples, no porcupines. You'll hear all about it in July or so.

[@437AlBig]

Just watched and noticed something. Did you put the QE back on the Balboa hive? it was the second hive you inspected and I wasn't sure about it.

[@vinofarm]

The second hive, yes. I may have jumped ahead in the editing.

[@RoughAndWretchedRAW]

Good decision or not depends on the luck with the weather. I know up here in Canada we've gotten down to -10 C at night just before dawn but we have been lucky. No major extremes. I use single box management and the hives and nucs are ramped right up brooding the frames are full of brood mostly capped and we are still going down to freezing almost every night. The bigger hives will have to be doubled next week or the week after already. Thank goodness the queen is starting to lay up some drones cause I'm gonna have to start making queens before long. Here is the thing. Brood requires the same temp as the human body. The smaller the box the easier it is to keep it that temp and the larger frame area they can brood on earlier. You will always hear beekeepers argue that bees don't heat the box. Well, that's a load of du du. If they aren't heating the box then why stress ventilation so the box doesn't over heat? How can folks use a thermal camera to see the cluster through the wood if they aren't heating the wood. It's not xray, the camera is seeing thermal. The warm air coming out of the vent proves they are heating the air in the box. In the spring the queen can only brood what the bees can keep warm. If it's cold they have to sit right on top of it to keep it from chilling. When it's warm they are only limited by how many they can feed and keep fed. I'm betting if you had the entire population in that first 8 frame you show in a single 5 frame nuc they'd have double or more brood capped and ready to emerge. Kinda all depends on what you are after. In my case I am trying to grow population and hive #'s as fast as possible so maximizing brooding is my first priority in every single hive.

[@CuriousCreature]

My grape hyacinth is really late (6a). Just now coming up. Golden mantle's have been eating the crocus. Whatever. I'm not getting too wound around the axle about it. Tete a Tete Narcissus is a star. (dwarf variety) Blooming now and nothing is eating it.

[@curlyparsley8668]

Can you make a video that shows the different types of cell? I hear people talk about drone cells, but I don’t have any reference for what that looks like.

[@vinofarm]

Curly Parsley Drones (males) are larger than workers (females). So drone cells are larger than worker cells. And after they’re capped, worker cells are usually flush with the top of the comb. Drone cells protrude above the comb.

[@brentbrown4725]

Do you ever see honeybees on the Forsythia? I have it bloom all around me on Martha's Vineyard but have never seen my bees on it. Wish they would take it because there is plenty of it.

[@vinofarm]

Brent Brown Mine just opened up but it’s been pouring rain. I’ll have a look if it stops tomorrow.

[@drrota]

The mice went through my coccus - like a buzz saw - hopefully your field mice might didn't do the same. On that hive with a small cluster - check out the "Canadian beekeeper" channel with his latest video - where he does a newspaper merge with a queen excluder in between - to level out the hive populations - effectively doing a partial split on a booming hive to share with a weaker one. Keep up the great work! I'm only 20 mi east of you, and all the flowers here are out - croccus bloomed a week ago, daffodils too, I'm on the last stage of red maple - but it looks like a wet week. Keep feeding sugar and pollen, they're going to need it. I can see the difference in elevation and just 20 miles - between our yard and mine. You made the right choice with the moving down of colonies, I've done the same, so are all the other beekeepers in the area. Keep rocking out!

[@vinofarm]

Don Rota Hi Don, I’m not feeding any sugar. The hives were all pretty full of honey stores last I checked. I was hoping they would use those until nectar started flowing. I’m worried about the next week, though. Cold and rainy.

[@YuubiTimberwolf]

That info sidebar is SUPERB! Good idea, new and old watchers will be thankful!

[@JohnVK5JAK]

OK. I’m not OCD but, why is the Balboa Fam Gen 3 hive skew-whiff to all the others. It’s driving me nuts.

[@vinofarm]

Their opening faces the electric fence charger. I angled them to give them a straighter flight path into the hive without obstructions.

[@budgiebreder]

One question for all the bee people: Why do supers all have medium frames? Like if you want your hives as deeps why dont you just have a deep super and then everything is deep? Like as you remove medium stuff only use deep and then its all just deeps?

[@vinofarm]

They may not fill an entire deep with honey. Then you have unfinished frames at the time of harvest. It's more likely they will fill a medium. If they do, just add more mediums. Also, mediums are a lot lighter to lift. If you absolutely know your bees are monsters that can fill deeps, you give them deeps. Lots of beekeepers know their bees and use deep supers. I know my bees won't.

[@budgiebreder]

Vino Farm thanks for the reply and yes that makes sense! Still annoying for you to have to switch between frames constantly with brood being already in your mediums. I hope you manage to fully transition to deeps this year for all brood boxes. Good luck!

[@bwana4711]

Hey, great update once again. Nice editing with the graphical overlay of the layout of your apiary! Glad the Queens are all rocking if not all hives hopping yet. Can’t wait for the next one. Taking bets on how many hives you increase to by August!!!

[@_Jolyn]

Love the map and start of names! Thank you for helping us follow along with each hive. I'm excited to see how your babies produce this year!

[@Omreal22]

I am so pleased things are going well and so excited for you! I missed these bees and your fantastic videos over winter so to see you posting again brings some great content back to my youtube diet

[@paulmichalek1153]

Gr8 show from South Australian

[@VLeachman]

Looking good! I’ll be interested to see how your single brood box experiment goes. My girls are starting to reduce down as winter approaches. The drones are getting chucked out. This is my first winter as a bee keeper so I’m hoping they do okay.

[@graydonturner]

The hive map is a huge help. Thanks!

[@joshurawr]

Thanks for the map, Vino-Sensei

[@jpthedelawarebeeman6239]

Hi Jim, did you stain and seal some of your hives? What did you use and what is the process. I think I want to try it on some hardware I just built.Thanks Joe

[@vinofarm]

I'm thinking of doing a video about this very soon. I'm using Vermont Natural Coatings exterior stain. vermontnaturalcoatings.com/product/polywhey-exterior-penetrating-wood-stain/

[@100amps]

Love the little map diagram thingy. It provides much-needed context. Thanks for the great videos.

[@PharmSilver]

Amazing how a tad of elevation changes things. I’m 30 min east of you and my daffodils are almost done, dandelions everywhere and fruit trees blossoming aside from some pears/apples.

[@vinofarm]

There are dandelions and fruit trees blossoming 1 mile down the road from me at 400' lower elevation. It's very odd.

[@PharmSilver]

Vino Farm yeah I’m at 550ft or so I’m northern Worcester hills. Likely starting up bees next spring been soaking up a few years of channels like yours first. Thank you for the videos!

[@dazamistwalker]

You got all these hives through the winter, you pretty much know what you're doing. I'm surprised people got excited about you moving and reversing your boxes because it's exactly what I would have done! We're in a honey flow in ATL and many of your hives are looking better than mine!

[@brotherhoodofgamers8686]

Daza Mistwalker he definitely does not know what he is doing...

[@richbrannon5562]

Thank you for adding the hive diagram it really helps. Is there any reason the one hive is at an angel and not in line with the rest, not that it really matters just curious. Keep up the good work.

[@vinofarm]

That was a spot where I had a double nuc last year and they graduated to a full size box. The entrance is turned to give them more clearance because the fence charger post is directly in line with the approach flight path.

[@BrokePhilanthropist]

7:53 That’s one of the biggest queens I’ve seen.

[@BuzzyBeezTV]

Looks like you are set for a great season!!!! Looking forward to following along!!

[@timmo7913]

I always zoom out what I'm on my weather app to see what you guys are getting over there. It looked like it'd been brutal with rain the past week. Sucks when you're anxiously awaiting for hive work. Girls are looking fine. It's the calm before the storm. 😂. You're gonna need a few more hours in your day there, Jim. [ Queen Evelyn of the Carni's]?

[@vinofarm]

Yeah, we'll have nights in the 20s this week. Rain every other day. The nice days are nice, ,though!

[@dovinedrake6482]

Excellent

[@Amelia2010rrhl]

Hey Brent, I've been thoroughly enjoying your videos, (I found them not to long ago) and have a beehive of my own. After your last video I checked my hive. Sadly I discovered my hive did not make it through the winter. After the last two videos I know now where I went wrong. They Combs we're completely empty no stores what so ever. :( I've planned to rewatch your videos and take notes, but I was wondering if you could recommend a good starter Queen? I don't know the species that I had. :/ Best wishes! Anna.

[@jo-han]

Best is to ask a local beekeeper. They know which breeds work good in your climate and location (matters for pest too, not just climate). Just google the nearest beekeeping association/club/gathering/syndicate :)

[@Amelia2010rrhl]

@@jo-han thank you!! That would be incredibly helpful! I've felt so alone on this adventure and so guilty at the lost of my hive!

[@vinofarm]

Yes, ask locally first. Every climate is different. Sorry about your bees!

[@larrytornetta9764]

Anna Leitheiser next fall put sugar or pro winter patties on top of the top box (regardless of how much honey they have)Then check every month during the winter on warmer days and add as needed. I also put pollen patties on top this year. All hives did great. I live in Philly area. Don’t forget to treat with Mite away quick strips in September.

[@Amelia2010rrhl]

@@larrytornetta9764 I live in Detroit Lakes MN our winter was very rough this year. I used 8 haybales around and on top of the hive to try my best to protect it. I think it got -45° a couple of times this winter

[@chilixocoltl]

Just wanted to chime in with everyone else to say I LOVE the addition of the sidebar! :D

[@bluzervic]

Love the diagram and descriptions, etc as you move through each hive. It is all looking good. On those hives with single brood boxes you can always throw on an additional brood box if you have a population explosion. Trust your own judgement, you know your environment best and what is blooming. Looking forward to the next.

[@emmadawson1158]

I appreciate the little diagram so much. Thank you

[@Anonymous-zo3uu]

You didn't reverse too early. I live in same climate as you and did it at the same time. I just wouldn't put in the excluder like you did.

[@nathanbarker4394]

I thought it was right to do what you did! I like your little side bar with the hives! Also have you considered finding another location? You might have to many in one location. My mentor said he prefers to have no more than 10 in one location. That may vary from location to location I don’t know! We are in Ohio! Are those vsh carniolans?

[@michaelpisapia]

Great news that all is going so well! The map of the hives and the info on the type of bee and generations are GREAT features! ...really helpful and interesting... Keep up the wonderful work ;-) Thank you for your videos!

[@GodBlade132]

The diagram and information about each hive is a great addition! Really helpful to keep track now that you have so many successful hives

[@scotenbraun]

Love the mini map! Makes it so much easier to follow!

[@mford9029]

Game changer in bee video

[@RoflsaurousRex09]

You make bee keeping look easy! Good work!

[@derrickleung8014]

yahoo new video! Love the mini map in the corner.

[@1swellguy373]

Will you end up with mutt bees because of cross breeding? I kinda like the idea something I might try.

[@vinofarm]

Yes, they will be mutts but they will all be my survivor stock. So anything that breeds in my vicinity is a winter survivor. The Russian queen I have is certified Russian lineage. The Carniolan is probably a mutt of some sort, even though she looks very different than my "Italians" and the Italians definitely are. In a couple generations, they'll all be Vinofarm bees. I have no problem with that!

[@1swellguy373]

@@vinofarm Very cool

[@Digger927]

Lol, I didn't see all the comments complaining about reversing the boxes too early on the last video, that's funny. Thanks for the shout out my queen, you little sweetheart! ROFL. Looking good Jim, nice job...you're doing great!

[@vinofarm]

As I was editing, I remembered your last comment and wanted to be VERRRY clear I was not squeezing a frame in next to a queen. Ha ha!

[@Digger927]

@@vinofarm Lol, I didn't intend to be overly critical, I just didn't want to witness you having to go through that facepalm moment that I did so many years ago. I'd try to spare my worst enemy of that feeling because it sucks.

[@vinofarm]

I still have never accidentally squished a queen. I'd feel awful.

[@pst7215]

I don't know if you are doing it already, but taking notes on a journal of every hive can be very useful when you have a lot of them.

[@vinofarm]

I just video everything I do, but I do feel like written notes might be helpful too. I just can't see keeping a journal while I work on hives. I need to make a note system for the boxes.

[@marianaranjo0995]

I’m so glad all your hives are happy and expanding!

[@zimrasawyer1881]

Whoooooohooooo! Welcome Queen Lucy!

[@tsarinaromanov2641]

Love the side bar!!!

[@BLachance75]

I reversed mine a week before you. I even checker boarded in a few frames last week. People need to realize that beekeeping is very climate based. What we do in MA is different than what people do in other places. Keep doing what you feel is best for your bees. I'm thinking in another week or 2 I will be able to do a few splits. I was down in CT today and saw a lot of yards that had dandelions.

[@vinofarm]

I can't WAIT for the dandelions.

[@josephwoodall832]

Everything looks good. I didn't know you were a bread guy I make a lot of that too this weekend I'm going to try using honey instead of sugar.

[@vinofarm]

I've been away from bread making for a bit. Life is too busy. I only make sourdough (no sugar added) and the honey gets added on top after it comes out of the toaster!

[@laurensmith3112]

Well put video with LOTS of evidence to back up your brood box swap choice. 👍🏻

[@lialos]

Like everyone else, I love the mini-map!

[@stefbomb2975]

I think we have similar environments. I planted some bulbs and noticed that only a few came up last year. This year . They are boooooming.

[@vinofarm]

That's good to know... I hope that happens to me!

[@drekfletch]

FrankenNuc Queen Mary (Shelley).

[@Whitewingdevil]

The graphic showing the location of the hive we are looking at is great!

[@davedennis6042]

You messed up the 12 days of Christmas. Now we have to say "11 Queens a-laying"...

[@DreamofaHive]

looking great :)

[@PaulOtis]

Your bees are doing great!

[@deucemoore]

Vino Farm: The Casey Neistat of Beekeeping. Great Videos.

[@vinofarm]

Just wait until I open my multi million dollar hangout for beekeepers, stop making videos and move to California!

[@PilotMcbride]

Don't count your crocus before they pop through, lol. They should come up, probably got late bloomers. Thanks for this vid mate, withdrawals were just starting....... Now eased 🇦🇺 🍺 🐝🐝

[@vinofarm]

I hope you enjoy your off season watching us Northern Hemispherians.

[@PilotMcbride]

Alway enjoy your vids James. Thank you for posting.

[@dan.vitale]

Dammit Jim you made my heart jump with that title :) the hives look great! Queen Lucy is already a boss.

[@mosquitoswat1]

Side bar-Very Nice Addition!

[@ratpackcolorado]

9 seconds in I got hit wit drama. Lol box flip is better than frames . Less ware a stare on bee keeper. Feed her stimulant a little be crack for brood ASAP. Patties work good. I hope u feed sooner than a week . I hope they have eggs in bottom.. so she is going threw excluder to lay both boxes. Omg 🤷‍♂️ I don’t know.

[@vinofarm]

You OK, bro?

[@chehunter5905]

Yippee! New video

[@toska5466]

am i the only one who knws nothin bout bees n just found him by accident

[@GrizzTactix]

Kay OOF well you are going to have a good time as he is always learning new ways to make his bees happy.

[@1centplus1cent]

A few years ago I came across a few videos about collecting honey from hives and it was all so very satisfying. I searched KZbin for more videos and the first video I saw from Vino Farm was him picking up and subsequently dropping honey comb. I laughed so hard and have been watching ever since. He has come a long way and it's awesome to watch people's progress on various things.

[@richbrannon5562]

I have never owned Bee's and probably never will, but I find it fascinating.

[@Digger927]

Me too!

[@RoflsaurousRex09]

Nope! I know NOTHING about bees. Looked up bee keeping to see how it was done and now I can't stop watching him! If he was a teacher I'd have NO problem learning from him!