Feeding the bees. First week inspection to see how they are

A little bit of advise from a second year to a first year beekeeper.

[@rufusdufus5856]

I really appreciated your video. Very honest approach. Most realistic bee keeper on KZbin

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that.

[@lessthanfive174]

Beekeeping is a continuous learning process. Even the so called bee masters don’t have all the answers. But they do have valuable information. Tailor your needs for your bees. The so called generic information doesn’t apply to every area. Your honesty is a fresh nice perspective. My advice, learn all you can and don’t give up. I’ve been keeping bees on and off for 30 years. Have I made mistakes? YES. I try to learn from them and not repeat them. Will I make more mistakes? Yep. But I’m still going to keep at it. Excellent video sir. Keep making them. I’m subscribing to your channel.

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

Thank you so much for your positivity. I'm not going to stop any time soon. Thanks for your comment and your subscribe.

[@alyb731]

No shortage of water here in Uk, just a lack of sunshine.😡. Enjoyed this video, I’m a new beek and trying to learn as much as possible. 🇬🇧

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

There is so much to learn. Good luck.

[@richardhyatt-beekeeping]

Howdy, 6 year beekeeper here. Enjoyed watching your video. And, subscribed. You're right, there's plenty to learn. Three things to watch: 1. Varroa destructor, Mites. They can sneak up on you so, you need to learn about and test for them. 2. Starvation. I lost 80% of my hives last winter to starvation. 3. Swarm cells. If your hive swarms you lose half your colony. Unless you capture the swarm yourself. Bonus #4 Don't grow too fast. The bees can easily out grow your experience. I'm by no means a know it all. Yes, I have lost most of my bees overwinter, twice. I think that comes under #4 above. This year I have about 25 colonies down from about 65 at one point. It's cost me some serious money. There is something else if you want to be successful, don't quit! That goes for KZbin, too. Don't quit! Thanks.

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

Thank you for the encouragement. That is one of the reasons I'm putting my stuff out here like this, for some feed back and maybe to encourage others to give it a try. Thank you for the comment and the subscribe.

[@richardhyatt-beekeeping]

@@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk Your welcome. I do it for the fun of it and hope others enjoy my ramblings. And, hope someday KZbin will support me in my retirement.

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

@@richardhyatt-beekeeping Im right there with ya on that Brother. A little supplement income is good during those retirement years.

[@wagon53417]

I use rhubarb leaves for the mites. They have oxcilic acid in them...I just lay one on top of frames, the bees chew them up and carry them out ,that kills the mites and doesn't harm them or the honey.

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

I would like to info up on the rhubarb thing. Sounds to easy to beleave. Will have to give it a try. Thanks

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

Humm. and that works? I think i might try that, thanks for the info.

[@sergepajcin1255]

Formic pro heavy treatment 3 times a year recommended

[@JoSeeFuss]

I actually just called my local farmers market. I have phone numbers to 4 farmers who grow rhubarb in my area. Maybe I might be able to keep a few hives on their property, a win win deal for both.

[@videogenie1236]

I am still learning about bee keeping and yet to decide if I want to keep them. Also, I will need to discuss this with my wife.

[@wilmafeuerstein434]

You can also tell you have a Queen from bee behavior. When the bees are calm the Queen is in. If they are browsing around a little aggressive there might be no queen in the hive. You also can hear it, when no queen is in, they sound louder and different, not the usual humming you know.

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

thank you. I am still trying to hone my queen spotting skills.

[@yvonnehood7336]

I've just started my 3yr beekeeping. I've been through an infestation of mites where I had to buy all new bees and the swarming. So definitely a trial and error hobby and expensive. The you tube videos I go to for info is David Burns I have also bought his classes. He is a wealth of info and been a big help to me just getting started. One thing I've learned is learning the different stages of larvae that way you can see if your queen is laying without actually seeing the queen and when was the last time she laid. I am interested to see how the banana works.

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

I have watched some of his content as well. He does know a lot. Yea I cant wait to see if they actually ate the whole banana, peels and all. we will see this weekend.

[@JawandoOokomondo-cb7fm]

If you as a 3 Year “beekeeper” thinks a banana will work you probably own a flow hive . They make wax by consuming extra energy from an abundance of nectar/feed . A banana will do nothing.

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

I'd like to see how banana works as well

[@HandWiredAmps]

Thanks for sharing, nice to see new bee keepers! That fancy hive tool is like a Swiss army knife, tons of gadgets that get in the way of the tool. Try the standard red one, I personally prefer the one that's like a flat roof prybar, the one with the j-hook is ok, but used much less. Bananas, hmm.

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

I have one of the other hive tools as well. I'm sort of stuck using this one for a while, since it was given to me as a Christmas gift...know what I mean. lol

[@HandWiredAmps]

@@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk Haha, yep.

[@patrickmcauley151]

Shunt mass with the frame the Queen is on 😊

[@broeklien3817]

first year beekeeper. thanks for the video (subscribed) and yes as a newbee I dont pretend to know anything better than anybody else but my teachers are the bees, not the veteran beekeepers. Lots of ignorant practices accepted as conventional wisdom like feeding white sugar, moving hyves around and placing 10+ hyves close together. the jury is not out on anything if you adk me.

[@borcht2606]

A family member would bring weak bee hives to my cabin in Manitoba Canada. This area is all bush with awesome blueberry. Chokecherry, and Saskatoon bushes plus many other wild flowers. (Awesome honey) No farmers fields around for 10 miles. Which means no chemicals for these bees to make them sick. He has neglected them a bit so i bought them from him this year. For winter i wrap them with moving blankets. I think that wicks the moisture away . Cold wong kill them but if its damp in the hive it will be a problem . Yes, i to have lots to learn. Thanks for your input.

[@Jackflash219]

Couple things, just as feedback to your comments. 1) Yes nectar/honey and pollen is what they call bee bread or bee food. 2) Typically, the queen is found where there is the most eggs standing straight up in the cells. If she is laying, she is looking for the next closest empty hole, so them standing eggs give a good starting point. 3) I have been keeping bees since 94, and can honestly say I haven't heard about putting banana for them to eat. I know their alarm pheromones, smell like bananas. 4) Propolis aka bee glue. Thanks!

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

Thank you for the comments, I really do appreciate it. I found lot of people checking out the banana thing but, This guy here, www.youtube.com/@southflbeekeepingwithrich is the one I got the most infor about it from. His video on it is the one that made me decide to give it a try.

[@darrenrsmith7119]

When you pulled out the slats, how many did you squash laying it flat? I'm sure I heard a few screaming 😂 Oc I have no idea what I am talking about as I don't have bees.. was just an observation while watching... GL to you and the bees.. 🇬🇧

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

I try my best not to squish any but I am sure a few do. They don't want to get squished so they tend to move out of the way.

[@theunlikelybeek]

Hi There! This video was on my FYP, so I'll keep watching. I also wanted to say as a 4th year beek, I respectfully disagree that you're not a beekeeper from day one. Colony management includes to inevitable loss of bees.

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

Thanks for the encouragement. and the comment. I really appreciate it

[@JawandoOokomondo-cb7fm]

Beek=dildo

[@microfarmers]

I like your video, I am an even newer beekeeper than you, lol. I vape when handling them and they dont mind. I use flavorless 100% VG 16mg nic. I think they dont like the flavoring or the PG. Just a thought

[@microtcpip]

Nice video, thanks. Could you tell me how the banana affected your hives? Did you notice some real growth? Thanks

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

I did actually. did see some real growth but I don't really have mush to compare it to

[@dcsblessedbees]

Bees like bananas, it's a great way to use up brown ones.👍

[@Swarmstead]

KZbin recommended this video. I'm gonna follow along. My only "advice" is slow down. Focus on making videos about what YOU want to do and what you are doing. Not what you think everyone else needs to do.

[@trentgranderson5339]

Just found your channel are you in East Texas your surroundings look that way plus the solar supply hat

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

No. Not in east TX. But close. North West LA.

[@richardrbrynerjr.7912]

And too avoid any skunk problems the entrance needs to bee 18 inches of the ground so I would ad another block and strap them hives down too A?

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

ok. That is the first time I have heard of the skunks. Makes sense though. Thanks for the advise. I worry more about wild hogs out where I have my hives.

[@PaulMain-ny4di]

How long do you leave it on

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

How long do I leave the banana on? The bees ate the entire banana.

[@LawrenceHurley-nm4ne]

I no that your kinda new with bees I noticed when you pulled your inner cover off you didn’t look underneath to make sure your queen wasn’t on the board sure hate to see you loose your queen

[@garymills3082]

get rid of the gloves and not so much smoke keep your hive tool in your hand you will understand why when you learn how to do it

[@deesbeeshoneybeefarm-ds7yk]

Thanks. Working on it.