First day back in the hives!!! C’mon Spring!

[@country_dweller]

Sorry I laughed out loud at your groan from your first sting of the year 🤣 Only a fellow beekeeper can get away with that 😂😂😂

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Almost forgot what it was like lol

[@joeelam1]

I’m looking forward to getting into my hives, I enjoy seeing you grow your bee company. Thanks for sharing the mistakes as well as the growth. Joe from Georgia

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Thanks for watching! Glad to help!

[@garyshaffer68]

Nice video. Im in PA. Run around 70 hives going into my 8th year. All I use is OAV. Come April I start treating every 3 to 4 days for 4 treatments. Then agean at the end of June. I use one of them 120 volt vaps. I can do them as fast as I can move the vaporizer. Lost a lot of bees when I use to use them pan vaps. So ever 4 days takes you through one brood cycle. So you get the ones under the caps . learned this from Kent Williams. Videos. So far this winter no losses. Just a pain draging my generator to my out yards. If smoke them bees when u put patty on is better. I just open feed the dry pollen sub. Good luck with your bees.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Awesome! I did in fact forget my smoker. It happens sometimes

[@stevenaamos]

Thanks for the video, hope yall are well!

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Yes we are. Hope you are as well

[@brucesbees]

Great video man. Really enjoyed the format.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Thanks brother!

[@BucketListBees]

It’s the challenge that keeps the drive alive.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

It certainly is

[@adamsoutdoors]

Looking good down there. Few warm days up here in Ohio, back to 40’s after tomorrow. Hoping to get them past and into maples in March

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Maples will be popping here within the week. Hope your bees do well this winter! Good luck!

[@barkersbees]

Good video. I agree with you invest in your livestock because that’s what pays for the hay lol. like you said, invest the treatments to keep them healthy and they will come around on the back end.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Makes sense for sure! Thanks for watching!

[@MusicMountainBeeWorX]

Looking good!! I bought a few of those mother load feeders, I'm trying to get away from the hive tops and buckets, Do you use floats in yours? Is it necessary? I appreciate the videos.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I try to use paint sticks or metal screen wire

[@daverowden-RowdyBeeFarms]

In my hives today also. 2 deadouts. Weak hives going in. Still had honey. Oh well… moving on. Thanks for the video like always.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Good luck! Losses always suck!

[@alhambraorchardapiary4882]

Looks like a good time

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

For sure

[@lomavistabeeco]

First stings are always the best😂

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

6 stings to the wrist last night. I forgot how much it sucks when they’re all in the same spot!

[@lomavistabeeco]

🤣…yup

[@honeyandthecoop803]

I am still trying to grow hopefully to 25 colonies this spring and followed your previous video of feeding 2:1 and i added mine on February 7th. I've never added feed and pollen patty this early and i hope it gets them going earlier so i can try the rest of your splitting techniques from that same video.

[@stasnaza]

Doing the same, will follow Ashby’s feeding/splitting/queen rearing/monthly OA treatments methods. I got 12 colonies (3-4 brood currently), will try to get to 40-50 this season. Started feeding 2:1 on Jan 23rd with patties (few had beetles in patties yesterday, had to take them out). Gave 1:1 syrup with Biologix BIO-CONTROL and honey b healthy today. Hopying to have large enought families to slip in a month.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

It varies year to year but across the board works well

[@honeyandthecoop803]

@@stasnaza where are you located, I'm in the Midlands of South Carolina, so we don't really get a winter.

[@stasnaza]

@@honeyandthecoop803I’m in Charlotte NC.

[@krisisfilms2961]

Kannapolis NC here, were doing our first hive inspections of the year, tomorrow morning. The temps are looking good, unfortunately it’s going to get cold again next week.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I saw the same thing. That feed and patty will help get them through those days when they’re stuck inside

[@krisisfilms2961]

@@Ashby_Farms_NC definitely putting some feed on them in the morning for sure! 👍

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Well you got the first sting out of the way so remember The rest will hurt just like they always have LOL . I went around the other day to check some landing boards with nothing on she got me about a inch above the eye an I know she had to have hit bone . I think that was the worst I had ever had an yes I said ouch . It looks like it is on now I had a little pollen coming in mid week. Thanks

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I haven’t been able to get out during the day to see what’s going on. Still at the ol day job!

[@nszucs1]

Are you going towards treating with oxalic acid only? How often do you plan to do mite washes next year?

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I don’t do any more washes. Never have. Only Harbo Assays. I will not be treating any breeders. We will continue mite treatments this year for the rest of the colonies in the outfit.

[@arnoldfarmsbeesandhoney]

Do you have a video on your feeding setup? I have looked but I didn't find it.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Yes. It’s titled “a quick way to feed alot of honeybee colonies”

[@arnoldfarmsbeesandhoney]

@ashbyfarmsnc6653 thank you sir!

[@sawmillcharliesbeefarm]

Your mite treatment program is very close to what i am doing. Did you add Apis Bio logix to your food Ashby?

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I haven’t yet Charlie! I should’ve bought it at NAHBE!!!

[@PutEmInTheBox]

Thank you. I enjoy your videos. Cracked open some boxes in New Jersey today and we even have a little capped brood in the bigger colonies.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

That is awesome!

[@framcesmoore]

Ha Frances from Virginia, do u have brood in your hives . I have never checked brood in Feb before I did yesterday and I will not ever do it again, Looking at the hives just worried me to death they are so small/weak no brood and I seen queens, winter is not over and to look at the hives I say oh my I am going to lose them all. We do not haave anything coming in and every one has food, they have been eating candy/fondant with hive alive in it. You have some small ones to. Enjoyed your video. have a blessed day

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

The large colonies yes bc they can keep it warm. Small colonies will still be a while

[@hopesadler4000]

Nice video, Ashby. Checked some of mine today. Lots of drone brood.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Drones already??? Where are you located again?

[@hopesadler4000]

I'm in Rock Hill SC. Those little bullets are a great sight. Even some between the frames. I started feeding syrup 3 week ago, and they wouldn't take it, so I took it off. I added it back and still won't. They are finding nectar somewhere, maybe maple?

[@tina_mg]

How much OA did you decide to go with for your singles once a month?

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

4 grams is my standard on all boxes

[@layneknight7835]

What is your math on the $800 per hive? I'd love to be able to swing that on my 40 hives.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

(2) Nucs @$200 + 40lbs of honey at $10/lb

[@joshuawaldner6880]

You need a Milwaukee cordless pump for your syrup

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I just decided to stop w 2:1 and go w 1:1, as the pump works so much better

[@radsk5]

I Jealous I want to play with my bees but I’m thinking 2 more months for South Dakota

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Well cmon down 🤣🤣🤣

[@3Beehivesto300]

Summertime to use dribble with a weed sprayer

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Yep!

[@nancynolton6079]

Since your patty is so moist why not smear it on the lid instead?

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Gotta make sure it’s right over the brood nest or they won’t take it

[@3Beehivesto300]

Dirt rooster once said in a video if you’re gonna keep 100 hives, you should keep 50 nucs on the side for dead outs and failures.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I completely agree with this!

[@georgehardee5470]

I think you deserved that one!!😂

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Thanks George!