HOW To NEVER Have To Buy Bees Again / Beekeeping 101

Every year we spend sooooo much money on bees trying to refill colonies that were lost over the winter. But I promise I'm no just saying this...but there is a way that you could never have to buy bees again. This is the KEY to a sustainable apiary and exactly why I made up all of these nucleus colonies :) I hope this video is helpful! :)
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beekeeping, beekeeping 101, sustainable beekeeping, how to save money, beekeeping tips, beekeeping for beginners, arranging frames, double story nucleus colonies, beekeeper, breeding bees, raising your own genetics

[@1080760]

If you can see mites like that just looking quick the numbers must be high. Do your bees a favor and treat them. I know what your shooting for but...gotta get them threw winter first to keep experimenting. Get feeding too, those frames have hardly any stores.

[@jaymackley3099]

Pore the feed on ,maybe one round of light,then heavy.

[@1080760]

Shes asking alot out of the bees for this time of year for Michigan. The queens will probly only get 1 round of brood in before it gets cold. Was in the 40s this morning in mid lower peninsula today.

[@beefitbeekeeping]

You are right I am asking a lot of them. Nights haven’t dipped below 50 yet. I am open feeding. Been going back and forth between light and heavy. Heavy seems to be working the best just takes them awhile to get it down. And you are right about the mites that colony specifically had over 60 mites in a wash 🙈🥺 got Apivar strips in it now

[@Allan79789]

The problem with spreading brood so far apart, is you don't have enough bees to keep them warm. This might work for you now, but in a cold spring, no way! That's also the reason they prefer a smaller box, better able to control the temperature in the brood nest. Once the numbers increase they have the bodies to produce enough heat to use the larger space.

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Agreed. Definitely don’t checkerboard in the spring. Not until the nights are consistently above around 57/58

[@Allan79789]

@@bojangles8582 Hey Bo, try to be helpful. I looked at your channel and nothing there. I don't think she said, she was an expert anywhere, more like learning together. Mostly we learn by watching others and making mistakes ourselves. If you have some helpful tips for all of us, we would like to hear them.

[@wakingupcountry]

Good information. This area (north Idaho) is close to Canada so it gets really cold. How long have you been beekeeping? Girl, you are an inspiration. Thanks for the great videos!

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Thanks for reaching out! ☺️ This is my 3rd year beekeeping and loving every second of it. Thanks for watching and being a part of the community ♥️ happy to have ya!

[@dougcarte9336]

Doing my first fall split. A lot of this has helped. Thanks.

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Happy to help ☺️ good luck!!

[@taylorluckett4674]

awsome idea thanks for sharing

[@DavidWilliams-wr4wb]

I use braided fishing line because it’s strong and I can make it tight and I just cut a one inch piece of foundation and tuck it in the top and melt wax from your apiary to seal the foundation in the top and they are eager to start working the comb , it’s simple and they will make beautiful thick comb

[@subsy83]

I really appreciate the reseearch, going to be doing a lot of nucs for drawning comb primarily, so this is a great experiment to see what's going to draw things fastest. Don't worry, I know you're trying to draw comb while it's still warm, when weather changes I suspect we won't be able to do this obviously.

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Nope we won’t and even now my bees are starting to pull back on drawing comb. Been getting some lower 50 degree nights. I will update what ends up working best ☺️ happy to have ya here!

[@pirateprospecting707]

I like your ideas with your nucs! Looking forward to seeing the results. And always remember the unpredictability of mama nature ✅️😉😁👍

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Really tho 😅🤣 thank you for being here ☺️

[@DavidWilliams-wr4wb]

Nucs are awesome for building quick, I started doing nucs last year and with a little effort I like it more than my 10 deeps

[@shnewb1813]

hi! what suit would you recommend? I have a basic amazon suit and it's like 130 in there down here in MS.

[@MrJonb1984]

I just found your channel today and really enjoying your videos. I'm hoping to do exactly what you are doing here and hopefully not need to buy bees again other than maybe add a different queen from outside here and there. It probably helps me a bit too that I really enjoy messing with my nucs too. Make bees is a lot of fun, and honestly pretty cool how you can make them. What kind of gloves are those you are using? Nitrile?

[@thehturt5480]

I like your 'bee philosophy'.And your enthusiasm is catching You know that ! Much luck 🍀 to You Bee Girl.🐝

[@beefitbeekeeping]

♥️☺️ thank you. Happy beekeeping to you!

[@thehturt5480]

@@beefitbeekeeping Many, many thanks! ❤️❤️🤗

[@Darkshizumaru]

Winter doesn't last long down here but I do have family up in the great white so this is very helpful to know.

[@beefitbeekeeping]

☺️♥️

[@Ruf-N-Tuf]

Please give us a date when starting a video!! Thanks a million! Keep it up

[@fullscale4me]

Good video! I grew up about 20 miles northwest of you right across the street from a semi-retired farmer couple. You know the type, one or two of everything in the barn and yes, two hives. Then it was surrounded with what was farm fields being built up to suburbia. So, 50+ years later Google shows the farmhouse & barn gone and more suburbia replacing them!

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Oh wow ! It’s crazy how quickly things change around here 😳🥺

[@mojo888x]

Your videos are really cool.

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Thank you ☺️ that is my goal!

[@lifeoftim5388]

hi, do you feed your nucs? especially this time of year?

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Ohhhhh yes. I am feeding them like crazy right now. Have to to get them built up in time. Starting them in august like I did was not ideal. Ideally you’d want to start in July then maybe you won’t have to feed as much depending on how much nectar and pollen you have in your area.

[@got2kittys]

I make really good swarm lure, and catch wild swarms. Once, 10 years ago, I went in on a group purchase of hives, and got 6. I have caught at least 150 hives over the years, cheaper than buying them. I wanted 2, and caught 6 this year.

[@beefitbeekeeping]

I am definitely going to take my shot at catching swarms in the spring. I’m excited to try. 150! That’s insane

[@jodyfoster9278]

So you are adding a box in September?

[@DavidWilliams-wr4wb]

I should have just made one big comment instead of 20 lol just for the record, I’ve been keeping bees for over 50 years and I still learn something new every season 😊

[@kunalop1727]

Good morning from mauritius. Please tell me more how you make your queens.

[@Swarmstead]

I love overwintering nucs.

[@beefitbeekeeping]

I have a feeling I’m about to fall in love with it too ☺️

[@dcsblessedbees]

I'm not that kind of beekeeper🤔have to be efficient with my money. That's why I'm in the process of making back up nuc colonies, you got the right plan just on a larger scale.🥳 Seems like ya are pushing them hard this fall, keep an eye on them this winter. It's fun to watch you enjoy your🐝's, nice back ground music during the nuc segment. I'm told breaking up your brood like that is ok if your nights are warm and or you have plenty of nurse bees to keep the brood warm.👍

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

i think she has lots and lots of money from pro running

[@beefitbeekeeping]

🤣🤣🤣 I wish. Unfortunately no, not lots of money. Money is rather tight actually. Been spending every bit of extra cash on building this breeding program for my bees. That’s why I built my own nucs rather than buying pre cut ones. And the 5k grant I won back in July is how I was able to buy all of the hive bodies I have now. But it goes quick ☺️ Yes I have been pushing them hard. Feeding like crazy so that they build up in time. Next year I will DEFINITELY plan it out so I am working on the bees schedule

[@dcsblessedbees]

@@beefitbeekeeping Oh I didn't mean anything about money just that I gota go slower kuz of it's lack lol.😁 Part of why I like to watching you is you are trying many of the things I will take a look at next season. So win, win.🤠

[@tinacuff4649]

What are the name of the gloves ? Desperately looking for a good pair.

[@brendawydeven2934]

I love your videos. A couple questions for you. Have you ever used hopguard 3 for mite treatment and where did you get your bee suit? I love it!

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Thank you ☺️ no I haven’t had any experience with hop guard. Only Formic and now Apivar. I’ve been told that Apiguard + a brood break works great. Got the bee suit from HumbleBee it’s the 420 Aero and I LOVE it! Was a little pricey but worth every dime

[@brendawydeven2934]

@@beefitbeekeeping thank you

[@wakingupcountry]

Hello from Northern Idaho!

[@johnhagstrom1461]

❤

[@larrymoore6454]

What kind of gloves are they?

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Black nitril gloves! ☺️

[@tl3192]

Try a 1 inch strip of foundation wedged in the top bar with a wooden tongue depressor

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Ooooooo I will actually thank you!

[@vedantjoshi5884]

Good

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Thanks 😘

[@daleb8512]

Why 5 frames over Palmer style double nucs? One less frame to draw per box, shared heat through the center wall...

[@beefitbeekeeping]

That was the preferred way. Right now building nuc boxes was easier and cheaper for me. This was my first time doing woodwork but this winter I will be building a lot of those divider brood boxes

[@daleb8512]

@@beefitbeekeeping Super easy to modify 10 frame boxes with a table saw. I find I can't buy material for what my vendor sells them for though.

[@KajunHomestead]

😃👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@beefitbeekeeping]

🥰☺️

[@timg3145]

Where in MI are you? I am the owner of Napoleon Bee Supply, could you please reach out when you have time. Thanks

[@chicken6946]

I understand the process,but the only problem i see for me will be the constant inbreeding.i like to bring a couple different bees into my yard.mainly to keep gentle bees in my yard

[@beefitbeekeeping]

As far as I’m aware queens will only mate with the drones in their colony as a very very last resort even then it’s really hard to get them to do. They have a way of choosing superior drones as well. I wouldn’t worry too much about inbreeding ☺️ unless I’m wrong? 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@chicken6946]

@@beefitbeekeeping oh ok.i guess bees will do what bees do lol.nobody understand bees betterbthan bees do.the bee keepers down here told me that there is no way on earth two queens will thrive in one hive.my bees proved them wrong.i have two different hives with two queens living in them since last year.but they said thats impossible until i video taped them.good luck with your bees

[@jamesarnold5571]

Love it.

[@beefitbeekeeping]

☺️♥️

[@lindafox4065]

Are your gloves 14 mil?

[@jessefjr]

I was also wondering what type of gloves

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Black nitril gloves. They are a little thicker it’s the brand with a spider on the box ☺️

[@jessefjr]

@@beefitbeekeeping where do you buy them

[@lindafox4065]

Ok I have those too

[@dragonisblader9523]

@@jessefjr lowes and amazon for sure

[@khmerohio]

New to your channel 😉 new beekeeper got stung twice lol 😆

[@pirateprospecting707]

Only twice?!?! Slow way down when your doing you inspections ✅️😁

[@khmerohio]

@@pirateprospecting707 I guess my lips was too close to the screen

[@beefitbeekeeping]

🤣 we’ve all done that. Had that happen to my nose once. It’s a part of the job ♥️

[@benjaminmeadows1380]

Done 2 splits out 1 hive had three deeps and 4 supers they are russian s so little mean but better strong hives

[@beefitbeekeeping]

That is good! Yeah my saskatraz have Russian genetics in them and you can definitely tell this time of year. I didn’t mind until I was in another beekeeper’s yard digging thru some hives without a suit and the bees didn’t even notice I was there 😅

[@benjaminmeadows1380]

@@beefitbeekeeping mine are little nasty even with suit full russian so little dangerous but they produce good honey and very fast

[@maxpower1337]

Tears of ra ❤

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

awesome!!! how many years you been a beekeeper?? i thought you were new at is but your saying or referencing many years??? thanks im worried you are mite infested hope im wrong

[@beefitbeekeeping]

This is my 3rd year beekeeping. And I hate to say you are right but you are right. You’ll see in a coming video. It’s mind blowing how many mites was in the wash 🤯

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

@@beefitbeekeeping good luck!!!

[@stevenkawano9746]

Oh em Gee was that was BEE-Ver?😉😂🥰Super cute! See, Everyone wants to be a part of ur Beekeeping adventures!☺️🦫💛Another super interesting and informative video my friend! I especially enjoyed the queen dynamic like how when she's new she's trying to prove herself to the Hive and once she's in charge she's Boss Queen and they build where She wants them to build its Amazing it really is! I also liked what u were saying about not giving them too big of a space to begin with bc they'll build with what they're given reminded me of a potted plant like whatever size pot u give it thats the space it'll use, nature is Fascinating🤯Well Happy🐪Day my Favorite Keeper/Nuc street artist😁🎨Hope u are doing well and Hope training is going well, U are an Inspiration on and off the track my friend true story🐝👣🐝 I will see U in the next one☺️🍯✌️#emilyisthebeesknees💛 #beefitbeekeeeping💪 #beefithoney🍯 #emilyrocks🪨

[@beefitbeekeeping]

A gopher but still funny 🤣☺️ Thank you Steven ☺️ I’ve been out from running from this dang hamstring again but last week I ran 3 days total and get to run again tomorrow so I’m making my back! Stronger this time too 😈

[@stevenkawano9746]

@@beefitbeekeeping Awww thats Great news and Yes U are the Comeback👑my friend can't keep u down for long u just use that time Wisely to come back the Right way and come back with a Vengeance and I am Here for every single step!☺️🖤👣🖤👏#flashlightning⚡️

[@gazinta]

Hey! I sell queens. 😥😭

[@beefitbeekeeping]

😅 oops gave away the secret didn’t I. But people always need queens ☺️

[@gazinta]

@@beefitbeekeeping you're good. We sell 200 at a time sometimes. We always make our quotas, and sell out before July for the most part. You ain't hurting even my feelings! As you were. Share away!

[@neilsmall6518]

what I have found is this. The bees that we have I put them in two classes. Angry bees and Gentle bees. Gentle bees put two boxes on top and they will fill them with in two to three weeks. Angry bees so much work they are lazy but once you checker broad them then they will work oh and feed them till there are full. They use a lot of honey

[@beefitbeekeeping]

See my aggressive bees are the opposite. They are by far my most productive. I’ve split one of my hives leaving them only 2 frames of brood in a double deep brood box hive. I’ve done this 2 times this year and each time I come back 2 weeks later and all of the foundation is built out and has brood and larva all over in it. I’m impressed with them which is why I’ve kept them so far

[@neilsmall6518]

@@beefitbeekeeping I will continue with my aggressive hive I do believe in getting to know them better will be the key to unlock their productivity. After all each hive is a different household not one is the same. There is and always will be some different