How Much Honey do Bees need for winter?

[@dennislintz1]

What happened to the Ian video? I had it saved for watching later. When I went to watch it; the video was gone and I can't find it anywhere.

[@kamonreynolds]

Hey Dennis. We will have that available soon and It should notify everyone once it is goes public. Using zoom and KZbin made it different than a normal live chat and we are having to download it and another thing or two to have it available.

[@dennislintz1]

@@kamonreynolds GREAT! I was hoping it wasn't taken down or demonetized for a stupid comment or something. Thank you for all your training. I just started with 2 Langstroth Long hives in late May.

[@partical7]

Thanks for making all the video's...🐝

[@peterlue9274]

Hi Kamon, I love that you are thinking about making an out yard with treatment free bees. From what I have learned, you get mite bombs when bees migrate from hive to hive. It does not take a great distance to prevent bee migration. It could be as few as 30 feet from what I understand. Good luck and post lots of videos of your results. I am looking forward to see them.

[@SuzeofFlorida]

I love your videos and all of the hard work you do to educate us. I just want to say you must be super strong to pick up 90 lbs. with one forefinger and one thumb. Anyway, please keep your videos coming for people like me who wish I had a couple of hives. For now I just plant as many enticing flowers and shrubs for the bees and hummingbirds. Thanks Kamon.

[@randallcarter-carterhillho2277]

Kamon, thanks for this video. This is very good information.

[@kamonreynolds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@geovan4823]

Really appreciate your thinking aloud. Makes for great videos.

[@webco53]

Awesome video as usual. Thanks Kamon!

[@kamonreynolds]

Thanks!

[@_J.F_]

As an experiment I made a custom fitted polystyrene sheets for insulating a couple of regular wooden hives over winter (I am in the UK and using British Standard hives, which on two sides have large square indents making it easy to make press-fit polystyrene panels into them). There was no doubt that these hives went through a lot less stores compared to the non-insulated hives, and I was actually amazed to see how many stores were still left when spring arrived. The only downside as I see it is that whichever way you go about insulating a hive, it is extra work, extra equipment, and extra storage when insulation is not needed. Having a hive made of insulating material obviously works around all these cons, so in that respect ready made insulated hives aught to be the way to go. However, they are more expensive to buy, not very easy to repair, and not readily recyclable when they come to the end of their life either. I have no doubt that they are much better for for easy overwintering in harsh conditions, but I still love the good old wooden hives. The way that you can do with them whatever you want, or need, combine, alter, or invent your own additional equipment and hive setup, so just like the flow hive I think that the insulated hives are interesting, and great engineering too, but maybe not an overall competition to the wooden world of hives.

[@trichard5106]

Great info thanks so much !!

[@micksbeesstephens5327]

Agree it appears to be the perfect time to hit the 2 to 1 for a couple of rounds . We always get a lot colder end of October which makes me get on filling the sugar boards for Nov, Thanks for the vid and enjoyed you and Ian last night.

[@kamonreynolds]

We should have that video up soon. Thanks for watching 2 bee addicts goofing off

[@lovenationalbus]

They need all their feed! They make enough honey for two years in case they have a bad summer like this year.

[@simonac2016]

Exactly

[@Mackabees]

Thanks Kamon. In Cincinnati we are on our last week. By late week highs low 60's and lows mid to upper 30's. I'll be mountain camp 6 of my 14 All 6 Late July to August hives. Like your 6 to 8 frames, but little stores.

[@kevinwright8823]

Great video!! Just what I needed to see!!

[@kamonreynolds]

Thanks Kevin :)

[@ScholarsOfGOLB]

Thanks appreciate this

[@bradgoliphant]

Kamon, which entrance do you keep open for wintering?

[@donbearden1953]

Kamon & Laurel, thanks for your video. I definitely need to check the weight on a couple of my hives I’m so glad you published this info just in time for me to tap into your knowledge. I enjoyed the live chat with Ian last night. I was multitasking between the ball game and your chat! Roll Tide!

[@kamonreynolds]

Thanks for keeping me up to date on the score! Worried me there for a second. Got to get that defense hitting and tackling better

[@jonohooper4555]

Can you expound further about the difference between winter bees and normal bees, and how pollen substitutes can produce bees that aren’t “winter bees?”

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Kamon get chance shoot me a prices on 50 queens around may 1st .. Apivar and solid pollen flow great combo congrats on the great looking yard .. Working hard for your bees ..

[@kamonreynolds]

I will get that too you soon

[@russellkoopman3004]

I have one 6 frame nuc and one 5 frame nuc that I'm going to try to overwinter in central MN. But both are double deeps with full honey supers on top. They were August splits and the honey supers came from production hives. Might as well experiment to see what is possible in MN. 15 and 18 frames should have a chance I hope but winters are long here.

[@kamonreynolds]

Best of luck and let me know if it works well for you

[@CELOCKSAFE]

our fall flow was terrible so I am now having to feed.

[@kamonreynolds]

Hate to hear that Jeff! I was really pulling for another Arkansas win over the War Pigeons but Auburn gets lucky again.

[@CELOCKSAFE]

Kamon Reynolds - Tennessee's Bees yep me too. I really hope this coach is the answer and this year goes our way more.

[@IFarmBugs]

Judging from that double deep hive you opened up at the start of the video, it looks like I'm in great shape for winter! Just did a mite check with an alcohol wash and was very happy with the low percentage even though I am only now getting around to treating them. I know its a bit late for the Northeast US but its better late then never. It seems to me that if you grow a big and strong enough colony (I had 3 deeps for the queen to lay in), the bees are able to fend off the mites much much better, is this true? I also feel like a total dummy when watching these very informative videos, just seeing all the mistakes I made. Slowly, I hope ever year can only get better and better.

[@Tuner9069]

I find 80lbs or (1) 10 frame deep of raw honey per brood deep works best around here.

[@tball6867]

What about those of us trying to get the stores up for winter and don’t have drawn comb on all 10 frames ?Will they draw comb this time of year?

[@waynescott9876]

Kamon, Do you ever find hives that will not take syrup? If so, is that an indication of natural flow that the bees prefer over syrup?

[@jamestownsendjrtbees3226]

Thanks for all your time. Will the bees know when to stop taking syrup? I have single deeps with a medium super above. They feel really heavy and full but are still taking it down. I did slow down the 2 to 1 for now.

[@IDVDalot]

confused. So how much honey do I leave

[@Makermook]

I'm brand new at beekeeping, so I don't even know what I don't know, y'know? Anyway, I've watched hundreds of hours of beekeeping videos and many of those talk about feeding syrup or pollen patties, etc. It finally occurred to me to ask: In ideal circumstances, would a colony require any feeding at all? If you've managed mites and other pests adequately, and you haven't harvested too much of their honey, shouldn't a colony regulate their hive so that they store enough and harvest enough to avoid starvation?

[@simonac2016]

Exactly...!!!! Me and my husband always say begginers often have the best questions and highest moral when it comes to bees...God gave us bees, and derivates of bees to take surplus and leave majority to them. That is how it works..but people get greedy....

[@michaelreno8494]

How did the insulated box winter ? Fantastic , good , fair , poor ?

[@sirjiro01]

So Kamon. Is this right, if I have one deep brood box i should have one med super full of honey and with double deeps I need 2 med supers full of honey for the winter.. I am in Upstate New York by the Catskills. Kamon thanks for all the great info videos.

[@stephenanderle5422]

Sugar water in the fall will turn to solid sugar quicker than natural honey. I never feed in the fall.

[@kamonreynolds]

Actually some types of honey are way worse than sugar. Depends on the flora source. I prefer fall honey but we like making more bees and helping those that were in a bad queen situation survive anyways. In order to do that you have to feed sometimes.

[@keithlewis8238]

So the double boxes in the beginning of the video, can you harvest any of that honey for before winter, or do they need all that for survival?

[@sherryortiz227]

How did each of the colonies you opened in this 2020 video do over wintering?

[@familyonamissiongo4790]

I just opened up a hive this morning Found it queenless with 2queen cells with a small c shaped larvae in each cell Should I let them mature and see if they mate in the next few weeks or incorporate them into another colony? I still have drones in my colonies and am in eastern central Arkansas about 75 miles east of Little Rock. Thank you Blessings

[@familyonamissiongo4790]

C B thank you I appreciate the input Africanized bees aren’t in my area yet There are still drones in my area

[@Armuehling]

Kaymon, I had a July swarm (fortunately caught swarm - creating 2 colonies). Waited for Daughter Queen to be mated. Currently have 8 to 9 frames of bees in both colonies. I've been feeding 2 to 1. Question, how many weeks does it generally take for a colony to cap the honey? Hoping they have enough food before our rains come (sense we have another 2 to 3 weeks). Thank you, love your videos. I'm a year one beekeeper.

[@carrollcountyil]

When you are done feeding for the year, do you just leave the empty frame feeder in the hive? Or do you take it out and put a frame in its place?

[@kamonreynolds]

Hey Gary I typically leave them in. Either way it works

[@lizimpey6338]

There are a lot of bees in the first hive. Is there any possibility they could swarm? I don’t keep bees and know little but love to watch them being cared for and how they develop

[@FloryJohann]

Thank you and your family for the video. I may have a problem which may not be a good problem to have. I still got 2 colonies in 3 deep 10 frame boxes each and they are packed. I am afraid that to many bees in a colony/hive may starve over winter. What would be a good action to take?. About 2 weeks ago I transferred 2 frames of brood with nurse bees from the 3 box colony to another colony to boost them, but it looks like that the 3 box colony is still growing fast because in 2 weeks they are occupying 4-5 frames more with a way higher density.

[@simonac2016]

Please no sugar or syrups...let them have their honey....its the best way

[@theresejaspers7947]

Do not see any mite strips in these colonies. When do you remove them generally?

[@geturphil69]

Useful info! I’m in Northeast Georgia and went from 3 to 20 hives this year. I’m still feeding 1:1 but will be switching to 1.5:1 soon. I’m pretty close on all of them, I think. I’m running some singles through winter for the first time and heard one of the local guys say, “if it doesn’t feel like a box of rocks, you’re not done.” I’m hoping for a return on investment next year. I’m looking for places I can move my hives to for the sourwood flow next year. Do you think 3 supers would be enough for each hive for honey production next year, overall? Also, how much do you think the fact I have no drawn comb in honey supers, (all of my drawn comb is brood chamber), will slow me down and affect my honey output? And one last one, if I were to diversify income and try to sell nucs, how many splits do you think I could do out of those singles in a season? Thanks Kamon!

[@kamonreynolds]

Three supers may be enough for some areas and some flows. Are we talking medium supers? It does slow the bees down having to draw all that comb but if they are strong and the flow is good they can draw alot quickly. I don't know how much it will slow them down but you do make a good deal more honey with drawn combs. How many splits? it all depends on queen performance and the colony not having any pest or nutrition limitations. If they all are champs you could sell a nuc off of each make a little bit of honey and then split them at the end of the flow and perhaps again later but it will take a lot of inputs, a great queen, and drawn combs to get all of this done.

[@geturphil69]

Welp I replied earlier and apparently deleted it >.

[@johngarrison69]

Does the fact that we have mild winters help or hurt the amount of honey stores. If we have a mild fall and winter, like last 2 years where our bees are flying till Christmas (East Tennessee) Verses an Indiana winter. Since our bees are more active and nothing is blooming are they using more or less honey stores?

[@pgoessnitzer]

Great and informative video! What indicators should one use to know when to switch from 1:1 syrup to 1:2 sugar syrup? I live in NW Oregon! Cheers, Pete

[@baghdaddy202003]

Will you have to feed the single deep hives through the winter? I have my single deeps with half a honey super on them right now and im trying to get them a full super with 2:1.

[@kamonreynolds]

Hey robert if I get another 2-3 gallon in the singles (which I will) they won't need fed thru the winter.

[@DENVERFAMILYKENNEL]

I did a wash today an found mites🥶🥶🥶 I guess I have to learn how to treat now 😕

[@davidrusso3183]

Get formic pro strips. You lay them on the top of the frames in the bottom brood box. The formic fumes kill the mites.

[@hannahelkins7096]

Hullo! I wanted to ask: I have heard of using three honey supers instead of two deep brood boxes for a hive in order to reduce heavy lifting during inspections. Do you think doing this could have a negative affect on the bees somehow? Thank you for making informative videos!

[@kamonreynolds]

Your welcome! Going all mediums is a great idea. It totally works and the bees will do wonderfully in that style.

[@hannahelkins7096]

@@kamonreynolds Thank You!

[@chrishumphreys9363]

Hi kamon I have a double deep with a super full of capped honey, do I leave the super on top or move it to the bottom?

[@kamonreynolds]

I would leave it right where it is. As winter progresses the bees will work their way up as they follow the honey and the heat

[@chrishumphreys9363]

@@kamonreynolds Thanks.

[@chrishumphreys9363]

Hi Kamon, I'm from the UK. Great videos, really good information for new bees like me, keep them coming.

[@thefallenone7988]

Can I use oxalic acid vapor with thier honey stores in the hive ?

[@kamonreynolds]

Yes. As long as your not planning on extracting that honey to sell it is perfect fine and completely safe for your bees.

[@thefallenone7988]

Thank you for that answer. As soon as it stops raining l will zap them.

[@eugenenelson1707]

What do you use in your frame feeder to keep bees from drowning I am in Western Kentucky in it seems like the bees around a lot I went to straw and it’s helping

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Check out the Mann Lake cap and ladder frame feeder. Cuts drowning almost to zero.

[@jameswoenker2659]

Hey

[@allenferry1268]

This is off topic but l just finished a treatment of Apavar but I'm still seeing a few uncapped pupa. Any recommendations?

[@stevewelches1955]

There is always a chance they will swarm if they run out of room or become to large for the space available but this late in the year the queen should slow down her egg laying thus a drop in the total population of the hive and with the summer born bees only living 6 weeks that will cause an exponential loss of population until the winter bees are all that is left(winter bees live longer than summer bees. I do not know why but the do) thus eliminating the urge to swarm

[@robertstephens7034]

Can or should you hav an upper ent/exit

[@kamonreynolds]

Many think it is best to have one even though I don't practice this and it isn't necessary.

[@mikedarkow7788]

weres last nights video?

[@kamonreynolds]

Hey Mike It is being edited. We won't be removing any of the content but due to the nature of the joint stream we are having to do extra work. It will be available soon thanks for asking and watching

[@christopherpalmer3066]

Hey there Kamon, when feeding bees this time of year I started feeding your inverted sugar syrup recipe. Is that ok or should I be feeding 2:1???

[@kamonreynolds]

Both will work Christopher. I just can't feed thick syrup out of my trash pump so I have thinner syrup.

[@christopherpalmer3066]

Thank you Kamon....appreciate it.

[@hubertpounall1323]

They're looking Good Caymon but definitely that amount o STORES wont take them true, They feed so rapid.

[@nagoelkhouly3919]

Nice process :) Youre a great youtuber. The way we do our hives is NO SUGAR FED WHATESOEVER. It must be unheard of in the bee world. Our bees get fed sugar once every two months but the non sugar honey is DELISH! Every bee keeper feeds their bees sugar to keep them from dying but we don't. It makes it great. EXTRA rare honey. We sell a 8 oz for $40 Were located in FL if anyone is interested.

[@simonac2016]

Yes Totally def exactly. No sugar, no industrial frames. If people knew how sugar and anything artificial os counter productive to bees....But I guess , people are greedy or they just dont read enough book...like basic knowledge on bees..anyways, love from Croatia

[@floydwilson8380]

Good information