Mini Mating Nucs, SHB Experiment And Practicing Social Distancing

[@richardkuhn8115]

Thanks Jason. Enjoyed you showing us your ideas. Also, thanks for taking us on a mini tour of your kingdom. Thanks for sharing.

[@JCsBees]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@familyhearingandbalancecen9777]

Awesome video Jasón! I really liked your small plastic entrance with the robbing side screens! You have a lot of great ideas here! It’s nice to have the talents and equipment to make these items. Nice tour of your chickens, ducks, and farm. Interesting in how the steers can work the clover and help it bloom for the bees. Keep up the good work!

[@JCsBees]

Glad you liked it!

[@polvotierno]

I suggest using those little juice boxes that children use. Maybe cut the top and float something inside. Or put little holes in the opening where the straw goes and hang it upside down.

[@EnergyhillsBees]

Poor beekeeper in China! Lets all try and look after each other guys! No matter how bad it gets. We will get through this. Thank you for posting this Chris.

[@SpiritualButNotReligious]

Thanks for the video and the tour, stay safe!

[@JCsBees]

You stay safe too!

[@richardnoel3141]

Love the centre partition. Nice idea made of styrofoam! Neat!! We have similar for our 6 frames Datant nucs. You know the rest. Self isolation and social distancing will probably do us all good. Help us rethink our strategies, become more sustainable and source things from closer to home! Respect Jason!! Bee well!!

[@BESHYSBEES]

How are you Richard? Starting to recover your numbers yet? We’re getting fed for winter at the moment, bees are in a frenzy!

[@richardkuhn8115]

What are you doing here, Richard? You got ALL those hedges trimmed yet?

[@travis5134]

Stay safe love you my friend

[@JCsBees]

You keep safe too! Scary time right now with the Covid 19 going around.

[@stufarnham]

hi, jason, that pex enterance looks interesting. It should allow the bees to defend The entrance well.interesting idea to tjet plastic !esh, will be eager to hear how it works for you. Regarding feeders, my first thought was like yoirs, to ise plastic food comtainers. Stay safe and be well, my friend, and thanks for sharing. For all of its faults, the internet can allow us to stay connected. LOL at the ducks, the obviously figured you were going to feed them. Stu

[@JCsBees]

The ducks are a riot! I swear a lot of times it sounds like they are laughing at me. lol You stay safe too.

[@carrollward839]

Jason look at popsicle molds, there are several that are two wide. It looks like you would only have to add side pieces to rest on the cleats. Of course you would have to add floats to keep the bees from drowning.

[@russellkoopman3004]

To avoid drowning I'd drill a hole in the top and use a pop or water bottle. You can have some corks handy to plug when not in use. The divider - I would use 1/4" panels tacked to a frame of 3/4" thick wood. They will chew on the styrofoam and you don't want that floating around in the box. Good luck with the bees. Sunshine is wonderful. Because of all the clouds the sunny days will be a pleasure.

[@paulchristu996]

Russell Koopman I’d second the point about bees chewing up styrofoam. Made a half-dozen dummy frames last year; to save weight, I sandwiched 1/2” styro between fiberboard and corrugated plastic layers. Bees immediately started chewing around the edges of styrofoam. Solved that by patching damage with sawdust/Titebond, latex paint over that. So, if you plan to keep the styrofoam divider, best paint it or brush on some melted paraffin.

[@joanchester8232]

I think one or 2 of the kids juice boxes with the top cut off would fit in the space you want to use for feed in the mini mating box.Use a thumb tack to hold them in place. You could also measure the exact size you need for a feeder and go to the dollar store to buy a plastic container. You might get lucky. You are one clever guy the way you modified the red entrance tube for the mini mating nuc.

[@bryanzavada5861]

Or maybe those boxes that hold soup or chai tea. You could cut them down to the right height.

[@jrmcgeary]

Hello from NWPA! Bushy Bee used to use aquarium silicone to seal their wooden feeders. Wouldn’t use anything like window and door because of the toxic mold inhibitors. Anything safe for fish should be fine. I know you are handy in the wood shop and so i think a mini wooden frame feeder might be the ticket. Seen some other good ideas in here too. Your pasture... Looks like I see a lot of moss in there. (hard to see through my phone) That is a tell tale sign of very low pH. When was the last time you soil sampled it? If not I highly recommend doing so, correct that pH with lime and give it a basic round of fertilizer and watch it explode with growth. I do a lot of food plotting for people and if you can afford nothing else, at least lime it to a 6.8-7.0pH and you will be amazed by the increased production and health of the forage. Have to say I agree that it was a nice video right up until politics was introduced. I can agree to disagree with you as you have asked others to do. That said, remember no matter what side of the aisle you stand on, real close to half of the country disagrees with you. Any politics means you alienate 1/2 your audience no matter what you say on the topic. (As shown by the comments below.) I enjoy your bee videos and will not unsubscribe because of this one but might change that stance if politics become a habit in here. Stay healthy, stay safe. -John

[@davidweale9621]

Really eñjoying your videos. Did the anti robbing idea work well?

[@dewaynewhitney5703]

I was thinking about using that pipe this year myself. But as that small feeder goes, maybe get a poly cutting board and cut it to size then glue it up with that food grade silicone. Just a thought. I use them cutting boards for alot of my little projects. Works pretty good. then take steel screen and cut it up and bend it into a W so they have something to get ahold of and not drown.

[@planbeeapiaries]

Great ingenuity Jason! What about pint size flat liquor bottle upside down with an entrance type feeder cap on the bottom to use as the feeder?

[@JCsBees]

Good idea but I going this route www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?332587-mini-nuc-home-made-frame-feeders#/topics/332587

[@danschneider9219]

I have a few of those Utah hives made but sure am not making those little boxes just making a feeder that will divide the box when I put it in the middle. painting it with the epoxy paint that I used on my galvanized extractor inside and out.

[@fiveapple]

Enjoyed this a lot. Going over to Patreon to support. :-)

[@JCsBees]

Awesome, thank you!

[@tprater65]

About the 2” styrofoam divider...when I had to make some homemade divider boards, I used styrofoam. The bees chewed through a lot of it, so I wrapped it in duct tape. They didn’t chew on it anymore, but I didn’t have to leave the divider in too long either. Might want to consider a wood divider or wrap the styrofoam if it becomes a problem

[@trevor311264]

Perhaps an aluminium foil tape? The bees leave that well alone.

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

I have been trying the same thing, only using 5 frame med. Boxes split in two. Frames running like normal only split in half. Keep us posted J.C. thanks. Hello from the Kentucky mountains

[@JCsBees]

Thanks for sharing

[@JamesCrouchX]

I would really like to see the woodworking in progress. I have acquired equipment enough to cut out hive components. Jigs. What sort of other jigs do you use to aid in cutting components?

[@JCsBees]

Noted!

[@donmartin7728]

If your willing to sacrifice a food grade barrel. Cut a section out, then warm it up in hot water not boiling water pull out then shape to size of the feeder you want. You’ll have to determine the amount of time to leave in water for best flexibility. You could use your wooden feeder as a mold to shape into.

[@randyjones2101]

Jason, Would it be helpful to cut a slight angle top to bottom on the entrance so when the hive beetle tries to come over the top it would have less to hold on to??

[@JCsBees]

I'm gonna do this now. Thanks for suggestion.

[@velbertw]

I build a hive top feeder works great

[@JCsBees]

What did you use to seal it so it hold the syrup?

[@velbertw]

@@JCsBees dip them in paraffin and as it cools i rotate feeder along bottom edge and corners so it leaves extra cooled down wax in the seams

[@5hivesohio]

Stay safe my friend! Thanks for the video and the advice. I'm off to build some nucs.

[@allglad]

for the feeder a flexible cutting board would work fastened to make a box.

[@allglad]

I dont see why anyone would do top bar unless its a free hive or just used to equip a new beekeeper or a 1 hive beekeeper...they take so much resources and space and other than in tropical conditions look to be more difficult to use in winter..and heck maybe even year around in tropical areas.

[@goldendemons82]

Frame feeder...PVC sheet can be cut and welded, using PVC weld rod and a heat gun. PVC sheet comes in various thickness. Once welded it is water proof or can be calked if needed.

[@carolsell6116]

Hey Jason why not a small plastic container like you said and put a cloth in with the liquid ....then the bees can sit on the cloth and still take in the feed.

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

Political sign with chrome heating and air tape for feeders inside wood frame. Feeders.👍

[@mikeries8549]

Using that foam is a mistake. Youll go into the hive one day and hear this strange alien sound. That sound is your bees gnawing thru the foam. They can chew right thru it. I know because I used to cover hives with foam. They chew right thru.

[@JCsBees]

@Mike Ries Your are right they will surely chew it, I ended up wrapping the foam with foil duct tape and that has worked well.

[@paulabatt5458]

You could try using a paint on the outside of the feeder to stop leakageor silicon

[@timcaron9049]

Thanks Jason for the video. I like your idea for the feeding frame with the sandwich tupperware which would or should fit nicely in the frame or you might have to customize a frame to accommodate it. If you are looking for something smaller, try popsicle moulds. I know they make them in round and we just bought some that were larger in a "U" shape. I guess you just have to use your imagination, and then one day you will see something that will change your whole idea. Good luck. Stay safe and healthy. Until the next time. Tim

[@OklahomaBeekeeper]

Langford, another Tennessee beekeeper, Woolie Bees, does PVC 90 degree for entrances and also a hole in the bottom of the hive for beatle detourants

[@davidgeyer8390]

Just finished the viedo good job. Question for you I'm South of lansing the maples are in bloom is it to early to but on pollen patties

[@JCsBees]

Nope not too soon! I have patties on my hives now. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@HaroldKeiner]

Jason, to seal up a wooden top feeder I had made I coated the inside with fiberglass resin, that sealed them up well. If you need to use wood that should work. I agree we must stay positive.

[@bamabeesqueens]

How did the tube work for hive beetles? Pass or fall?

[@fredshoney6458]

Use your sandwich box, and on the side that will be the top drill 1-3 holes large enough to insert queen roller cages. You may have to put 2 roller cages together to get down to the bottom of the feeder. The bees will crawl down to the syrup inside the roller cage(s). The bottom of the lower cage should be closed off. Maybe make the rollers out of that plastic screening. Warming it in the oven may let you roll it into the shape you need.

[@danieltaylor8113]

Jason, started beekeeping last year, going to make splits and maybe graft this year. Love your series on queen rearing. Why do you make mini mating nucs? It seems like alot of specialized work, mainly the frames. I see other people use 2 frame nucs for mating queens. And then you dont have to make special frames or special frame feeders since its just normal sized frames, you just make smaller boxes. Could you voice if you think one is better than the other or are you just doing this because someone gave you the frames and this is how you could best use them? (Side note, i hope you still answer my question with me saying so but i hope we dont get political here, i love your bee and farm content)

[@JCsBees]

Daniel, I promise to never speak about politics again. How's that? I am using the mini nucs just to get queens mated to sell. Then I will cage her and let the colony realize they are queen-less and add another virgin to be mated. I have a video where I divided 5 frame nucs into half and used them for getting queens mated and they work well but with the minis very little resources are needed. Plus, I just like them. lol

[@danieltaylor8113]

@@JCsBees i think its cool to see the different ways. I am going to try grafting for the first time this year using your guide and some tid bits from others too. But since i am only grafting 20 and hoping for like 1/3 acceptance rate i wont need the mini mating nucs on rotate like yall professionals lol. I figure if my hives are going to swarm once or twice a year and me lose those bees, why not just split them which will weaken them like they wanted and i am guaranteed to not lose them to a tree branch. Has swarming started there? I am stationed in germany and we had a good week of weather and are back to the 30s and maybe getting snow. I have only checked the tops of hives to add more sugar and its diving me nuts that i havent been about to lift some frames and see the ladies. Hoping they haven't exploded on me and i end up missing them to early swarms

[@josephwoodall832]

You can make that frame feeder with wood use a lot of glue and a lot of Staples you may want to consider the use of silicone also make thicker syrup at least two to one it will stay in there.

[@mitchellcampbell3521]

They got them little black feeding liners on Mann lake for the small mating nucs. You might could get a couple of thoses and build a little wood box to set in thier for a feeder and put that liner in it.

[@leedonahue5676]

You could possibly find someone with a 3d printer for the feeders? Stay safe sir.

[@timgoodin42053]

My son-in-law tells me you can basically print anything. It's beyond me but apparently works if you have a buddy with the printer and relatively cheap to print. Good luck, enjoy your channel, stay safe.

[@darrellvater8990]

Stick to the bees. Leave the president out of it

[@wayneshoneybees5439]

I just finished hanging my 7th swarm box in 4 different locations. That was my last one. All 7 around 7 miles area. Hoping to catch at least two swarms. I will be grafting when it gets in the 70's. Nuc are ready.

[@stacywaltman7898]

Drill hole in the top put a coke bottle feeder on them

[@JamesCrouchX]

What about a 90 degree elbow pointed down on the end of the entrance tube to confuse hive beetles too?

[@Thatfishguy05]

Do you recommend this style of queen rearing over a 5 frame nuc? I’m in need of queens and I don’t know if I want to attempt grafting yet so I’ve been doing walk away splits.

[@JCsBees]

If your just starting out I would stick with standard nucs for raising queens until you get the procedure down. I will just be using the mini nucs to get queens mated that I plan to sell.

[@farmer998]

I like the idea of the queen nuc's , all my equipment is deep so I keep to that size so if i need to add frames i have something that fits . I also like the idea of the nuc's at Anarchy Apiaries he is kinda out of the box but it takes all kinds .I'm so thank full that I live in the country always have been but more so now.

[@richardkuhn4358]

how about a few small plastic test tubes with corks or lids (needs good seal for vacuum). drill a small hole(s) in the bottom of small plastic tube, fill tube w syrup hold finger over the hole(s) attach top reinsert in frame👍

[@beauxsbees3995]

If you've got the time and inclination to learn a new skill set, look at vacuum bag molding. For simple, bend some tin around a form and solder the seams. Maybe start with a big bean can?

[@captainwinky]

Jason try a spam can for your mini matting nucs. Maybe screw a piece of wood on each side to hang or just let it sit on the bottom of the mini nuc.

[@davidgeyer8390]

Are you over thinking the feeder why not top feed with a mason jar

[@SpiritualButNotReligious]

I was thinking the same thing

[@raulortiz136]

I love your videos, including any part that is non bee related, Thank you.

[@RobertBrown-tx8xk]

Should a suger Patty work??

[@douggray3588]

Maybe a Gatorade or Soda bottle on top.Same as a jar feeder just smaller.

[@lennelonge2626]

👍👍👌

[@berrrygr]

If you want small frame feeders I could perhaps design and 3d print some for you. All I would need exact dimensions of how wide and deep you want them and the distance between the sides of the box and the distance required for the hanging lips.

[@JCsBees]

I greatly appreciate the offer but I think I have them figured out now. Stay tuned to see what I did!

[@berrrygr]

No problem, if you happen to change your mind It would be easy to draw them up and print them out.

[@badassbees3680]

I think you'd be better off putting a screened hole on back of the mini nucs, because the robbers are liable to just follow returning bees in..I use top feeders ,I'm interested to see results, I heard this before but find it hard to believe,only because shb get into everything here

[@jayweddle7993]

The Tennesee Beekeeper was Woolie B's Apiary -Lankford Parden .

[@JCsBees]

He too does use them but not who I got my idea from. Thanks though for mentioning him. He does have good video on them.

[@mjhabitat6437]

j c how about a sandwich bag stapled to the rear side ?????

[@alphaxanon]

In those medium boxes divided into mating nucs with a divider: Couldn't you just use 4 standard medium frames on each side instead of making tiny nonstandard frames?

[@mark-wn5ek]

What about a baggie feeder?

[@unoken1]

I did not vote for him, but I for hell sure will now :)

[@JCsBees]

Do what you feel is best. That's why we vote, right? Have a nice day and stay healthy and safe.

[@unoken1]

@@JCsBees Thank you, Jason. Stay healthy safe and live long and prosper :) I'm a 100% service-connected veteran that has been around the block. There are eight billion people on this spaceship earth with plenty of room yet to grow. It would be nice if we could listen to everyone at the same time :) For good or bad we are moving along. I know we are going in the better direction in spit of centralized leaders pushing their elitist agenda. God Bless The U.S.A as to be a shiny hill

[@goodenoughhoney1667]

Thanks for the information all 3 of my Apimaye beehives survived this year u can check them out on my KZbin channel thanks

[@heavenlyhoney3249]

Flex seal might work

[@clivewilliams5815]

Well done Jason you talk a lot of sense let's hope people take heed. 🐝 UK Clive.

[@captainwinky]

Jason also try a small bungee for your jij

[@christopherdavis9012]

I need a good way to build up honey bees in North Carolina we are 6 hours a way of y’all can you help me thank you GOD BLESS thank you for the video

[@PaulSmith-qu3jq]

I’m in North Carolina as well right now I’m feeding sugar water 1to1 and pollen and all mine are now filling two deeps

[@christopherdavis9012]

Thank you Paul I just need to build up lot of honey bees before next winter

[@richardkuhn4358]

hope nothing blocks the entry hole ... dead bees, etc🤞😊

[@scottpierson7495]

And have you had anything happen like this?

[@arturviktorovich]

Hi there. witch State are you in?

[@JCsBees]

Ohio. I said that right at the beginning of video.

[@arturviktorovich]

Sorry I guess I was more interested in what you working on it and your nice land and your chickens and ducks and cow's lol sorry Thanks anyway ( I'm in Colorado never experienced Hive Beatles even when I leave in Ukraine never had a problem only moth) Thank you again for the video

[@scottpierson7495]

Jason pretty bummed, noticed yesterday one of my hives a triple deep production is crashing. Looks like some type of virus. Not good! Any emergency actions I should take?

[@JCsBees]

What signs are you seeing of a virus? Have you seen any signs of Nosema or foulbrood?

[@jethrobodine9617]

I'd isolate this hive and give sugar water/tea tree oil combo. If you notice yellowing/orange colored brood, destroy the hive.... FBH can spread quickly to other hives if not managed asap.

[@scottpierson7495]

Jason Chrisman Crawlers and some bees shaking, some wings deformed I think I got possibly Veroa bombed or something, wish I could show you the video of them shaking almost looks like waggle dance but don’t think so. It’s now down to one frame of bees.

[@PaulSmith-qu3jq]

Might try styrofoam three inches wide and dig out the middle u can even make the frame rest on them if you use polystyrene u know the blue or pink

[@JCsBees]

I have considered this! Thanks!

[@kevinjackson1840]

here in California, i have had to split a hive ready to bust out. check out video under kevin jackson

[@trulylynn9941]

Mike Pompeo said it in a press conference "we are in a live exercise right now" WTH did he mean! Go see AGWN yesterday on screwtube.

[@badassbees3680]

Trump just said "We are in a National Trial" you mean "Trial" as terrible situation to go through,or "Trial" as we the American people are lab rats ???

[@ismet3000]

I have similar mating nucs. But i made deep covers. Same external dimensions as the nucs, so you have space under the roff, and you can put a regular plastic plate on your frames. You can leave me your email, so i can sent you some pics.

[@trulylynn9941]

It's a psyhop do bro!

[@Prober61]

The sound of styrofoam rubbing on wood makes me mute you! Sorry! I loved the tour of the farm though. Hi cows!

[@JCsBees]

It is an awful sound, huh? lol Glad you enjoyed the tour. Stay safe!

[@tulipsmoran5197]

I like those PEX entrance tubes...great idea especially the screened drillouts. However it may be beneficial to small angle cut the tube entrance. That way if the beetle happens to get close to the entrance, the would fall. Also rain wouldn't drive in during a storm. I'm busy building hive stands and getting boxes ready for a couple new packages. Last week laid in supplies to keep layers going for a month or so and a few chips for spring coop cleaning. Used elec chicken net to close off a small side pasture and come late April/May layers will be turned out to free range. A couple yds mushroom compost delivered yesterday - ready to plant berry shrubs/brambles to build out berry orchard. 22 fruit trees blossomed and ready to burst - if only the rain would stop here along the TN plateau. disappointed you chose to mention PDJT has divided the nation...maybe from the perspective of a Democrat liberal. You could have mentioned we're far better off without Hillary!

[@JCsBees]

Great suggestion on the angle to pex pipe. I will give it a try. Sounds like your staying busy, that great! Stay safe!

[@tomhall3172]

Well that made me unsubscribe. Good luck to you.

[@dwaynebramlett9763]

I have watched you for a long time and even though you didn’t say how you feel about President Trump you said more than you should have without realizing it. Wasn’t smart

[@JCsBees]

@Dwayne Bramlett I appreciate you following me for a long time. You must find some of my content worth while to do so. So why would my opinion of the President make a difference on my beekeeping practices/videos? Not saying I do or do not regret what I said just curious why you say "Wasn't smart"? (I'm not trying to stir the pot either, just trying to understand from your prospective)

[@fionmor4893]

there are too many loooooong commercials to get to the content.... I'm bored and dont care to watch

[@trevor311264]

Have you tried an ad blocker? adblockplus.org/tutorials