My Essential Oils Feed Mixture to fight Bacteria and Viruses vectored in by Varroa Mites!

[@bradgoliphant]

I agree with most everything you said, and also believe that essential oils have their place in the health industry, yet I don't believe they should go inside a beehive. I know they are great methods of fighting varroa, but what I have also learned is the oils themselves get trapped inside the wax and propolis and destroy the unseen microbial eco system that helps beehive flourish. Of course this is my insight on this, but understand everyone had their own way they are going to do beekeeping. I just think we are way to involved. I let my bees mostly to themselves, and so far my hives are thriving and varroa free.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

and i agree with what you said and that is why i feed the during the dearth when little or no nectar is coming in. i feed it in 4 lbs of sugar to 5 gallons of water so it is way below 1 to 1 so it is consumed not stored so there is a lessened chance it is stored.

[@mwdiluzio1128]

SAME HERE. NO PROBLEMS HERE I DO USE DAWN SOAP UNDER HIVES JUST BEFORE A HEAVY RAIN TO WASH IT INTO SOIL FOR HIVE BEETLE LARVAE.

[@misterbeeman3779]

I’m going to mix this in with a sugar pattie this winter

[@billmclaughlin8438]

Randy. Thank you for your willingness to post what you do. You mention in one of your answers to an individual that your colonies don’t die over the winter as a result of the use of your additives and essential oils. Do you have any numbers over the past years since starting this regiment? Like the number of hives going into winter and then the number of hives coming out of winter? And a kind of evaluation of the condition of those surviving hives? Thanks for your time and answer.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

before i started using the essential oil and probiotic / magic cell my over winter loss was at around 40 to 50%. i started getting better genetics and started the mixture and immediately the survival rate went up. last 2 years the state of tennessee has had around 74% loss over winter and ive been at 12% both years and some of those losses were my fault

[@noahriding5780]

@@WoolieBsApiary So do you ONLY use essential oils? Or are you using essential oils plus the normal oxalyc acid or mite away kinds of strips? Trying to figure out how much of your result is from only this, or if some of it is from a blend of things? Thanks.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

@@noahriding5780 i use the essential oils for 2 weeks and then switch to the probiotic mixture for 2 weeks and in late fall i do the cycle again as the finish off their stores for the winter. i split and give brood breaks to most of my colonies at least 1 time most get 2 or 3 brood breaks.

[@noahriding5780]

@@WoolieBsApiary So 2 full 2 week cycles, and the 2 or 3 brood breaks are between those two periods throughout the year? Or are the 2 or 3 brood breaks also closer to fall or spring? I was also curious why your mix didn't include Thyme oil? Wonder how that worked out as a lot of people do Thyme oil but yours is got everything but that. Thanks.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

@@noahriding5780 i feed this during the dearth. the brood breaks are from spring till late summer ie august. i have added thyme and clove oil to the mixture.

[@jameswatjen1058]

Yes how are the quart jars feeding the bee's, are they entrance feeders ? Would like to see how your feeder is made. Thanks

[@WoolieBsApiary]

See video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWmupGZ5l6mcptk

[@inharmonywithearth9982]

Bees HATE vinager. If you get bees in your yellow jacket trap it even says add vinager to REPEL honeybees! I think the vinager needs to be omitted. Just trying to help. Ive been using essential oil for destructor mites since 1999 so im on board with the rest your recipe.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

The apple cider vinegar inverts the sugar and brings the PH down to almost nectar.

[@noahriding5780]

Thank you for this video. Very appreciated. I had a question about this. I've seen a few of these videos with lots of beekeepers. They usually say it helps their bees. But nobody actually states clearly how much. So I've been wondering about that... If you do this, is there a marked difference in your survival rates? or very clear difference or difference with seeing less disease, mites, deformed wing virus, etc? Thank you again. Its sad that there's not much time left in the bee season. I can feel the nights getting colder.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

1st check the description for the updated formula. I have been mite treatment free for 6 years. Those 6 years doing this and the probiotic video my winter losses has been between 6 to 15%. When I treated and did not do this 50%. I his is coupled with brood breaks past the summer solstice.

[@noahriding5780]

Thank you.

[@lindadecker2189]

Thanks for your recipe. Just to confirm you’re using 5 gallons of 1 to 1 sugar water. Correct?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

most feed 1 to 1 during the dearth but i only feed 4 lb to 5 gallons of water. all im trying to do is keep the bees busy not feeding to store it. i switch to 1 to 1 the end of sept.

[@adairmorse8821]

Beginning beekeepers here 🤚how long does your essential oil mixture last?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

ive kept it over winter using smaller amounts feeding on sunny days.

[@sometimesitjustbeesthatway3070]

Mine was close to yours that.i made up. What is the cell builder in the gallon jug. Haven’t seen it yet I don’t guess.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

pro health or are you talking about the Dumor magic cell that i use for the minerals ect. ?

[@johnskrabak8054]

I've read through the comments and replies ... but still confused. Using the recipe above, how much sugar syrup is called for? The recipe says in a 5-gallon bucket but the video looks like you are adding to 1 gallon of syrup.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

i feed a during the dearth so i make 1 gallon of the syrup and then add 4 gallons of water to make it .5 or less to 1 ratio. this gives the hives something to do instead of fly all over the 3 mile area or more and not find anything. it gives everyone something to do so the hive thinks there is a flow and are good and strong for the fall flow.

[@brandihuff1301]

So you just put this water mixture out so the bees can drink it? Also how effective is it with killing off the varroa mites?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

you mix it with sugar water not just the mixture.

[@gwc3721]

When do you feed essential oils and when do you feed the probiotics?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

that information is in the description section

[@tina2794]

I can’t find that answer either, and I guess it’s not good to add the probiotics Into the mixture?

[@alinatotok]

Hi can you please tell me what company of essential oil are you using? Thank you.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

www.lorannoils.com/

[@abellotambfiblo3937]

Thanks

[@billwiley3475]

so if I got this right this recipe makes one gallon, one cup of which is mixed with the other ingredients in one gallon of sugar mix, is there a replacement for the Dumor Magic Cell since its no longer on the market?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

yes its called Red Cell

[@tina2794]

Is that 2 tsp of ACV per gal? I can’t find the written recipe Thanks!

[@WoolieBsApiary]

ive upped it to 4 tbs per gallon and ive added 15 drops of thyme and clove oil to the recipe

[@tina2794]

@@WoolieBsApiary thank you sooo much!!

[@tina2794]

And it’s 1c of all the mixture to 5 gal syrup? Or is looks like you mixed1/2 c mix to a gallon? Also do you keep the extra mix in the refrigerator?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

@@tina2794 yes but i do not keep it in the fridge because when im feeding im going through 10 to 15 gallons a day

[@pressuredprepper4232]

Is the dumor that same as k nine red cell

[@WoolieBsApiary]

I buy red cell at tractor supply you can order it from Walmart

[@MegaDavyk]

Where did you get the idea of using Dumor magic cell hoarse tonic

[@WoolieBsApiary]

From reading articles about the nutritional needs of the honey bees a book called fat bee skinny bee ect.

[@mustafagunesdogdu440]

Hello. I am not good at speaking and understanding English. Can you help me with the recipe of the mixture and how much should I add to 100 liters of syrup?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

Look in the description section i have it typed out there

[@mustafagunesdogdu440]

@@WoolieBsApiary thanks for information

[@gwc3721]

Where get that mixer paddle?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

i bought it at lowes but it was not in the paint section i was in the tool section.

[@lewwilliams7659]

oil and water don't mix maybe lecithin as an emulsifier?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

Watch the video when you run it in the blender for 7 minutes it will stay in suspension for a couple of weeks. I go through 2 quarts a week so drop your recipe for your number of hives.

[@judyjonsonfaulkner7067]

Why do you blend the essential oils so long?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

so it breaks up the essential oils because i am not using an emulsifier. doing it this long they will stay in solution for 6 months or more..

[@judyjonsonfaulkner7067]

@@WoolieBsApiary Thanks!

[@s.fla.beekeepingmangoesand1517]

Why is it smoking?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

It's not its the mist that firms when all these micro bubbles come out of the mixture

[@s.fla.beekeepingmangoesand1517]

Ir looked spooky. Lol @@WoolieBsApiary

[@velizarhalachev3884]

Hi, does anyone know where I can wholesale bee pollen and honey?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

Location is important when asking this type of question.

[@wrfarms9741]

We mix our sugar syrup usually two 55 gallon barrels of sugar which makes roughly a 150 (give or take) gallons of sugar syrup. The biggest reason I use a sugar syrup stimulant (I use Mann Lake Pro Health) is that in the proper ratio it pretty much holds off fermentation for as long as I need. Sometimes there are dearths in the nectar flow that last a long time, some not so long and I may end up with 40 or 50 gallons of sugar syrup that I cannot use right away. (when the bees find a natural nectar source they stop or drastically drop consumption of sugar syrup. The Pro Health allows me to store sugar syrup for 3 or 4 months. In my apiary, you can't just feed the nucs or hives that need it, you have to feed ALL of them or risk creating a robbing problem. I purchase the Mann Lake Pro Health in bulk when it is on sale or get it from a Mann Lake distributor at very reasonable prices. Since I am on a crappy well system, I boil the water before adding sugar to kill any bacteria, allow it to cool, pour out into 60 lb. totes, and then add the Pro Health. I usually add just enough Pro Health so the bees can smell it but if I have to store it, I add more to prevent fermentation. I get my essential oils from Loran too. Thumbs up on the video! By the way, did you conduct the thermal varroa mite treatment yet? With these temperatures, it is perfect Mighty Mite Killer weather! LOL! It's 95 degrees here with a heat index of nearly 110!

[@WoolieBsApiary]

just did it today i have to edit it and it will be out in the next week or so. all i can say is i think most of the bees were on the outside of the hive. i do not feed that much all im trying to do during the dearth is keep them busy not feed them to store it. not using the lemon grass oil thats in pro health or honey bee healthy is what causes robbing. ive been feeding this to a 3 late swarms to help them build comb and they are not getting robbed but they are very strong swarms also.

[@markspc1]

WR Farms I add one teaspoon of white vinegar per gallon of 1:1 sugar water to keep it from fermenting. I don't know what is the shelf life of that, I have not done a long term test but the vinegar is much cheaper than Pro Health.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

@@markspc1 I put apple cider vinegar in my sugar water mix and the pro health has lemongrass oil which will cause robbing

[@markspc1]

@@WoolieBsApiary Apple Cider Vinegar taste good on salad but it is the vinegar in the Apple Cider Vinegar that keeps the sugar water from fermenting. A gallon of Apple Cider Vinegar is $25.64 and a gallon of white vinegar is $3.84, so I go for the more economic choice. Additionally I use the white vinegar to sterilize the sugar water jars.

[@WoolieBsApiary]

@@markspc1 I understand the price point but there are more items that play into my choice ie vitamin and mineral in the acv

[@Theredeemedbychrist316]

Funny how the GUT braces him while he drops the essential oils. In. Lol 😂

[@reelinhuntin]

Where did you buy your oils?

[@WoolieBsApiary]

www.lorannoils.com/ tell them your a beekeeper and they did give a 10% discount