New Hogg Halfcomb system and Hive IQ details at PA State Beekeeper Conference 2024

[@schammond8993]

Love a guy that isn't afraid to say " I don't know". lol. Nice hives. The comb honey was interesting also.

[@JeffHorchoff]

Another awesome video by Professor Fred, were you a speaker at the conference? I will be making an assessment of the HIve IQ beginners beekeepers kit, along with one from Premier Bee Supply, Better Bee, and Foxhound Bee Supply in the next week or so and this video was very useful to me listen to what Nate had to say about their product even though I had spoken to him extensively a week ago. Always love watching your videos when I can, and I look forward to seeing you in January. I'll call soon. God's peace brother.

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Jeff! Wow, sounds like a fantastic comparison video that many will enjoy watching. :) I'm looking forward to seeing the hive-top feeder system Hive IQ is coming out with. Yes, I was the keynote speaker for the PA State Conference... and they let me give another talk on day two :) It was a fantastic weekend with plenty of time for fellowship and one-on-one conversations. Absolutely! See you in January!

[@dcsblessedbees]

I commend the ingenuity and creativity, they look like they could be a good product for more extreme environments. I'm just not sure I would want to wrap my bees in so much processed materials. I am trying to use less processed materials not more. If they are smart they make it compatible with conventional wooden ware. Thanks for sharing Fred.

[@FrederickDunn]

True, he said they will stack with normal 10-frame boxes but require firm strapping down.

[@SIBEEMAN]

I’ve tried making 4 frames of comb honey for the first time this year by using frames with beeswax sheets and side pins only. After my first extraction, I put the empty frames back in and they made even more comb honey without any side support. They did a great job and no mess! I know this is not the norm but I was very careful and happy!

[@FrederickDunn]

Wow, you were super fortunate that they did that for you :) thanks for sharing.

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Looks like a well-planned hive although I'm not into plastic. Thanks for sharing Fred, have a great week!

[@FrederickDunn]

Definitely not for those who wish to avoid poly... Insulation is a challenge for some northern keepers, I can see it as an advantage there.

[@theboonecountybeekeeper]

Fred, I have the Hive IQ and so far I love it. Still waiting on the feeder, that will definitely be a plus. So far the the bees seem to love it and I noticed no bearding this summer. This will be my first winter using it, time will tell.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks for sharing, yes, I can see where the tight fitting boxes and insulation will benefit wintering. I really need a feeder system around here, so I'm looking forward to that for 2025.

[@tasmedic]

Thanks for the quick update, Fred. I like that half comb system. It's very clever, and it does appear that you can supply friends with comb that way and then re-use the plastic trays. Awesome. I hope they come to Australia at some point! I was very lucky last year. I run foundationless frames and had a decent harvest of straight, clean comb to cut up and share. Not sure what this honey season will bring. One thing I do know, and that is that lots of folk love the novelty of eating comb honey.

[@craigmidgett8539]

The Hogg cassettes are not intended for reuse. Not only would getting them returned and cleaning them be a challenge, but realigning individual cassettes and securing them into rows and loading them into supers would be a pain.

[@FrederickDunn]

Nothing at all wrong with just cutting come from your foundationless frames :) We also do that here. As the owner stated, re-using the cassettes would be for personal consumption and of course, not taking returns from those you may sell them to.

[@AdrenalineTheory]

Hive IQ is just some awesome stuff that really seems to be overlooked by the vast majority of beekeepers for no reason. The price point for what you get and the advantages are great, especially if you live in areas with harsh climates. Its also great to see them expanding that comb system as well. One of the biggest drawbacks to it has always been that the system was designed specifically for a standard hive setup. Being allowed to drop it into any hive setup that takes standard frames is pretty great.

[@FrederickDunn]

I've been slow to look at them myself and had lots of conversations over the weekend with their rep. Needless to say, I brought one home with me :)

[@sonofthunder.]

So good,love innovators,who keep the craft alive

[@FrederickDunn]

It's particularly nice to be able to talk directly with them at meetings like this one :)

[@sonofthunder.]

@FrederickDunn thats cool you mentioned good quality screws, like stainless,just to give products longevity,all in the details

[@goingsouth01]

i have 8 HiveIQ and love them. Running 2 deeps and medium honey supers.

[@FrederickDunn]

That's great, thanks for sharing.

[@CastleHives]

I've seen Hive IQ a few times. Looks like a great setup. Thanks Fred.

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Brian! I was surprised by some of their details and did not expect a metal-clad lid. We'll see how it goes. I'm glad I had some time to check in with them :)

[@saintjohncoleman8602]

I use Hogg Halfcombs for comb honey production, and this year have had very good luck with them. 34/40 cassettes full and sellable from one hive, with the Hogg super added over a medium honey super with no queen excluder on the hive. They were filled during the blackberry and privet flow in the spring. They performed better than the Ross Rounds, with less fiddling, since there is no foundation to add. When i use Ross Rounds, the bees often chew the foundation out, whereas the Hogg doesn’t have foundation to steal.

[@craigo4dds]

Were your Hogg cassettes waxed?

[@saintjohncoleman8602]

@ nope. I put them on as they came from the vendor.

[@craigmidgett8539]

@@craigo4ddsthey come waxed from the manufacturer

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks for sharing! You always seem to do well with your stock. I also like the Ross-Rounds as they have done well here, but as mentioned in this video Ross Rounds are double-thick.

[@saintjohncoleman8602]

@ I learn from the best! Thanks for the videos!

[@thegr8stm8]

Gr8 info Fred…l often wonder why hives are not made like Eskies/cooler boxes… or modified Tote Butlers that just drop into an insulated outer sheave…

[@rickwarner516]

Thanks Fred comb so nice and that hive iq amazing I’ll look into it more. Heading back to central Florida in a few days to clean up from the storm. Ps . My bees did fine and are flying thankful to God.

[@FrederickDunn]

I'm so glad your bees are doing well in spite of variable weather this year :)

[@Darren_Nicola]

Both look fabulous products very good interviews well done Fred 👍🏻

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks, Darren! Much appreciated as always :)

[@jasonkilgore1977]

Great video Thanks

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you for taking a moment to comment :)

[@seanrichardson881]

As always, great job and thank you!

[@redfish440]

Thanks Fred, great information, very well presented, as always.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you :)

[@Marqan]

Intersting stuff! Hogg Halfcombs just seem great overall. I wonder how sturdy HiveIQ's polystyrene hives are though, that material can break from just a stronger grip.. dependnig on density of course. I already saw some indents on the close-ups. Maybe that's no issue though, I wonder how well they'll work for you!

[@FrederickDunn]

There is a wide range of durability when it comes to those poly hives. This one felt much firmer than Lyson, for example. I've also never found one with a metal capped lid as this one has. I was happy to have a chance to look one over.

[@HoneyBeeFatherTV]

thanks

[@FrederickDunn]

You're very welcome :)

[@Rhams3y]

I'm all for more poly hives, I've been using beemax for years and had minimal issues. What I like about the beemax hives is that they work with regular wooden 10 frame equipment. My hive top feeders, most of my supers are wooden, queen excluders, doesn't matter. I've met the man from Hogg cassettes a few times. Seems nice enough, just not a product I need.

[@FrederickDunn]

Yes, equipment compatibility is a huge bonus.

[@oneeyehives]

I was really looking forward to hearing you speak and meeting you but since it fell on my anniversary my wife thought other plans would be more suitable. Wives are funny like that 😂

[@FrederickDunn]

Oh, I hope you and your wife had a fantastic anniversary :)

[@oneeyehives]

@ thank you and we did.

[@KajunHomestead]

Those were two great products, hoping to see them at NABE conference .

[@FrederickDunn]

I think Hive IQ will be there for sure. Not certain about the Hogg Halfcomb guy, but BetterBee sells his cassettes and they will surely be there.

[@johnjuoe3871]

Hello dunn . That pollen trap dosent work after 4 months bees propolize it you cant open it unless you take a part which you have to remove bottom board . Other than that hive iq works very good for me in pa

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks for sharing, a great tip!

[@taylor65712]

Will you be making a video of you IQ hive? Set up, launch, etc.

[@FrederickDunn]

Probably this coming spring. It's too late to implement this year.

[@annengland9439]

Hello from England

[@FrederickDunn]

Hello right back :)

[@craigo4dds]

Last summer I tried the Hogg half comb and was very disappointed. It came assembled but the cassettes were not waxed and the bees did not use them much . Got 6 or so filled out of 30. This year I used SimplKomb and had better success but it was a real pain. Out of 80 cassettes 39 were nearly perfectly filled and capped. Another 20 were overfilled and/or had bridge comb that tore so they were not perfect. It was a lot of work and I would not use SimpleKomb again. My plan is to wax the Hogg cassettes and try again next summer. I really like the idea of a 2 frame box… might have to get that for all my empty Hogg cassettes

[@FrederickDunn]

Wow, they weren't waxed? I'm surprised they used them at all. I'd definitely prime them with a nice coat of beeswax to start off. I didn't realize that you can buy them with nothing on the bottom.. thanks for sharing that valuable tip.

[@aaronparis4714]

I love all the poly hives they are really better for bees

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks for sharing, there are definitely some keepers who never want to see one in their apiary. It's great to have choices, and some keepers definitley like them.

[@aaronparis4714]

@ so I understand bees will live in a 3/4 inch wood box but I think if the bees could talk they would prefer a nice insulated cavity to live in I bet any money if they could speak they would agree I also I wish I could send you a pictures threw here as I left a 3 inch opening for and then propolized it so it’s a inch why would they do this ? Because they want less cold air coming into that hive 😊😅

[@rusticlifefarm6264]

I dont like the innerlocking channels for the boxes. I have that on my Paradise Hive and the Sugar/Piss/teeny Ants like to make a home in between. I did try cinnamon powder and it does work but very hard to just get on that small edge. Personally I like the Lyson Flat box on box, no ant intrusion and if a frame gets 'glued' to the frames above it is easy to get the hive tool in there before you ruin something- you can't do that with these. Love the HoneyComb stuff though !

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Since I have Lyson also, it will be easy to make those comparisions in the coming year.

[@craigmidgett8539]

For those considering Hogg Half Comb, I only had success getting them drawn out and filled when I set the super on a very strong single deep colony, during a strong nectar flow, and ONLY gave them that super to fill, basically giving them no choice but to use it. Had to monitor very closely and frequently for swarming, but I got 33 sellable cassettes out of 40 to sell at $20 each. (MUCH better return than SimpleKomb btw). Going to run 2 Hogg supers this year.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks for sharing your experience and method for those. Much appreciated.

[@craigmidgett8539]

@@FrederickDunn yessir! I expect that if someone’s just using the new 2 frame system, one would need to remove the regular comb frames from an already full super, again to force bees to use the Hogg cassettes.

[@goblue2708]

With the Hog Half-Comb honey, do you need to freeze it before sealing / selling / eating it to ensure there are no wax moths or hive beetle larva?

[@craigmidgett8539]

That’s a recommendation for selling any comb honey.

[@FrederickDunn]

Yes, I'd cycle them through the freezer. Here, we keep them in the freezer until just a couple days prior to selling so they are sure not to solidify in the cells for the late season honey.

[@Vogda]

Dear Frederick, what is the proper way an already developed hive device (but still not popular) to be presented in your channel?

[@FrederickDunn]

Not sure, what's the device? There are so many innovations in the beekeeping realm these days it's just hard to keep up.

[@Vogda]

@@FrederickDunn Thank you and I apologize I was not very clear. I and team developed a device and it is on the production line. How to contact with you in order to be presented as a new product from your channel?

[@davidhorsley4657]

Did the HiveIQ guy say the hives should be painted?

[@turnitupmike]

Yes he did, not uv stabilised, he said we'd need to paint it

[@FrederickDunn]

Yes, all but the joining surfaces that have the yellow plastic, and other plastic components don't require paint, but all of the poly-components must be painted for longevity on the exterior.

[@johngardner1898]

Comb honey production is one of the true tests of beekeeping skill. Too weak, the colony won't complete the combs at all, or quickly enough. Too strong, and your colony swarms!

[@FrederickDunn]

Yes, he definitely cautioned that it's not a beginner product.

[@sunrisehollowfarm]

The hiveiq hives do they feel and sound like styro🤢foam? 😵‍💫😖

[@FrederickDunn]

Well, like a very dense styrofoam. Not like a normal cooler for example, but yes just more dense and durable.