Reversing Brood Boxes | My Bees Need Nutrition

Hello everyone and welcome back to the channel. Time to get some nutrition on the colonies in an attempt to strengthen them up from a terrible summer that led into a weakened state going into winter. I will also be reversing any boxes that are configured with empty frames in the bottom and brood in the top. The season is starting to pick up and it's time to really get serious about this whole beekeeping gig. Come along with me as I open a few hives.
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Thanks for joining me in my bee yard here in Louisiana as I share how I maintain my beehives. My videos are not meant to be 'How To' videos, but simply me sharing my experiences in beekeeping as I learned it from my mentors, teachers, and studies.
#bees #beekeeping #beehive #honeybees #hiveinspection #savethebees #honey #honeycomb #beeswax #swarming #swarmtrap #backyardbeekeeping

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Great Video Mike!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Ashby. Much appreciated! Hope all is well with y’all. Hit the like on your bee inspector video. Enjoyed his wisdom.

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Your hives are looking good. Getting ready for a big honey flow this year. Like super dfm. Thanks for the video. Take care Mike.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Garry! I hope they continue to grow steady. Can't wait to sit down and watch your latest video of your travels.

[@tomkingsley4398]

Must be nice to have 70° weather. Thanks for sharing

[@MikeBarryBees]

It is and it’s not Tom. For the bees, I’d rather it just stay cold thru February. The up and down temps keep things so unstable with them.

[@tomkingsley4398]

Our Temperatures have averaged 14° above normal since the first of the year. They have eaten most of there stores and are working on the second fondant patty.

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

Nice job brother. I always Appreciate seeing what other beekeepers are doing in their location. Looks like it's kicking off for you guys. Hope you have a blessed season, thanks, good health my friend and God bless

[@MikeBarryBees]

Th aka Houston and good to hear from you! God’s Blessings to you as well. Yep, we’re getting ready to get busy.

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

@@MikeBarryBees LoL, that's funny Mike, thanks. I am kinda the black sheep of the family I guess LoL 👍

[@NKYHoneyBees]

Great stuff, Mike. Bees look good mostly. Looks to be a good season.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Good to see you out and about Mike!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Nathan. Should be seeing some growth soon hopefully and things will on for sure. Hope you all are well.

[@viahoneybees]

Looking good, Mike! Thanks for the video. Keep on making good stuff for us to watch!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Will do and thanks Tom and Melissa. I heard great things about the conference you guys put on!!

[@viahoneybees]

@MikeBarryBees we had a great time, and we have received multiple compliments on it. I think everyone was able to take away a great education, vendor products, as well a solid networking connections. We are pleased , but we are looking forward to making it bigger and better next year!

[@viahoneybees]

@@MikeBarryBees it went really well. We definitely couldn't have done it without all of the other EMBA Board Members and volunteers doing their part!

[@jhulin9018]

Love your channel...so practical and real. You are only 1 of 2 KZbin channels that I watch all the videos (even more than Bob Bennie...Yikes!). That includes all my canoeing and backpacking channels as well as beekeeping. Also, as you get older you might consider changing your intro line to..."This is Barry's Best Honey, I'm Mike, and Bees do me, welcome to SE LA". 🙄

[@MikeBarryBees]

Wow, thank you! That’s a compliment! You’ve been with me a while too. And you are right, the bees do me. I actually have some canoeing video that I made of our boundary water trips, but they’re kind of like home movies and very long😁😁. I actually published one short video a couple years back.

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

You can hear the frogs already!! I’ve been working on swarm traps today. Thanks Mike!!!

[@MikeBarryBees]

I need to get mine out Rodney!! I’m running late…

[@bobhines8046]

With your lids is there any ventilation?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Between the warps and any rotten holes there is, but other than that, no, not with the migratory lids. The bees close up the cracks and holes anyhow. I only ventilate in the late spring , early summer, when the bees are drying down honey. Outside of that, I don’t crack them.

[@edwardclark5211]

Dream Big brother 🙏

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much. I love seeing this when you post it!

[@mikesbeesllc3352]

Great video Mike. You are probably a month ahead of me. I had to put some sugar bricks on mine as the warmer weather this winter caused a food shortage.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Mike! Yea, we’re just about ready to get moving. Yea, that warm weather does hurt the stores more than folks think. Have to keep an eye on the weight for sure.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Nice to see someone working bees. Us folks north of you are having hive envy of you right now. Tell me about the white powder treatment you are putting in there pls. OK, I think I heard you call it Super DFM - I looked it up, probiotics. Thanks for the video!

[@MikeBarryBees]

I saw the main researcher and company rep at the Louisiana state conference in 2019 present about the super dfm and I had been wanting to start some. Then I picked some up at the conference in Slidell, LA this past September and got it on the hives going into winter, but it’s best on a 30 day regime. So at the expo, I invested heavily in it and got a huge buck full. So I will get it in the every 30 days except for when supers are on. The research shows none of the active bacteria showing up in honey, it is still rather keep things away from my supers.

[@StanGore-mk8ow]

love your honesty.....we need more of that. :)

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Stan!! Appreciate you Brother!

[@LIL-RED-BIRD]

I’m wondering if I’m getting more snow lol southern Ontario 🇨🇦 spring will show up some day

[@MikeBarryBees]

Oh yea, you all are a little ways out from spring I imagine 😬😬

[@LIL-RED-BIRD]

@@MikeBarryBees last frost date is widely considered to be may24th in my area lol so 2 or so months, seen your general area is sweating tornados, keep safe

[@davidsbeefarm6156]

Bees are bringing in plum peach hinbit and maple. Plenty of capped drone brood. Hope we dont have another late freeze

[@MikeBarryBees]

I saw some drone brood in the very few frames I did look at and several drones walking on comb. I suspect we’ll see another freeze, it as long as it’s before march 10th or so, I think we’re fine.

[@emilandrusko8597]

Hey Mike. Thanks for sharing. I heard recently that using Grub EX around the base of your hive can kill SHB larvae in the ground. I believe I heard it from Frederick Dunn.

[@MikeBarryBees]

There has been a lot of talk about it for sure. The active ingredient is supposed to be benign for the bees according to the research done at UofG in a Bob Bonnie interview. I was actually using bifinthrin granules one season, but I have since bought the grubX and I have a bag in us shop that I need to get spread out.

[@framcesmoore]

Ha mike enjoyed the video. Hope u get your work done. Have a blessed week

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Frances and you be blessed as well!!

[@billchriswell2925]

👍 boy I wish the real spring would get here...55° the other day...checked the hives...4 deadouts out of 15... I'll take it...fed the rest...back to winter with a snow storm Tuesday

[@MikeBarryBees]

That’s a good number Bill. Glad you have it so low and stay warm!!

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Good morning Mike, thanks for sharing. Temps have been warm, bee poop everywhere on the snow in my backyard. we still have 3 or 4 more weeks before pollen starts coming in. I did not get into any colonies so far...they all were flying, yesterday. Thanks again, peace , Brice

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks as always Brice. Glad you're still seeing flight from them. Flight is good for sure.

[@briancraig6468]

Good luck catching up! It’s hard to do.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Virtually impossible Brian!

[@rtxhoneybees]

Good to see how things are going. Other than hefting and feeding, im trying to stay out of mine until March. They must be finding something in the environment. I went out to feed today and only two out of 25 needed any. Some had not taken syrup i gave them two weeks ago. The,ones who took theres were heavy again. Then again, the ones not taking feed could have a problem.

[@MikeBarryBees]

My buddy down the road put out some open feed totes in front of 150 hives and they didn’t touch it!! So like you said, they’re I to something for sure.

[@russellaymond312]

Thank you for a great this is how I do bees.

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome Russell and thanks as always for the support!!

[@noahG82]

Here we go digging in bees in Louisiana! Means I got 6 weeks to go here in West Virginia! I can't wait to build the girls I have left up and get to splitting! Thanks for the video sir!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yep, before you know it, you'll be suited up and going at it! It comes fast once us in the south start getting into hives.

[@phillipduncan2497]

I started to order the Hive Alive fondant at the show and backed out. Not going to make that mistake at the next Expo. They had a good price. Hope you have a great nectar flow this year.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yea Phil, I had plenty left and I'm finally getting thru the stuff that expires this fall. I did get their deal on the pollen patties. And the Super DFM from Strong Microbials was really a deal. So many deals up there, I feel like it's worth buy a ton just to save on a year's worth of product.

[@timmorris7022]

Great video Mike and always thanks for sharing this !

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much and my pleasure!!

[@patrickbrewer2794]

Thank you Mike for sharing with us. I always enjoy watching and learning from you Mike. Thank you for sharing your day with us. God bless you Mike.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Patrick and I'm so glad you enjoy the channel!!

[@redfish440]

Thanks Mike, I really enjoy story time with Mike, God bless !

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thank you my friend for your faithful support!

[@MFB7000]

I lost 4 of 8 hives in that freeze. Hope the rest survive

[@MikeBarryBees]

Oh wow, hate to here that! We're about out of the woods for weather.

[@southeasthomestead6093]

open a colony today and found 12 plus queen cells. 3 queens emerged in my hand as I was cutting queen cells to place in roller cages. Found the queen, made 3 splits and will make 3 more splits tomorrow with the virgin queens. nectar is coming in. looking at adding some supers tomorrow as well. Bee season is on

[@MikeBarryBees]

We're still waiting over here. They're growing, but just still slow and steady. In about three weeks we should be full on.

[@jimmylott9677]

What is the white powder you sprinkle on the top of your frames

[@MikeBarryBees]

Super DFM. It’s a probiotic from Strong Microbials.

[@nancynolton6079]

Tell us another story Mike!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Soon enough, soon enough😂😂

[@josephrawls]

I have to get me some of the magic dust.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I'll measure you out some this week.

[@klhoneybeeskennemuth7323]

What kind of gloves are you wearing?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Those are from Guardian Bee Apparel. I love their gloves.

[@mattmitchell9912]

What's the white powder for?

[@MikeBarryBees]

It is Super DFM. It’s a probiotic.

[@amfarmsllc5624]

I got 14 done today. Took some time but I reversed, put sugar water, and pollen patty on.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Good deal. It's always slow going it seems to me when we're just getting back into the swing of things. Takes a while to get a flow going again.

[@aussiebeekeeping]

Your early season work will pay off this year. It’s funny how with the lack of flow you have had that your comb is in need of replacement. Exactly the same as mine after two ordinary seasons. Good luck.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I sure hope so. Soon I’ll know how far behind I am and how well the bees have done as we get closer to March.

[@CentralKyBees]

Mike you will be splitting some of those colonies before ya know it. Im pumped for this season. I plan on adding another 20+ to my operation. May sell some nucs this year. I just refreshed all their sugar bricks the other day. They are already getting a strong population. I may get overwhelmed 😲

[@MikeBarryBees]

It's sure easy to get overwhelmed. I looked through some today and they're putting on some good growth. I need my weak ones to really get going so I can split and fill my stands back up. I have a few NUCs already promised, so I need some good growth.

[@salembeeman370]

Mike, I always believed the bees like to move 'UP" so why would you put the honey frames on the bottom? Wouldn't they just move to the full frames as needed. It's not like it's very cold where you are. Just asking.

[@MikeBarryBees]

That’s what I am doing is moving brood nests down and empty boxes up. There is some honey in the box I’m moving down, but mostly brood. That’s kind of what I was explaining at the beginning when I showed the first hive I walked up on. If there’s a full box of honey on top and a nest in the bottom, I leave them alone. As far as bees moving up, that’s as they consume honey. So if they’re in the top already and there’s only a thin strip of honey on top, then I’ll move that down and throw a fondant on top and give them that empty deep over top of that. Then the queen moves right on up and at the end of the month, we have two full boxes of brood just a week or two quicker. It’s also a great swarm prevention method later in spring depending on brood configuration.

[@donbearden1953]

Mike, I don’t ever remember you using pollen patties in the prior years that I’ve watched your videos. Did you used them in the last 5 or 6 years prior to this year?

[@MikeBarryBees]

No Don, I haven’t ever used it as a regular sub. I’ve used dry open feeding with Ultra Bee and I’ve also kept and used their patties for certain NUCs or special situations, but this season, as bad as the bees went into winter, I decided to give them a boost early on.

[@TennesseeTim73]

When you was doing the box reversal, I laid back and closed my eyes listening to the tree frogs croaking in the background!!! Getting soooooo close to spring!!! What is that powder for you are sprinkling?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yea Tim, they’re definitely telling us of the upcoming season my friend. The powder is ProDFM, it’s a probiotic for bees. Best wishes brother!!

[@bieneulm1982]

Hello there, why do you need pollen substitute, when you're not really having winter in S.E. Louisiana? There should, due to the lack of a real winter, enough natural pollen sources? Over here, the haselnut provides pollen right now ( although January has been way to warm and therefore atypical, same for February), soon Galanthus will as well start to bloom... The first plant that provides enough pollen and nectar will be blooming in march, it is Salyx caprea.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Well, we have camellia pollen coming in as well as some wild mustard and other plants I am sure I don’t know about. And I normally don’t feed any supplement, but as I stated in the videos, my bees are weak from the summer drought that I underestimated and they went into winter very weak. The pollen always comes in at the end of winter, and I can do without supplement normally, and probably be ok this season, just behind a bit, and most all my hives are usually heavy, so if they are on normal track, then yes, you are correct, the amount coming in is just fine. But this year, they are quite small compared to normal February months, which I expected. Once march comes in they’ll be finding more nectar and all I need to do is monitor stores as they brood up.

[@jhulin9018]

I noticed you rarely use the hook on your hive tool any more. You might consider going to a smaller and lighter hive tool if you don't need the hook. I had one just like the one in the video but switched to the small one Randy Oliver uses. Hive tools are like mechanical pencils for me....I like to switch off every once in a while.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I actually still use it, but it will pop frames apart very easily. But the reason you don’t see me use it as often is when the frames are tough and I’m using it to break loose frames, I edit all that out of the video. I figured out that if I cut out all the small sections of prying and pulling, at the end of the video I can save about five minutes of useless video and add useful content. That’s why you’ll see a lot of breaks in the footage between frames.

[@이철형-o7q]

하얀 가루는 유산균 인가요?

[@MikeBarryBees]

I do believe that is one of the 7 beneficial bacteria that it contains. You can look at their website to get the exact bacterial.

[@adamsoutdoors]

Looks like things are getting started down there. Still a month or so out up here in Ohio. God Bless Mike hope your season goes well!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!! It's getting close for sure.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Had that scientist developer of that afb vaccine called me Friday. He said vaccine also 83% effective on deformed wing virus.. so now im going to get into that program. I have 3 VSH breeders coming mid May as well from VP queen

[@MikeBarryBees]

Interesting!! Before it was one of those deals of, how often do we really deal with AFB to justify a vaccine? Of course if we had an outbreak, we wish we’d a had the vaccine in them. But now to see an 80 percentile against DWV, that’s significant. I have a couple VSH coming and it’s beginning to look like I’ll be able to get into a program with the USDA Bee Lab in Baton Rouge where we get a couple VSH breeders and some open mated VSH. Of course they’ll be collecting data and we’ll have to provide certain functions in testing, including the Harbo assay(got my first bees from Dr. John Harbo), but I’m game. I look forward to seeing your progress in the program.

[@rickyp1991]

😱 Promo`SM

[@mrflapdaddy]

Mike. What is the DFM that ur sprinkling on them?

[@MikeBarryBees]

It’s a probiotic. You can read more about it at Strong Microbials. Just google that and their website should come up.