The Best Beekeeping - DO THIS to be a BETTER BEEKEEPER!

Beekeeping is one of those things that I've struggled with... um, actually A LOT over the last 6 years. My struggles were not only with learning about bees, but also about learning how to be a better person. The better I am at being me and being sensitive to my failures... the better it is for the bees. Stick with me to the end of this video to see how you can become a better version of yourself and a better beekeeper at the same time.
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[@yaelifeiles9012]

Hi blake its great to see you watched yourself and learnd,thank you for your kindness to the bees

[@janetkouma1]

You are humble and kind. I videotaped myself each time I got into a hive last year and found it to be valuable in research, documentation and having a goal for my next inspection. Going into my second year and really enjoy watching you do your videos. You are honest and I see how much you care. Great work my fiend!

[@katedansyng1553]

Blake, so glad you watched yourself and discovered those things that could be made better. This is one reason I watch your videos as often as you publish them. You are always looking to improve, not just your farm, but also yourself. Keep up the great work.

[@Spinnerin2]

Hello Blake, I have been watching some of your work on your farm and found you to be a very inventive, conscientious and hard worker. Nothing I see is sloppy either on your chicken coop or your barn or your bee yard gate. So I think there is no reason for you to explain or be apologetic about how you work. We all have good and bad moments where things don't work out too well. So there will always be naysayers who will find fault in others, don't bother with those. They're unimportant. I for one think you're doing great with your bees. Your hives are neat and your bees look there multiplying. I like your new tool for hanging your frames. Oh, by the way, I'm an 83-year-old great grandmother who has kept bees since my early 30s. where there where no mites, no hive beetles and no mean bees. I had no suit, no gloves and no smoker, didn't need it then, my bees stayed on the frame. I still have some of those ancient frames, never got my bees sick. I realize that my comments are a little late, but I just saw it the first time. Keep going as you are and thanks for your videos, I rang the bell to keep up with your newest. Oh, I'm in southern California.

[@daddykirbs]

Thank you Nana for your encouraging words. That means so much to me. I bet your journey as a beekeeper has been so exciting!

[@Tunaslayer1]

Nana S nailed it. Pay attention to constructive criticism, and ignore the mean... negative people. I will video my inspections to see what I am doing wrong, and right. Your tip of videoing inspections is great. I Enjoy watching your beekeeping videos, and you just got a new sub!! Grateful that you point out your mistakes, so we all learn from them.

[@mizsterious]

Blake, thank you for your acknowledging the mistakes made, and the corrections. . .it makes you a BETTER Bee Keeper and Person, but also makes us more aware and a better person in our own environments regardless if it's bee's, birds, butterflies, dogs/cats, etc and even fellow humans, THANK YOU Daddy KIRBS! Making our world a better place, you ROCK! Love the bee vids alot! Great Caring and Sharing. . .As always . . . Be Kind, Be Light, Be Love to one another, Help, Hear, Listen and Enjoy each other! . . . .Just Be! Love you guys!

[@jessiebourassa2781]

You are super modest and humble. Those are such great qualities! Definitely subscribing!

[@Frank5921]

Awesome video. I have beekeeping for 8 years now. I have found using the same size super for all my hives makes it easier to exchange frames between hives for when you find that one of your hives is struggling. You can take a frame of brood from a strong hive and place it in the weaker hive. The same goes for frames of honey when the weaker hive doesn't have enough stores for the winter months. Have all the same sized frames just makes for easier bee management.

[@lizspencer605]

SO true! I use all 8 frame mediums.

[@PaulOtis]

Blake, I fully understand what you are saying. I have learned that even with just the 2 hives that I have, I have to take a break in between. I always have water available, because as a diabetic, I dehydrate very fast. Don't beat yourself up too much. You discovered a point in which you want to improve upon, and have set the goal to do so. Happy Beekeeping my friend!

[@bluzervic]

I Learn something every time I watch someone make a video. I still have a lot to learn, thanks.

[@HoneyHollowHomestead]

I absolutely love the bee videos! I don't know if I will ever have bees of my own, but I find them fascinating to watch! Watching yourself on video is a great way to analyze where you need to improve a skill for just about anything. I have done the same when working with the horses. Recording is a great tool for self improvement.

[@mikeofborg2]

Excellent video. I also use that type of frame holder when inspecting my colonies. Sadly I lost one of my 3 colonies already this winter. My Italians didn't make it. Had some warm weather last week, 60 degrees, and checked all my hives. My two Carnolian hives are doing gang busters. Not sure what happened. The Italians had a low mite load going into winter, and loads of honey. Set up a robbing station during the good weather and let the other two colonies rob out the Italians honey stores. One of my Carnolians lost their queen in August and was able to recover in time for winter.

[@silvershadow7245]

We're all behind you!

[@daddykirbs]

Thank you :)

[@larrypotts4892]

Hey Blake for the heat, try and take a wet dish towel and put in the frezzer. Right before you suit up, wrap it around your neck. Messed but it sure helps!

[@jackseamon7064]

Bee'keepers' always try to do better. That's what distinguishes us from bee'havers'. We're all learning and re-learning. I did notice you brush downwards. My bee class teacher made it his constant reminder to brush upward. The cells are downslope enough to hold honey and a bee caught partway could break. 🤤 With brushing upwards, that bee at worst would get brushed out. Made sense to us... Keep your videos coming, wishing you continued success.

[@melanymoore1759]

Nice tip!

[@nancyfahey7518]

I don't know anything about bees and didn't understand what you were doing. But I'll keep watching and hope the lightbulb goes on.

[@thuffman44]

Observation with attention to detail is what builds a great beekeeper! The frame perch is a great tool !!! If your using unscented swiffer sheets you wont be spewing "toxic" fumes from your smoker. So I wouldn't subscribe to whomever made that comment Also (I can't stress this enough), the lighter in color the wax, the healthier a colony can be! So cull those old dark color brood frame which have no brood, eggs, or larva !!! In the long run you provide a greater overall benefit. In the short term, you might not be able to harvest as much honey, but what's more important ?? I love this video & your elaboration in perspective at the end You've been doing a fantastic job & I'm very thankful you continue to take the time to edit & share your progress in your bee yard Thank you for the continued source of inspiration 🐝🐝🐝☮️

[@clayhardy8485]

Thank you for all you do and for all that you share. I know you inspire me to do more.

[@lesleyoliver5582]

Thanks for your honesty yet still willing to share as you develop your skills. I still one of the reasons I enjoy your channel. Thanks from Australia 🐨🐨

[@daddykirbs]

You're welcome from Texas! LOL

[@1Dennis2Eugene]

Someone who knows what housel positioning is! You have been doing your homework Blake!

[@Haffy1952]

Just watched your new video and like that you are learning each time. May I suggest that you might consider even painting the black mats white to cool the area down, just a suggestion. Thanks for the new video and can't wait til you try out the top bar hives.

[@westhoustonindoorsoccer7645]

Thanks for all your videos. I just attended a beekeeper's school yesterday and learned a lot. One comment I heard dealt with the egg laying by the queen. Apparently it takes the queen 5 days to reserve laying games eggs after being disturbed. If that is true, you might want to inspect only about every two weeks.

[@dzbeezhoneyfarm7252]

Never heard this but anyway I check mine every 7 to 10 days.If you wait every 2 weeks then they will have time to hatch out a new queen and swarm.

[@xtremelemon8612]

you’re very tough on yourself but thats good thats how you get better than the others.

[@Tunaslayer1]

And teach others! Thank you!

[@Mulberrysmile]

You may need to do something about those hot mats pretty quick: the heat that rises might make it too hot inside the hive for the bees to cool it down. Maybe some of those white plastic sheets they use for signs on top of the black mats, or a white painters tarp that you can tuck under the black mats. I don't mean to be hard on you at all...this is just how my brain works: I see a situation and my brain just automatically extrapolates out to answer: how can this go wrong? Lol..."It's a gift...and a curse..." to quote Monk! But I do love the idea of the mats...that heat will for sure kill any beetles and other pest larvae, and it makes a nice stable base for the hives and for you. It probably also helped warm the hives a bit in the winter... Do you have an infrared thermometer? That would be the best way to figure out if the heat is getting to the hives or not. And I love the bee videos! Keep it up...I appreciate your insights, not only into bee keeping, but into understanding yourself and openly sharing that with us all...

[@buddysmom0311]

Instead of kneeling down what about a sitting stool? I’ll use this for myself when working my hives. The next time I make a video I’ll be sure to show it when working my bees. Good job sir

[@toddachten2224]

Do yourself a favor and throw that hang on frame holder in the trash! You obviously have found some of the downfalls with it in the beginning of the video by knocking frames onto the ground. Build yourself an extra deep (11-1/4") "quiet box" with a fabric cover. You can bring it to the bee yard with you, or just leave it there for future inspections. Placing frames with bees on them into the quiet box will keep them out of the sun, wind etc providing a nice safe place for them until you return them to the hive box. It will keep the bees less stressed and the robbers away during an inspection.

[@janetkouma1]

Todd Achten I do the same. I keep a spare box for each size I have. I also keep a small nuc ready in case I spot the queen, then I know shes safe until I am finished.

[@Tunaslayer1]

Todd, I have been watching tons of beekeeping videos, and earlier today, I observed a quiet box for the first time. Seems like a great ideal for inspecting a hive in less than optimal weather.

[@dannyjohnston4550]

Hi Blake, Just a suggestion about working the hives on your knees. If the hives are that low and you can't stand up comfortably and work, sit on a 5 gallon bucket, It works for me.

[@timbrown540]

I have always used all 8 frame medium(6 5/8) boxes for everything. No problems for me. Also, I break and hydrate between hives. Kneeling to inspect bees..., I've never seen that before. Thanks for video.

[@gcrranch439]

Beekeeping looks complicated. We know nothing about it but looks interesting. I don’t know if we are capable lol😂

[@charlesthomas5737]

Blake, do your self a favor and get a Pro Vent bee jacket from Mann Lake its a lot cooler. Second instead of working your bees on your knees get something to sit on to work your bees it will be easier on your back and your knees. In my opinion the second hive that you added the top deep brood box to was not needed yet there wasn't that many bees in the bottom box and the queen had not laid that many frames of eggs and brood from what you showed on the video. The frame rest, I use one its better than putting your frames on the ground, just remember to put the frames back in the box before moving the box. The first hive with the bullet looking capped brood is drone brood and the capped cells that are sort of flat is worker brood. Happy beekeeping Blake.

[@daddykirbs]

I will take the advice on getting something to sit on! I'll see about getting the vented jacket. Thanks!

[@detroitmikeh5638]

Great video

[@DreamofaHive]

Get yourself one of the mesh ventilated jackets - much better for working in the heat ;)

[@mohawksniper79]

You can checker board your frames from the bottom to the top and it will help build your nest up.

[@rayedwards8146]

Like your video keep up the good work .

[@privatebubba8876]

The frame hangers are not for moving the boxes around.It's for hanging the frame that you remove for space during an inspection. If you are going to be removing multiple frames you should use an empty large box to place the frames in.

[@ronfults3844]

If you don't have your queens marked you need to do it. I use liquid paper whiteout. I can always find my queens when I look for them after doing this.

[@the3d_dude]

Lots and lots of capped Drone brood!!! Usually if they need a queen you will see multiple queen cells being built at the same time. First queen hatches and kills all the other queens by stinging the rest of the queen cells that have not hatched. Consider acquiring a ventilate jacket rather than the one you have. We need good ventilated bee suits and jackets in Texas!

[@ponyvet77]

Could you paint (or even just put down cardboard/old sheets) the mats...even just behind the hives? I think it would help with the heat reflecting back at you.

[@mkaysartfuljourney1239]

You did wonderful and what a good idea to watch your videos and. Learn. Have you watched Mr Ed or DirtRooster365, I've found they have some really good information. You Are a Bee keeper. I'm a bee keeper watcher. Lol. Or a wanna bee 😂. I'm now a new subscriber of yours too.

[@daddykirbs]

Welcome to the farm!

[@herbalifeclinic8569]

Good work thanks

[@herbalifeclinic8569]

@@daddykirbs thanks

[@clayhardy8485]

Blake were do you get the towel strips for the beetles.

[@MTNurse]

hi Blake, I really appreciate your videos! How exactly do the bees make a new Queen?

[@jessicavanzuydam6458]

My dad grew up on a farm and he was a beekeeper for most of his young adult life. I would love to keep bees one day, I'm not sure if it's the Vegan thing to do, but I just love them so much as well as the honey they produce. I think you're doing a good job, just maybe try and place the racks down on the ground before moving them, bcoz I did see a few of them fall off your new hanging thingamajig. Where in the US do you live? We're going to leave our country before the "war" begins and we're looking for options.

[@elliemay1229]

I tried to record myself moving the nucs to their hives.....My camera woman, 11 year old daughter, got stung....visit my channel to watch it.

[@71volare]

Paper towel with toxic gasses? What toxic gasses? What is the evidence?

[@vladkraus7519]

Those are some nasty old frames