Getting Started in Beekeeping: 07: The Beekeeping Year Part 2 - The Norfolk Honey Co.

[@markwilliamson3791]

Well presented and informative. Many thanks for taking the time to providing this information.

[@khalidkhan2720]

Great video

[@ianthomas1819]

As a brand new beekeeper that has been thrown in at the deep end I am finding your videos very informative and helpful. Grateful for all the help they are giving me.

[@bwana4711]

I would just like to say thank you for taking the time to do this series. I’m very keen to start beekeeping in 2019 and have watched a lot of videos, most American but I was very happy to find a local channel. I appreciate the way you have simplified the advice enough for new starters but also mix it with some of the technical jargon and the science behind bees. I look forward to watching all of your videos in anticipation of my start next year. I do have a few questions that I’ve not seen answered in the videos I’ve watched, I would appreciate your advice in this regard: I live in a village, have a smallish garden, not tiny, but I have neighbours on 3 sides. What is the etiquette here, do I need to notify them, I would like to but to the average person bees are intimidating and I’m concerned I might get some resistance. I could probably start and have them not notice but I’d prefer to be transparent however is there a situation where they could prevent me from keeping bees? Secondly, do I need any insurance? Do I need to let any regulatory body know I’m keeping bees? Thank you once again.

[@sueoakey4983]

Hi Stuart. just hoping to come back to beekeeping after a gap of a few years. Finding these videos really helpful in terms of revision and building my confidence. Thanks.

[@craigdefreitas9387]

Would just like to say im really enjoying your videos. I have only just started looking into beekeeping and cant wait to get some bees. Ive decided to study this until next spring which should hopefully give me enough time to learn what I need to. I might be attending a short course at Myersough college in Lancashire and will try and join any clubs or associations in the area before buying any bees. Again thank you for your videos I am learning a lot. Ive subscribed and keep up the good work 👍🏼.

[@sneakyking]

Subscribed. I have watch from 1 and I will watch the rest. I intend on getting 3 hives this year. (Mid may) Unfortunately the courses are too long and I can not commit the time required. So far these vids are very helpful.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Stefan, Thanks for your comments. If you pop over to my website I have an online course specifically designed for anyone just getting started in beekeeping with lots of additional information as well as 40+ videos. www.norfolk-honey.co.uk/getstarted Stewart

[@thomasreto2997]

Really fascinating stuff you are explaining. Currently I live in Pittsburgh Pa which I think probably has somewhat similar weather patterns as you describe. I appreciate you explaining all the necessary details and have trouble putting down my iPad. I would assume that the workers could go up to the supers and harvest honey to take back down and stay warm over winter if needed. Here, it does get FRIGID. Sometimes around 0 for week or so. Brrrr. Hawaii someday. But until then There is a local club called Burgh Bees which I want to explore and I am sure they will give pointers on how to deal with local conditions. I want to set a goal for mid May and will post on my progress here.👍

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

That's great Thomas, I was in PA in December last year visiting my daughter who is studying at Penn State. Really enjoyed my trip, hope to visit again in the not too distant future. Good luck with the beekeeping, keep me posted on how it goes. Stewart

[@patrickbaxter5720]

Good clear I intrusions Would like a video on queen rearing later on.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Morning Patrick, Thanks for your comment, great to see you looking so well last night at our Beekeeping Christmas meal. I thought it was really good fun. I'll add queen rearing to the list for the new season's videos. Stewart

[@framcesmoore]

I love watching my bees it is wonderful. If there is a dearth they will eat sugar syrup out of my hand it is just so cool, they do not sting me they just eat and go. some times I think they are pets instead of a bee that can hurt.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Yes, sometimes it's lovely to sit and watch the bees go about their work and yes I have bees sitting on my hand taking spilt honey or sugar syrup too. Always a pleasant distraction from being so busy inspecting.

[@markgillard8113]

Thanks Stewart more good knowledge. I like the way you edit stills and video down one side as you talk about it. I've just put on another super under the other. Seems that both full depth brood boxes are rather full, a couple of the frames had 3/4 honey with a little capped brood at the bottom. I'm tempted to put them up into the new honey super and replace with foundation for more brood laying room. What do you think. Oh yes by the way, all my hive boxes are full depth. Thanks in advance, keep the videos coming, Cheers Mark...

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Mark, Thanks for commenting and I appreciate your feedback on the way I produce the videos. I'm only just learning how to edit them really so as I learn new tricks you'll see me use them a lot more!! I just don't want people getting bored watching my ugly mug all the time! A lot depends on the time of the season you are in and how much time they have to draw new comb. If you have a nectar flow on you could move a couple of frames from the brood box, just don't reduce the amount of room the queen has to be able to expand the nest area. At the peak of the season I know which of my hives are fully across the brood box and which don't need any more space. I'm hoping to show this next season which can't come fast enough as I have so many videos planned for the channel. If you want to discuss your plans in more detail go to my website and drop me a message using the contact page and then we can exchange emails. Stewart

[@richardjbland]

Hi Stuart. I'm finding your videos really useful, thank you! I have been given an old WBC hive which I have just renovated and am hoping I could start my bee keeping with a single hive next spring/summer? Also, if I do need to buy a second hive, is there a simpler hive with the same frame dimensions?

[@markhowarth3520]

Hi Stuart, finding your videos very informative. I'm in my second year now started with one colony last year had four swarms I was only using one 8 frame langstroth not enough room and had poor advice. I will be using double brood boxes this year and will add supers when the time is ready. I have also set up an out apiary with two hives at the end of last years season. You mentioned oil seed rape in your video, and I believe there is some close by if so what should I do with it as I'm told it sets like concrete?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Mark, Thanks for commenting, unfortunately a lot of beekeeping is down to learning by experience if you haven't got someone giving you sound advice. Stick with the videos and hopefully I can help out in the coming season. Where are you beekeeping? UK? OSR is a fantastic nectar and pollen source for our honeybees and you will find the bees need lots of room when there is a flow on, I usually put at least two empty supers on a strong colony sometimes three all at the same time! Yes OSR does set hard so you have to judge carefully when to remove it and extract immediately you take it off the hive but it makes a fantastic creamed honey so well worth going for. Stewart

[@markhowarth3520]

The Norfolk Honey Company Thanks for the reply Stuart value your advice and will follow your videos kind regards Mark

[@mayayates2290]

Thanks for creating this incredibly informative series. My first nucleus will be arriving in about one month, which is really exciting. At what point to I add the first super? Is it the same principle as adding the additional supers (6/7 frames full)? Many thanks :)

[@ashyaztec]

Hi Stuart, really enjoying your videos. Im just about to start keeping bees and was wondering would adding another brood box before adding supers help prevent swarming and also make a larger colony for when the supers are added. It seems here in the uk most hives are just one brood box, is there a reason for this. Thanks.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Paul, Thanks for committing and asking a really good question. The simple answer is yes and yes. The more complex answer is maybe.... A lot of beekeepers use a double brood box as a standard option for exactly the reasons you point out. The difficulty is that you then have to handle two brood boxes in order to properly inspect each week and if your bees naturally have a smaller brood nest then you are wasting a lot of space within the brood box that could otherwise be honey production supers. If you're just starting out I would start with a single brood box, watch the bees as they grow the brood nest area and if they go wall to wall brood then add another brood box. I'll cover this off in a video in the Spring in my getting started series. Hope this helps. Stewart

[@markhowarth3520]

Hi Stewart,sorry forgot to say I'm from mid Wales. If I extracted OSR straight away could I add my seed while its still runny to make creamed honey?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Mark, Absolutely yes, if you make sure the OSR has no granulation to it and add the seed honey it will turn into the smoothest creamed honey you could want. Works well for me and sells well too. I have produced a video on making creamed honey using the Dyce method and it promotes heating the honey to destroy unwanted yeasts and making sure the runny honey has no granulation in it. As the creamed honey starts to set it releases water into the honey so suspended yeasts can sometimes start to ferment. Stewart

[@83fireworks]

Hi Stewart, I´m building my first hive and your videos are incredibly useful! Thanks a lot! And I would like to ask you if sterelizing (by heat) the hive boxes with some frequency could be an option to the Varroa treatment? Merry Xmas!

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Joana, The sterilising of the boxes by heat doesn't really help with the control of the varroa mite as it lives in the brood cells and on the backs of honeybees so there are not normally many mites at all in the empty boxes that get the heat treatment. have a great Christmas too. Stewart

[@83fireworks]

Hi Stewart, thanks for both replies! I´ve seen your videos, the one you suggested and the Oxalic Acid, and yes, that was my concern. So. what was the procedure before the oxalic acid approval? Is there any plausibly efficent biological option to it? Thanks a lot!

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Joana, The pre-approved oxalic treatment in the Winter was generally non-approved oxalic acid treatment! I think I need to share a video all about the Varroa mite in the Spring and how to best treat. There are lots of methods both in terms of treatments and mechanical processes that can be used to keep mite numbers as low as possible in the hive. I'll add it to the growing list of videos to produce once the new season arrives. Stewart

[@83fireworks]

Great laughs with the "non-approved"! :) And more videos would be awesome, specially for those, like me, who want to have just a domestic beehive! And I don´t remember which one (because I´ve seen a lot of your videos ;) but you have covered Varroa pretty nicely! Thanks a lot for your answers and my best wishes for your insightful videos!

[@patrickbaxter5720]

I meant instructions , Never was able to spell

[@marcusknight3445]

i would like to grow some oilseed rape to help provide an early nectar supply for the bees. can you recommend any suppliers?

[@83fireworks]

Without the frames and the bees in it, ;) just the structure.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Joana, I do sterilise my hives once they have had bees in them and before they are reused for more bees. I use a gas torch to flame the inside of the boxes once I have scraped all the brace comb and propolis out. I have produced a video showing this and the link is below kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGLPcp9qadajbtk I hope that helps. Stewart