Treating Our Observation Hive For Mites

Treating our observation hive for mites and a little birthday celebration.

[@wpankey57]

What a nice bunch of folks. Happy Birthday.

[@lenturtle7954]

Happy Fathers day And happy birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks!

[@kennith.]

Nice to see Seth. Thanks for sharing

[@markbooth8458]

Happy Father’s Day Bob. The cake looked really good. Sourwood is blooming here. I would like to have an observation hive, but I haven’t seen one for sale that I was crazy about. I really like yours though.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks Mark. The next time I see you we'll be bragging about how much sourwood we made (or not).

[@framcesmoore]

I was glad to see this video now I can ask you a question I want to treat with oav as my treatment for mites this year, it will be cheaper I have 60 hives now, I would like to ask you How many times should I treat and how many days a part. you think I should do it. I entend to do it again in sept and also in dec. I think it is real nice what you do for your employees, I can tell to work for you every one seems so happy. God Bless you and all. Thanks for u responding to my question. Hope you have a wonderful fathers day.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Frances and thanks. As I mentioned oav works best without sealed brood. This time of year you would need to to do it every 4 days or so for at least 7 rounds to have a notable affect.

[@framcesmoore]

@@bobbinnie9872 cool Bob thanks I know they should be brood less so I knew I needed t0 treat a lot but I had several answers every 7 days was 1 of the answers I want to give it a try even though it is a lot of work. Thanks so much for your quick responce. Have a good day. Looking forward to the next video.

[@bobbinnie9872]

@@framcesmoore Keep in mind that hatching mites can begin reentering open brood cells just before capping within 4 days.

[@framcesmoore]

@@bobbinnie9872 Ok thanks Bob. I will let you know how it works out. and Thanks again for your help

[@Synergyfarm]

What treatment would you recommend for middle of the summer with capped brood? I’m in central Florida and I’m looking for a mid season treatment. It’s 95+ degrees during the day, and no supers are on currently.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I hesitate to recommend a chemical but Apivar is not temperature sensitive.

[@burleybeeyard]

Nothing like a whiff of OA in the morning ☕️

[@MagnoliaSpringsFarm19]

Happy Birthday to John, Syleena and Kennedy! And Happy Father's Day!! I always wondered how you treated that hive. Looks easy enough.

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Nice observation hive. You mentioned sourwood, I got some sourwood seeds from you and they sprouted.

[@oscarvilla6841]

Happy birthday Selena, Kennedy and John 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@briancraig6468]

Happy Birthday everyone!!!

[@brianbennett4374]

Happy Father's day to Everyone. Thanks for sharing with us Bob 😊

[@dadu63]

Happy Birthday to everyone! And a happy Father's day to all the dads there as well. Thanks for sharing your work family with us this morning Bob. Yall have a great week!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you. 👍

[@aileensmith3062]

Interesting, as always, and Thank You for sharing!

[@cindylee4930]

It’s good to see Jesse and Seth in the bees. Happy birthday to all

[@babybeeapiaries8667]

Cake for breakfast what a way to start the day. I'm sure they worked it all off before lunch! Happy Birthday!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Yes, long gone by lunch. Thanks.

[@BlanchardsBees]

💨🐝🐝🐝that was neat to watch

[@andywhite9932]

Happy Father’s Day Mr Bob!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you!

[@caven930]

I noticed some sourwood blooming on our property a week ago, I was excited at first but as I looked around I realized we actually have alot of sourwood, but very little of it blooms.

[@jakeoz65]

When will yall start pulling honey? 🍯 💪🏼💪🏼

[@bobbinnie9872]

We've begun pulling our spring honey in anticipation of the Sourwood flow coming soon.

[@chuckgross6024]

Happy birthday everyone! 🎉🎉

[@Drewjober]

Seth there he is! I learned that rhubarb leaves have oxalic acid in the leaves. I had 1 hive of 30 that the queen is a drone layer so I swapped her out with an extra that was above a double screen. Now I want to try a few 2 queen hives with the supers between

[@filipvernica258]

You can put a insert instead of wood screws because you’re taking that hive out for treatment many times

[@beesintheweeds]

Hey Bob! Hope all is well! Wouldn’t it be easier to just shoot the entrance with OA from outside instead of moving the unit outside? Just curious! Great video!

[@bobbinnie9872]

It would be except it has several vents and cracks.

[@pawelcc38]

Happy Father's day ❤❤❤

[@beebob1279]

Happy birthday everyone.

[@robertstwalley3662]

Question, first thanks for the video on the observation hive. My question is, can you direct me to any resources on how to manage an observation hive long term and especially over winter. I would love to have a hive in my office, but my research has provided little info on how to get them through the winter. I have around 25 colonies for the last 10 years, not interested in harvesting honey from them, just want a functioning colony that will survive the winter in my office. My understanding is that they stay too active over the winter and can easily starve out. Do you feed your colony during the winter months. I am in Iowa, so our winters are quit cold, I usually have pretty good survival percentages. Also, Happy Birthday to all your coworkers.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks. I think where some observation hives fall short is they are not big enough. Ours is eight frame which seems to work in our region. We feed heavily in the fall and generally do not feed in the winter. I've seen books on the subject but I don't remember where. Perhaps search online. They're fun, good luck.

[@johngarrison69]

Off subject question but, Question on Apiguard, I reference you when sending out information to members on using apiguard and wanted to get your opinion on something. We are in Tennessee, met you in Chatt last fall, so our climate is very similiar. When temps run a little higher than you like and you have to do 1/2 doses of apiguard have you ever studied and seen what the effect is on the mites verses using the full dose. I have seen you suggest half doses but i don't remember you ever talking about how it affected the treatment? just wandering where the cutoff or line is where you scrap it for another solution for summer treatments? Thanks and hope you know how much your video's help us!

[@bobbinnie9872]

When we use half doses we do 4 instead of 2 and we do it once a week. As near as I can tell it turns out the same in the end. The only downside is that it takes four trips to the beeyard instead of two. I don't know the limit of temperature but I've done it successfully in the low 90s f.

[@sunduck1]

Bob, How do you know when the sourwood is ready to produce nectar. The ones here in Ellijay have pods on them but they don't look open. Robb

[@bobbinnie9872]

Sourwood trees are misleading. They actually need the pods to be about 1/3 open before a flow comes. Here in Lakemont I believe a little started coming in today.

[@TJSmith757]

Thanks again Bob!

[@danielcollins9628]

Why don't you use varroa resistant bees so you don't have to treat

[@bobbinnie9872]

Working on it.

[@isaacschmidt3400]

Question: Moved to Reedsport, Oregon with the Coast Guard last year and was wondering what bees you kept when you lived in Oregon. I’m thinking about buying Caucasian queens to requeen in the spring, because I’m right on the ocean will they do well or will it still be too cold? Would really appreciate your initial thoughts sir. Big fan!

[@bobbinnie9872]

I had bees on the coast pollinating cranberries in Bandon several years. At that time I was using Caucasian daughter queens open mated with Italians and they did quite well. In that area there was actually a nectar flow in May and early June with temperatures often not getting out of the 50s f. The winters have relatively mild temperatures so I think about anything would work.

[@isaacschmidt3400]

@@bobbinnie9872 Thank you! I’ve never had more than two or three hives but I’m gonna go for five or six next spring. You’re, Expanding Your Apiary, video is super helpful.

[@Manuherikiabeekeeping]

Hi from central Otago southern New Zealand 👋🥝👍 fantastic video. My neighbor wants an observation hive and ive Been trying to come up with a good design for one for a shed, this has given me some good ideas. David Watson and you did a great job with designing and building this observation hive. Fantastic 👍

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanls and good luck. It is fun to have.

[@jonohooper4555]

In NZ, by law every hive has to have removable frames to check for AFB

[@Manuherikiabeekeeping]

@@jonohooper4555 yup, that's the problem of course, it's simple to make an observation hive but making one you can easily disassemble to check for AFB , keeping it thin and strong has been an issue but watching this video I think I might have solved it

[@tonyc44]

Happy Birthday wishes to you all 🎉🎉🎂

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you so much 😊

[@dave125261]

It would be wonderful to see some detailed plans for this hive!

[@ابوكرمللسيراميك]

Hello my friend . What is the appropriate temperature for building a comb?

[@bobbinnie9872]

The nest where they are building the comb needs to be 95°f. The outside temperature depends on the size of the colony.

[@gregcundiff]

Happy Birthday gang! Happy Father's Day to the dads in your outfit. Mr. Binnie you have surrounded yourself with an awesome group of people!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks, I would have to agree.

[@adam-bonticoubees]

I would like to put an observation hive in the hotel at the resort I work for. I am curious about your inspection schedule and maintenance of the hive? Or do you leave them mostly to themselves since you can see most of what’s going on? Thanks!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Except for the treatment regime and possible feeding we leave them alone. There have been a few seasons when we had to start over with a new nuc.

[@dennisbarney869]

Nice observation hive do you sell the plans. Is that glass or form of pexi. Thanks

[@bobbinnie9872]

Sorry, I don't have any plans. We used heavy tempered glass.

[@TheFamilyFarmHomestead]

Would it hurt the bees if you used Oxalic Acid Safety twice a week for three or four weeks straight?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Although I'm not an expert on this I don't think the harm would be very much. I believe the benefits would outweigh the negatives.

[@TheFamilyFarmHomestead]

@@bobbinnie9872 the reason I ask is we don't have a brood-less time here in southeast Texas. I like what I am using now but would like to alternate between it and something else. Thank You as I respect your opinion.

[@homeselfmade6286]

The observation hive is in the store (unless I'm mistaken) if so, that means it must be temperate in the room during winter. Is that not a downside for the bees to shut down and hibernate? Massively curious about this as I want to make an observation hive in my office, but that's at 20 C all winter and ive been worried that it would not work out. Happy Birthday to your crew! It's a good team. All the best.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you. This observation hive goes broodless every winter just like the rest of our colonies do but they don't cluster as tightly. Their entrance (that big pipe) is exposed to the elements just on the other side of the wall which probably has a big influence on their behavior.

[@homeselfmade6286]

@@bobbinnie9872 I see. Thanks for that, that's something to try.

[@carloscrenz9433]

Hola 🎉🎉🐝🐝🐝🎂🎂

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hola.