WHY We DON'T Feed Sugar Water To Our Bees / Beekeeping 101

Welcome back to another bee ramble session with yours truly! Yes as the title states..it is true. Kasey and I don't feed our bees any sugar water in the fall even though are bee hives are in fact light...and here is why!
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[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

Im fully open for discussion about the entire goal of Bee Yard 51 just hit me up under this comment, id like to be more active with the commenters in the commen section.

[@phillee2814]

I would say that it is much more important to have a well-insulated top on the hive than to go to dry sugar, which actually wears out their tongues as they lick at it (confirmed by microscopy in a direct study comparing ordinary white sugar with several alternatives - patties, 2:1 syrup, and I think another couple of alternative) and which they need water to be able to digest or process. Condensation on the sides of the hive is beneficial, as they can't get outside when it is cold, so condensation is their only water source. The bad thing is condensation that can drip down onto the cluster, but if it is only on the sides, it can't do that. So insulating the top is good, but the sides less so. The insulated top can be left on all year round, as it shields from the heating by direct sunlight in summer as well as keeping the hive warmer in winter. Just tip the hive forward by a few degrees to make sure it can drain if the condensation is excessive and pools on the bottom board. My other pet peeve is top entrances/ventilation, as that massively increases the amount of energy the colony will need to burn to get through winter, and makes it easier for robbers, both of other bees and other species. Almost no feral hives have more than one entrance. They do have far thicker walls though, which indicates their preference for good insulation. One danger with just allowing a badly infested hive to die out naturally is that many of the bees will drift (even in healthy colonies, drift of 20% is normal), and in that drift to other colonies, they can and do take the mites along for the ride. Even though I am not a fan of chemicals, I would in an instance like the one you showed, use something natural like CO2 to euthanise the colony, and along with it, the assorted parasitic organisms. Passing them along to another colony to deal with may not be a problem if that colony has all the right traits to handle it, but why take the risk? I agree that doing things a particular way just because the majority of other beekeepers in your area say that is the only way to do it lacks logic and is a circular argument. I am a fan of how Frederick Dunn approaches his beekeeping, running direct comparison testing on his own hives before reaching any firm conclusions. Not only does it show cause and effect, but is relevant to your own bees' genetics and your own environment, which in combination are probably almost unique to you.

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

@@phillee2814 that's a legit well thought out answer and we are doing Styrofoam this year only on the tops on most hives to see how they like it, imma look deeper into the tongue situation I feel like I'd really enjoy taking a deep dive into that, and can I just say beekeeping in bee yard 51 will be more of a look what's happening, if a hive fails in that yard for what ever reason it's a great thing to show so new beekeeper can see what good and bad hives look like, there is never gonna be perfect bees in yard 51 but there will always been trial and error and learned lessons from both, I just want people to understand that yard I refuse to use common bee logic in I will go out my way not to just do it the way everyone says because that's the point of the yard. But honestly great response loved it.

[@carlsledge3868]

I got a kick out of you're naming the experimental/see how it works out yard "51", I assume after Area 51.

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

@@carlsledge3868 thank you I watched for years in KZbin as the KZbin bee world became more negative so I figured I'd just roll with it first, yes it's 100% experiment yard named after Area 51 I felt it would help people not panic at what they see in that yard, cuz it can always be restocked if it all goes wrong and tests and experimental stuff can resume!

[@phillee2814]

@@carlsledge3868 But in this case, it would be far better to keep the skunks at a safe distance. Frederick Dunn has (by careful experimentation) extablished a safe height above which they can't scratch at the hive overnight and provoke gard bees into coming out into the darkness where it just rolls them into a tasty snack. I'm afraid I didn't get the exact height, as we don't have skunks in the UK so it doesn't affect me, but I vaguely rememberr 36" minimum height for the landing boards (above that, they have to stretch and expose their belly to stinging, which does not have the thick fur to protect it) . Definitely worth checking his channel with a search, as I may easily have misremembered. His channel is my first port of call for any problems - even here in the UK, I have not missed a single episode of his weekly Q&A for backyard beekeepers, which I think is now on episode 229 - but he also has a website as thewaytobee, with a decent search function, and a form to ask questions. If it is urgent (like"I just found a queenless hive, what can I do?) he will answer immediately by email, others he answers in the weekly Q&A. He will certainly remember, as he had a skunk problem, and that is how he solved it.

[@larrymoon1971]

when you start beekeeping know what your goals are, and don't be afraid to move the goal posts.

[@75thteaster54]

Do you wrap ur hives with roofing tar paper to keep them warm those hives being in the woods like that it seems like it wld be hard for the hives to stay warm during winter

[@carlsledge3868]

If you look closely the bees have hooks on their legs that they use to remove dead or dying and diseased bees, that's why they have to work a little to detach themselves.

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

You're gonna have me running to buy a magnifying glass now, I've never thought about it till she said something in the video and no my interest is peaked to see it up close.

[@dancyren]

Loving your channel and Kasey is a lovely addition too! If you're taking feedback, I think the sections where you are just standing and talking about methods and philosophies are useful (09:09-18:36), but if he's holding the camera and filming the conversation we're mostly seeing a lot of your reactions to him talking. I know he's camera shy but if he's talking while you're not doing anything in a hive, he can turn the camera around. His face is not just for radio, despite what he seems to think!

[@buttsbeesllc4063]

You feed them too thin, they eat it thin and store it when made thick unless they have to consume it. Dry sugar or fondant in cold areas can see them thru because bees will not eat syrup when temps are below 50 degrees F.

[@carlsledge3868]

You're like me, you keep bees for the enjoyments of bees and for the bees 😊

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

Thank you for seeing what we are about and enjoying the videos, we just wanna experiment and learn and grow take the time to enjoy our successes and learn from our failures.

[@neilsmall6518]

Here on my island we don't treat just let them do their thing. I am working on a different fream to suit how the bee work. I believe in work with not work force

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

Love it and agree completely

[@garyRt23Bees]

Bees are not unlike people. if we drink a lot of water, we would have to go and during Winter they can not get outside to take cleansing flights. So since they can not get out to relieve themselves they have to survive on solid food. Feeding liquid in Winter will kill bees if weather does not allow them to get out once in a while. Mild Winters may be fine.

[@aXilaeXpert]

What are the dimensions on those small frames 3:51 ?

[@reneallen6405]

Mee too. Addicted to bees.

[@lenturtle7954]

Bees winter better on sucrose . If you research the plants in your area that they feed on you can find out if it has high concentrations of sucrose fructose or glucose . Will help you decide about feeding . Honey is $4.00 per pound sugar is 50 cents add water it becomes 40 cents or less . Extract all the honey above the nest and outside frames in the nest if it plugged and feed 2 sugar to one water by weight . Your income will come up and so will your ability to finance your bees. As well as their survival rate .

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Thank you for this! You are not wrong. And that is a great way to approach it. I may try experimenting with that this year and see what happens! ♥️

[@lenturtle7954]

Ours will starve if left full of Canola honey 🍯

[@srae1503]

The people that have a different view than you do are not haters and you are always asking for people opinions and ideas.

[@1080760]

She only wants to hear how great they are.

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

Depends on if they are telling us their opinion or just telling us our opinions are wrong and that's the end of the discussion.

[@Steele_Wings]

Stay true to what you do. If you are rural and have thousands of acres you should not have to feed. I am urban and have too. Too much development.

[@benjamindejonge3624]

It’s pointless indeed, same as using plastic and styrofoam what distort the honeybee keepers imagery a lot in my opinion

[@richardvogel1195]

Ok I watched this video this morning and now I have the motivation to get out there and finish prepping my hives for winter

[@beefitbeekeeping]

This is probably the best comment I have ever read. I am so happy we could help with that. Don’t let bee burn out get the best of ya! Burn out is real this time of year 😅

[@reneallen6405]

They have little hooks on their legs and feet.

[@markbooth8458]

They have so much to learn

[@brendawydeven2934]

Part of the fun in beekeeping is experimenting. Keeps me intrigued. :)

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

Exactly!! Omg facts..

[@denodkgoro8124]

On the floor, turn the entrance upwards to the box, a dead bee will not close your entrance to the hive when you are not present. Live bees will be able to go outside when it is warm.

[@olddave4833]

2:46 Velcro

[@jovanvujovic3932]

Bravo 😀❤️👍

[@daltonrobinson253]

What kind of bees do you keep? Italians?

[@beefitbeekeeping]

I have found the best success when cross breeding bees rather than keeping one singular type. So what I have today is a mix between Italians, carnies, sazkatraz, Russians, and whatever else is local. I would say they are primarily of Italian descent tho

[@khatpaufridaytalks2670]

Mouse eat comb

[@reneallen6405]

Why not save the queen rather than let her die?

[@brianbennett4374]

Great video 😊 Thanks for sharing your views

[@khatpaufridaytalks2670]

Maple teaves

[@homerito123]

21:01 I'm just curious what you right down in the journal for this hive. Like what you learned or experimented with that hive? Curious to know your thought process with that hive and if you do anything differently moving forward.

[@stevenkawano9746]

Ooooo Cliffhanger episode😱Couldn't tell what that was looked like a toad or Definitely some kind of critter who had Zero business in there😬Beehive 51 I like that! I also like that it's ur test hive that makes a ton of sense; u try things there that u wouldn't wanna try over All the hives so very smart👏👏👏Makes sense with the sugar as opposed to just sugar why make them work harder especially when this is the time u want them to Conserve their Precious energy👍That was Rad about the bees using some kind of adhesive to take the dead bees out Crazy cool! Funny how ur goals can change like that with the 100 hives isn't it? U get a goal in ur head and that is ur end all be all and one day u wake up and it starts to change🤔Makes sense tho in ur business it Really is Quality over Quantity, same as in the wine business too I'd imagine🍷Well Cheers to another great video my Favorite Keeper, ur laugh is Truly infectious☺️😂🐝💛Hope U had a Great day and I will see U in the next one😊#dontquitandbeefit #beehive51 #iwanttobeelieve🐝 #qualityoverquantity #emilyisthebeesknees #beefitbeekeeping #beefitbeeyard #beefitapiary #beefithoney #beefit #beekind #beefitmerch #beelieveinyourself💛

[@hlyautey]

I LOVED the conversation. I have been on a similar path (although with fewer hives). I went treatment free my first 7 years until I lost a couple of hives last year. I've gone a year with no feeding at all, and I have had years when I fed continuously. So many good points made in this one. Love the honesty. I feel the "harder I work, the worse I do" syndrome. Common advice: YOU MUST CHECK YOUR HIVE EVERY WEEK! Commercial guys be like "See you next month, maybe".

[@PaulaAngus-f4t]

So when do you add the sugar for winter? Do you wait until like December/January? I’ve been feeding sugar water but if I don’t have to then I’m all for just putting sugar on. I’ve heard if you add sugar to early they just take it out the front door as garbage. Just curious your thoughts. 😊

[@beefitbeekeeping]

I usually wait until Dec/January depending on where they are in the hive and how heavy the hive is. If they are still down in the bottom box that means they don’t need sugar yet. Once they start getting closer to the top of the hive then I add the sugar bc that’s usually when their stores are getting low.

[@heavymechanic2]

Hi, the best thing is to heft the back of the hive and make sure the weight is significant. The mountain camp method is when the sugar gets thrown out because its dry. I feed a weak colony a little watered down sugar water (a pint 2-3x a week) to stimulate the bees to go out and forage and it really helps.. I use silicon muffin trays or pie tins, pack the damp sugar and place in the oven at 150-200 degrees for an hour to harden up, works well for me. Be sure to read up on using candy boards for a good understanding of how to feed sugar blocks. Another tip in early spring is to add a little pollen powder to the sugar to get 3% protein, it helps rear brood and sustain when the weather changes back to winter.

[@leonarddavis9298]

The number of dead bees would greatly concern me. There are several reasons for that many. High mite and virus load, CBPV, previous robbing incident. You shouldn't see that many summer bees dying that quickly. If there was a normal old bee die off, the undertakes should be flying off with them. Another possibility is simply late summer to fall starvation from lack of stores.

[@zulikkowalski3547]

That's a lot of dead bees for this early

[@TheRoyalHomestead]

I was thinking the same thing. I've git maybe 3-4 dead bee's in front of my hives

[@stephenr.williams9008]

I was thinking that's too many dead. Can you mite check dead bees

[@zulikkowalski3547]

@@stephenr.williams9008 the mites hop off dead bees and look for live ones

[@TheRoyalHomestead]

@stephenr.williams9008 I'm sure you can. However, I'm thinking they would move to a new bee that's still alive.

[@chadwilliams41]

Thanks for the knowledge

[@hillkid4mountains]

Interesting video. Like the long frame hive that Kacey built. Would be interesting to build one myself to experiment with. I had yellow jackets and bald face hornets that would clean up the dead and discarded honeybees that were taken out of the hive and disposed of on the ground in front of the hive entrance. I never had a problem with them evading my colonies. An occasional group of bees balling a predator like that would show up on the entrance board or on the ground dispersing to reveal a dead YJ or BFH. They use the dead bees in their own nests to feed their larvae/pupae. A very beneficial insect in the world of dead mammals, roadkill, and decomposing animals. The Turkey Vulture of insects that clean up those dead things that would spread diseases to everyone in the area around me and other parts of the state. They get rid of a lot pesky insects like black flies, gnats, mosquitoes that bug us and cause us harm. A little smoke please! 🐝

[@hankliveatthehive3744]

Hi: Wonder on if bees learn to consume what they have if we don't feed them? I don't know how 4/5, 5 frame nucs survived last winter without any feed of any sort. Our climate is identical to yours in Michigan. I don't understand how they survived.

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

People never give their bees a chance they just do what they are told even if it's right or wrong they don't know either way cuz they are just doing what they are told not learning why things happen.

[@kolagjurashaj5692]

Hey I'm in s/w mich, is too late to reduce hives?

[@Beekeeping_Bro]

Nice video, what is the goal and experiment plans on Bee Yard 51 ? On Double deep Nuc that you open with SHB infestation and potential viruses is going to colony is going to abscond hive, queen is stop laying and it is to much space for colony. Are you going to do anything to save this colony ? The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.

[@carlsledge3868]

SHB will eat and consume all the eggs and brood your queen can produce, I cut unscented swiffer sheets and place completely over all the frame knotches in double or single nucs and let the bees chase em into getting tangles to die, I have some Cory Stevens VSH bees that work well on keeping varroa mites in check, but one double deep got infested with SHB, the swiffer sheets worked well on the colony.

[@handsburyhoneybees893]

SHB wont eat all the eggs .SHB are opportunist they mainly take over when the colony is on the down slide . They will eat some of the eggs for sure , researches have found the bees ingest some of the dry sheets and have found some of the drier sheets in the honey .

[@handsburyhoneybees893]

If your colony leaves the hive , they don’t join up with other hives . They abscond because of mites or robbing pressure

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

Can you send me your source to this being fact I'd like to look into what you are saying or is this a purely anecdotal comment ?

[@handsburyhoneybees893]

@@theterriblebeekeeper7435 my source is this Kent Williams is a EAS master Bee Keeper that has been doing bees for around 35 years and runs around 1200 to 1500 colonies. He has presentations out there that talk about why bees abscond.. and there is plenty of information out there that states bees will not voluntarily let other bees come in, unless they are doing something for the colony. Like bringing in Nector or pollen. When bees abscond it’s a survival mechanism they know they can’t save their colony, but it’s about the survival of the species. They leave they take the vector with them, which also dies.

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

@@handsburyhoneybees893 thank you for the information I will look into him, if I find some neat stuff I can use to experiment with I'll give ya a shout out in a video. just a hypothesis, but if the bees join the robber bees they can just self rob and join the robbing hive and get into that robbing hive like that? see now I feel like we have opened up a Dialogue, I been thinking about cameras I'm bee yard 51 to see what happens, for myself. I have 50 more years to get it all perfect right and boring, so for now I'll keep playing around in bee yard 51.

[@1080760]

Like i said last yr, flying by the seat of there pants and not learning. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️. I doubt they could handle 5 hives let alone what there running. Wants to do things the non standard way. Theres a standard bud cause it works. Its not hard my man😂😂, and for her bees not storing syrup last yr, its cause they were so light anyways they had to use it right away. You didnt feed near enough.

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

Well we will keep on flying away, thanks for your Opinion tho we will write it down somewhere I'm sure.

[@1080760]

Hopefully you keep notes better then you keep bees. You have the perfect user name though😂😂😂

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Hopefully you keep a better attitude in real life than you do on KZbin ✌🏼 if not..then I am very sorry for your mental health my man ♥️

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

@@1080760 give it time, keep watching, and you will learn I didn't pick my name accidentally. I feel like your either a Bot or we are gonna end up friends 😂😂😂

[@1080760]

Go on show your true self😂😂. I should probly unsubscribe to help with my mental health. Watching colonies collapse does a number on a fellow bee keeper. 😊

[@reneallen6405]

What do you mean "you don't breed from a swarm"?

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

If the hive swarms I don't select them to breed from, or split from and will turn them into bulk bees to start new 2 frame colonies with queen cells from my breeder queens

[@srae1503]

You can treat a colony that has heavy mite load then requeen it with one of your varroa resistant breeding rather than let the colony die out. That is good management and getting the good genetics you talk about.

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

We took a few queens as gifts this year and to be fair they built comb that we will just use to make 5x the bee hives with next year through grafting and with nurse bees we know are from our healthy hives.

[@reneallen6405]

Please wash your bee suit.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Way your bees are collapsing I wouldn't feed them either what's the point.. neighbors bees will just rob it out. Glad we're not neighbors

[@zulikkowalski3547]

These videos are very dark and disturbing

[@1080760]

😂😂.....truth

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

Thanks for your opinion, I'm pretty happy we aren't neighbors either!

[@theterriblebeekeeper7435]

I do love how salty you are tho 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 bro how did you get to be so salty 😂😂😂😂

[@1080760]

You seem salty to bud. Dont put videos out if you cant take people having comments and opinions 🤷‍♂️

[@raymondrobinson5251]

Frederick Dunn uses a hook thingy to pull dead bees out. Might be an interesting idea for you two!

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Healthy bees clean up.. those bees are so sick they can't even clean the bottom boards

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Thank you Raymond! I will look into this! I’ve always used a stick in the past and it always and I mean ALWAY breaks off in the hive so a hook would be super convenient ☺️ I hope you had a great bee season this year despite all of the weather oddities!

[@gregwaskom552]

You need to do more research. Bees can't just eat sugar. It has to have been moistened and they still have to process it. Bees will still starve with sugar in the hive. Research it

[@beefitbeekeeping]

Ahhhhh Greg you are correct! Bees can NOT just eat sugar without it being moistened. In the winter bees exhale co2. Their breathe is moist which then in turn releases moisture into the hive. This moisture rises to the top and if there is nothing to absorb this moisture then it will collect under the lid. Also..when the cold outside clashes with the hot inside of the hive against the walls of the colony, condensation forms. The bees then use this moisture on the walls to moisten the sugar if need be. This is why insulating a hive can be detrimental. You should kindly research it.