Working with no suit & gloves

[@sundogfarm5090]

I'm glad you added time of the year concerning the bee suit! Thanks for another great video. You mentioned watching JP when you were just getting started. You were my "person" as I was just getting started. You had just started putting out videos and I watched them over and over. Your bee yard is still my ideal.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

"You had just started putting out videos and I watched them over and over"...Thank you, very nice of you to say. "Your bee yard is still my ideal."... Make yours bigger...LOL Thank you. Scott

[@kathyhathaway8823]

You are correct “ weather , flow an one you forgot the size of the colony because the bigger they are THEY KNOW THEY ARE POWERFUL AN PROTECTING WHAT THEY HAVE .”

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Yes, you are 100% correct. I always see the larger hives have a little more attitude but I also work them in no bee suit but just with (more) care and respect, and slower. But don't let me kid you when I am going into a full strength hive. My bee veil is in my tool buggy. The suit is somewhere in the wood shop but the veil is close at hand. I have had the veil on three or four times this year and the suit once...so far, as I said in the video in the fall the game changes. Thanks for watching. Scott

[@kathyhathaway8823]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario an yes the bees are great teachers but the question is are we smart enough to learn . LOL. I enjoy your videos . Thanks

[@Shotgunwizard91]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario yeah I gotta wear my suit with mine. Just 1 hive for now. Still learning really. But I caught them as a swarm from a hive that absconded on me last year and stayed close by. I might not have needed it at first, but they exploded and grew quickly. Last inspection I did 1 immediately flew out when I cracked it open and tagged my glove before I even did anything. And I've noticed as it's grown they do get more aggressive for sure. And it's also hot where I live.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

@@kathyhathaway8823 " but the question is are we smart enough to learn "...that is the question for sure...LOL

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

@@Shotgunwizard91 Take note of the time of day and the temp. I find that from 10 am until 2 pm is best for me.Perhaps the bees are just too hot, perhaps a screen bottom floor and some upper ventilation. And move slower...make sure you don't look like a bear.....LOL

[@offshoot1008]

Your hives are very clean. My bees like to build up comb and wax everywhere.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Yes, that is a pain, I just do my best to keep things scraped and clean...never ending job. Thanks.

[@158Main]

It was a pleasure to visit this true bee lover in person and buy some local Algoma honey. We learned more than I could absorb in one day, it is always nice to learn from someone who knows what they are doing .

[@theunlikelybeek]

I have a tremendous amount of respect for you unarmored beeks, but that will never be me. 🙂

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

"but that will never be me"....never say never. Thank for Watching. Scott

[@GeorgeCMcRae]

oh, you are so right! Be trainable for sure. It may be that my bees are just genetically gentler, but I talk softly to them, listening all the time. And I haven't needed smoke in two years. The times I don't have a cleared head and focus.... they let me know. and the idea of not dawdling. Get in get out. Thanks friend!

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

"they let me know. and the idea of not dawdling. Get in get out"...they are so much more fun when we pay attention

[@realworldagenda6206]

Hey Scotty, I'm missing you and re-watching some of your old videos. I hope your year was good and your apiary is strong and healthy. The season is ending, the hives are bundled up, and I'm putting some sugar blocks on the top frames. Now I'm planning the winter woodwork, and viewing your videos on that topic. I know that KZbin is a chore, but you have talent to share and your presentations are always enjoyable. No pressure, but please know that your fans do enjoy your effort and your screen personality. Perhaps you will find time to do an end-of-year wrap-up? Either way, all the best to you and your family.

[@bobfanning6816]

Thanks for another video. I realize that you just retired from the greenhouse business but for a side kick, you might consider marketing "quiet cloths".

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Thank you, but I think the shipping cost would make it to hard, plus they are easy to make. I have a video on making them. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6LUpIx-rbFsgsU Thank you. Scott

[@Pixel01010101]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario link does not work says video not available?

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

@@Pixel01010101 Sorry, I didn't copy and paste correct, try it now......Thanks for letting me know

[@jasonseaward8506]

I really enjoy your videos, thsnk you for making them. Given that its robbing season right now, im currently learning how to move fast but smoothly and not get stung still. I like to go slowly and learn and absorb everything i can, but have to be quick this time of year. Im grateful for the little nuances you show. Like you said, its not so much what you say, its more observing how you handle the bees. In my 1st year i dont use a veil or jacket so far. I obvsly keep them close but have been doing ok so far and i attribute a lot of that to observing your videos as well as the other sources of information that you share like jcs bees etc so i really appreciate the videos that you make

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

This is a very nice comment, it made me smile. I am so glad you enjoy the videos.Nice to see that there are some folk that pay attention...THANK YOU

[@wstepnout7215]

Thanks Scotty another great video. I too watched Randy on the UK production.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

The folks at "The National Honey Show" always seem to put out good videos, I am hoping to get to their conference someday. Thanks for watching

[@jasonseaward8506]

I really enjoyed the video about handling bees that Randy Oliver did with the national honey show. Thank you for all the videos you make

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Thank you. Scott

[@kenjordan5164]

Hey Scott. Hope all is well for you and your family. I miss your videos!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Hopefully you will resume your videos in 2025.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Hi Ken, thank you and a very Marry Christmas to you and your, we are all good here lots of snow early in Nov (2-3 feet) but this last week has been warm and wet so mostly melted. I am busy in the wood shop building more wood ware....terrible problem to have but I now have to many bees...LOL I will try to get the camera out this summer. Scott

[@kdkurabees]

Scotty. Good to watch your video. Always enjoyable. Hope you make more , no pressure😉 David. KD Kurabees Australia.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

I had the camera in the bee yard today so new videos shortly. Thanks for Watching. Scott

[@jasonjohnson1984]

Glad to see you back Mr. Scotty haven't seen you in a while thought something happen like your videos even though you are farther north than me thanks for the great videos

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Thank you, yes this spring was crazy busy here, but the bee yard is slowing down now, so a bit more time for the camera.

[@johnboec3]

Always love your videos ... please make lots more

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Thank you, the bee yard is slowing down and I am getting the time for the camera.

[@russellkoopman3004]

Thanks Scotty for the good video. I watched Randy's YT and think that any serous Beek should learn from it.. Looking forward to your next video.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Thanks Russell, the bee yard is slowing down and I am getting the time for the camera. Scott

[@WoodlandCaribou]

What’s the material called that you wrap your hives with during winter?

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Typar House Wrap, this is not were I bought it but I am including a link so you can see it. www.typar.com/product/buildingwrap/

[@WoodlandCaribou]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario thank you

[@aaronparis4714]

Man I love that idea with the hole in the middle I’m gonna start doing that good for winter Easier for the cluster to move

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Yes, it does seem to help, especially if the cluster gets on the small side. Scott

[@aaronparis4714]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario what did you use to cut the cycle without cracking then foudation

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

@@aaronparis4714 I just use a hole saw. I have a video way back that I show doing this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIG2iWOhn9iGitk

[@clarkkent7973]

Thanks for a new video!

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Your welcome, Thanks for Watching. Scott

[@johnpicco437]

Hey love the videos. New beekeeper in a wheelchair in Bancroft Ontario just wondering your opinion on turning the hive can't get to the side of it. Have to work it from the back. Is it a big deal just to turn it? I know some say don't move it very far but I'm not moving and I'm just turning it lol

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Yes, you can turn it 1/4 turn with no concern, I work all my hives from the back and when in the bottom box I sit...and love it.The only thing you will need to change is the bottom board, and perhaps the inner cover if you run an upper entrance.I would like to help you but it looks like 642 km...a bit far for me...LOL

[@johnpicco437]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario ok sweet all do that I am going to get into making my own hive boxes this winter I definitely like how you have yours set up my entrance in on the Skinner side of the hive yours are on the wide side I like that is there a reason you did that is it because u wanted to be at the back of the hive still

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

@@johnpicco437"is it because u wanted to be at the back of the hive still"...yes easier on the back My second video explains why I turned the hive. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKmkiYN_jrN9msU

[@johnpicco437]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario ok sweet thank so much I am definitely doing a bottom board like that for sure I had to sneak into my hive today between the rain no protection on at all they are so fucking nice I thought something happened to the queen because Monday I couldn't find her Tuesday. Wednesday was raining snuck in today. Found her on the first frame I looked at definitely doing it the way you said to do it. Keep them separated. Check them separate so she's not moving from one box to the other when you're trying to check and find her

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

​@@johnpicco437 " I thought something happened to the queen because Monday I couldn't find her Tuesday."...If she was gone you will find that the bees are less nice, runny and nervous, fanning and all too happy to sting you, so when the bees are calm and gentle it is normally a sign that they are queen right.

[@Warren76317]

100%

[@HoneypatchRanch]

Scotty, how are the bees? How are the experimental hives doing? Do you have any video updates on them?

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

The bees were crazy this year, winter was short with a few good cleaning flights and the hives were very strong coming out of the winter, brood in both boxes in May the spring was early and warm bees started to swarm much earlier than normal (for me). I pulled the pin on all my experiments and just tried to keep the bees in the boxes. New problem now is I have more hives than I know what to do with ...

[@sleepersix]

Are you a fulltime beekeeper?

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

No I don't call my self a full time beekeeper.....But I sure was this year..... and it nearly killed me. Forcing me to rethink a lot of things.

[@Shotgunwizard91]

I wear gloves and I smoosh bees occasionally. But not from the gloves at all. Not even once. I have a 20 frame layens hive with a large colony in it. The only time I smoosh bees is when there is hundreds of them in an unfavorable spot and I can't get them to move. Like on my divider board. I'm gonna figure out how I can stop using it all together because it causes me the biggest problems with that.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

I am glad to hear that there is someone that can do it (work with gloves)...I have not used a divider board in a very long time, I can't remember if I had a problem with squishing bees, I just remember that the bees propolized it all the time. Then I realized that I have no small hive beetle here and giving the bees more space than they can cover is not a problem here so I now just fill out the box with as many frames as it takes to fill it. Thanks for watching

[@Shotgunwizard91]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario you have no beetles in your area? That sounds nice. I live on 200 acres in south carolina and I can't keep them out. And with the divider board they stay on the bottom half of ventilating and stuff I guess. And when I got to move it out of the way they start crawling on the bottom and side edges of it and they just refuse to stop whilst it's up. And as hot as it is here I can't wait for them to move on their own. So I can't help but smoosh them occasionally.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

@@Shotgunwizard91 I have never used or even seen a layens hive up close and I just googled it to have a look, I am not 100% sure how you would work one, but from the photos I see the hive has more frames than the Langstroth hive and I am just guessing you move the divider board to give them more space. I am wondering if you can make a second divider board and if you have the bees in lets say 8 or 10 frames then the divider board and when you need to add more frames put them in on the opposite side of you divider board and then add the second divider board, now pull out the old divider board that is next to the bees and then slowly slide to new frames and new divider board over to the frames that are already occupied. This way the bees can't get under the divider board. Just a thought from someone that knows nothing about a layens hive...LOL Scott

[@Shotgunwizard91]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario yeah I've debated for awhile whether I should make it into 2 colonies. Maybe out of my inexperience, but I chose to make it one massive colony. Lol they're probably actively using like 15 to 17 of the frames right now. So I don't have much space left to work it effectively. I have a 14 frame hive right now that's empty. So I may do a walk away split once the 20 frame hive is full but im not fully confident on that decision given the time of year. I do like the layens alot so far though. When you pull out those huge frames and just see a slab of brood it's pretty cool.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

@@Shotgunwizard91 "but im not fully confident on that decision given the time of year." .......you will need to talk other beekeepers in your area.

[@KajunHomestead]

👍👍👍

[@pbest5040]

You make some good points, Scotty. Thanks..

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Thank you. Scott

[@aaronparis4714]

Did I see a hole in the center of your foundation ?

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Yep, not all my frames but most. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5O3imOFhKaVesk

[@jimbozerothtee4131]

Do you harvest honey? I haven't seen a video on it yet.

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

Yes I start mid Aug and done first week of Sept...sorry no time for the camera

[@jimbozerothtee4131]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario Nice! How much honey do you get? From how many hives? Do you sell it?

[@aaronparis4714]

I’m from Nova Scotia how is your weather we are having a great year

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

The winter was mild spring was early and warm but the last few weeks have been very wet...but that's better than all the fires we had last year so we will take it.

[@aaronparis4714]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario yes we had bad fires down our way too we had a few rain day but crazy heat waves not use to seeing it in the 30s to hot for me

[@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801]

Thanks Scotty, Always enjoy your dulcet tones and constant optimism! Best wishes from your friends in the UK😊

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

"dulcet tones and constant optimism" the sun shines here every day...If it's not raining....LOL Scott

[@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801]

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario you have a blessed country, lots of folks from Sussex left here to find new lives and new hopesin your country, I seem to have done the reverse, having been born in Vancouver, but now here! Keep posting those splendid videos and I might even try to do some inspections without gloves having heard what you said!

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

@@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801 We are hoping to get to Vancouver one day, it's a bit of a drive though (3700km) "I might even try to do some inspections without gloves "....Just work supper slowly and gently.

[@aaronparis4714]

Gloves are bee killers

[@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario]

I think so.