Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 197 get chickens to eat drone brood and more.
Welcome to another video about keeping honey bees in your own backyard.
In this video I respond to 11 topics related to backyard honey bee management.
If you'd like to listen to any of my Q&A videos as a podcast, please follow this link: https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/podcast...
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Now on to today's topics:
1) When a colony dies out due to a drone layer, will the queen lay drones in those worker drone cells?
2) I read that some beekeepers are feeding pollen substitute now to stimulate brood production. Is now a good time? in New England?
You can do a google search for Hive Alive Pollen Patties, or click on this affiliate link: https://amzn.to/41nRPl2
3) What are your thoughts on running 9 frames in a 10 frame deep box? My bees make it nearly impossible to take out my first frame without rolling bees.
4) I set up a swarm trap with comb from a recent dead-out. Bees are all over it. Is it possible that bees would already be getting ready to swarm?
5) I have winter kills, do the mites stay attached to the bees? I ask because I want to know if a mite wash on the bee would show.
6) I have a question about using the green drone frames for IPM. Should I move them closer to the brood?
How to feed drone brood to your chickens.
7) I plan to block my Apimaye top vents an am wondering what you would suggest?
8) I'm building a Long Langstroth Hive, I have concerns about condensation in the hive. Do I need vents on the bottom?
Follow this link to see my FREE plan/design elements:
https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/printsf...
9) Is there a time during the year that I should stop topping off my internal feeders?
One Gallon In-Hive Feeder (no affiliate link)
https://www.betterbee.com/feeders/uhf...
I do not recommend this for a northern winter.
10) I recently have to move my bees. The landing board used to be in the sun, I've noticed bees don't really come out as much as before. Does it matter?
11) I am considering beekeeping. Supposedly, a bees' first defense mechanism is to attack an invader's face, and that they attack dark complexion surfaces first. I am African American with very dark skin. Have there been any studies that might suggest bees are more aggressive toward people with a dark complexion?
FLUFF: TODAY'S SHOUTOUT:
Learn about brood disease identification through The Bee Informed Partnership: • Honey Bee Brood Diseases
I wish you all the best in beekeeping!
Fred