Beekeeping can be a time-consuming undertaking. As a result, beekeepers are constantly trying new ideas. I often ask myself, “will this be better for the bees”? Or “will it save me time and money”? Plastic and wax foundation for frames is a prime example of this. So which option should you choose? In this article,…
Bees and wasps are both stinging insects that can be troublesome in your yard. It’s no fun having large numbers of buzzing insects close to your living space! But you need to know which insect you are dealing with to decide what action is necessary to handle the problem. That means identifying the type of…
Feeding your bees is sometimes unavoidable, especially in the fall and winter seasons in areas with cold winters. And robbing is an unwanted potential side effect. But certain types of hive feeders and methods encourage robbing behavior in your apiary more than others. So in this article, I’ll explain which methods work best and which…
Honey comes in a wide range of color variations, Some have a light golden straw color. Others have a vibrant dark amber appearance and are sometimes referred to as black honey. What bees make black honey, and how do they make this darker than usual honey? What Kind Of Bees Make Black Honey Regular honey…
Bees need to maintain a specific internal environment in their hives to raise brood, ripen, and maintain the honey stores. But how do your bees manage the internal hive temperature if the outside air temperature is hot? And is it possible to become too hot for the bees? In this article, I’ll explain how your…
Old beehives are a valued resource for beekeepers because used hives are more attractive to bees. Yes! They like them better! On top of that, reusing old hives saves the expense of buying or building new beehives. But you do need to be careful about hive hygiene! So how do you prepare a used beehive…
Top feeders for beehives are a popular and safe method of giving bees the reserves they need to survive nectar dearths. Most beekeepers need to feed bees to overwinter their colonies successfully and ensure their honey bees start the spring season in a strong position. Hive top feeding is a highly favored option (and a…
After keeping bees for a while you’ll find you accumulate old honey from various operations. It’s all part of the beekeeping process. But it seems such a shame to waste this precious liquid! A common idea is to use it as food during times of dearth. So can this honey be fed back to your…
Bees build up reserves for the winter season when food is scarce. But beekeepers also “steal” honey from the hive before the end of each year. It’s a careful balancing act between how much you should take and how much to leave the bees 🙂 Obviously, you need to ensure colonies have enough food to…
The winter season is difficult for your bees, and beekeepers need to know when and when not to open a hive during this time. Opening the hive for too long when the temperature is too low can spell disaster for the colony. Pre-winter preparation is key to reducing the need to inspect hives in winter….