Hi Jason, nice videos. Only last one is ready for the winter. Good luck and thank you!!!

Good call, give them a few weeks. We caught a swarm last September that was huge and by giving them some drawn comb and resources they made it through the winter and have been one of our strongest colonies this year. We made 3 splits from that colony this June. We all get busy with life, don't beat yourself up too much. 👍

Minute 7 - queen passes hivetool test :D

As the population of the bees are so low and the shb and wax moth nesting seen, not a good idea to add another story. The bees there simply can’t defend themselves. Good idea would be to take the feeder out and add drawn comb there and feed on the top of inner cover. When they populate with more bees, then it’s good what you are doing.

Thank you! Just the video I needed to see this time of year. Checked all my splits/hives (a mere 6....) yesterday and completing mite treatments. This will be my first time trying to overwinter a nuk and I appreciated your information! Also going to get one of those hive tools! Thank you!❤️🐝

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@J Mom Stay tuned and I will share more on overwintering nucs. Here's the hive tool amzn.to/2KFUkcX

@badassbees3680

4 жыл бұрын

Six strong colonies can easily become 20 or more really fast so don't beat yourself up, your getting enough to start making bees!!

Jason just bought the Ceracell feeders, thanks for the tip. I think they R great and I let them know where I got the information. Thanks for your videos they R very informative and enjoy the hands on approach , thanks again

Since you asked, I'd not consider combining them yet. I'd give those weaker colonies some small pollen patties and thicker syrup (pro sweet) to try to boost them harder. I'd also not have put the empty second boxes on them until their numbers picked up. If I had the resources, I'd consider giving those weaker colonies a frame of brood as well. I've slacked off this summer with the bees as well. We've had such a wet year I had a lot of trouble getting queens mated. I gave up on late summer splits this year. I probably should have just bought some mated queens but I'm tired of spending money for a hobby for 2019.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Brent BINGO You got it! I was waiting for someone to suggest adding brood from other colonies. That is what I need to do. I understand slacking off due to it being a hobby but you could change that and sell nucs. Hey maybe they would help pay for your other livestock. I honestly feel like I need a time management class but I don't have time. lol

@Digger927

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees I mostly slacked off on them out of frustration from wet weather making it harder to get queens bred and back in the hive and trying to manage spraying cash crops in the small windows of dry weather we have had. Poor bees just were too far down on the list of things needing attention. I managed to get a few splits going and most of my honey production colonies have done well. We had a good early portion of the bee season. Between a lot of days of flooding rains and increased predator numbers, I feel lucky to have gotten the new queens I have this year. I didn't have time to do any queen building colonies, all I did this year was a few walk away splits and requeened some old weak colonies. I'm not carrying any nucs through winter this year. I transferred all my nuc colonies into ten frame equipment.

Move the drone comb to the outside so they fill it with honey and so the queen doesn’t move up and lay drones when you need workers going into fall.

Another great vid ~ thank you for taking the time to show us your skills

Growing up on a farm myself I totally understand cows go where they want to go. It took all 3 of us at times hours to round up strays and get them back into a fenced field. That's why farmers have kids lol hired help they are cheers and best to you for taking the time to share what you do cheers

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

Ray Sarasin Sounds like you know exactly what I am talking about. Some move easy and some take hours. There are times I wonder if I will get to eat because I was rounding up cattle for so long. lol Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!

@allenferry1268

4 жыл бұрын

I have discovered cattle can go anywhere they want to go. I'm néw at this whole farming thing but I think the trick is getting them to want to go where you want. I haven't mastered that yet. Thanks for the videos and your viewers comments.

Thankyou i in Iowa. I don't cow. All I have is bees 🐝 doing what you tell me three torment onces a weak I see gold rod allot. Still feeden

Hi Jason. Your nucs look ok. A few weak colonies but I am sure they will build themselves up. they know what they are doing. If they cant, well like you said just merge two weak ones. Besides a couple of wax moths and a few hive beetles they are doing great. On another note, are you still getting visits from them Agriculture Agency for inspections; or do they just want your money and leaving you alone? Take care. I learn a lot from your videos. Thanks. Tim

Love the hive tool test 🤣 and true believer of doing your part and the bees have a great chance of surviving. What is your thought about giving them to much room for over wintering? I believe they can.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

Too much room can be deadly. Why would you add more room then needed? Here in Ohio 2 deeps is perfect for overwintering. Now that does still mean in February I'll need to add dry sugar but I am fine with that.

@thecolburnfarm7613

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees yes and I think if all your bees will fit in one deep then put them in one deep. That way they cant move around away from brood and dont need to go far for food. I think the dry sugar works great also.

JC.. The first nuc is very weak compared to others. I suggest you combine it with one of the stronger ones. Let it buildup. With your busy schedule, SHB's are your biggest risk to a nuc that small.. But keep up the good work mate..

@PaulHigginbothamSr

4 жыл бұрын

small hive beetle depends. depends how far north you are. Does your ground freeze solid like here? Could you drive a steel fence post in the ground a month after winter begins? See, small hive beetles may come here if you buy southern bees. I don't buy southern bees, so my 3 major enemies are mites, wax moth, and nosema. Don't get nosema without the mites here. And you can't get a shovel full of dirt out of the ground a month after winter here. No hive beetles. Plenty of mites and nosema if you don't treat. After I treat for mites my bees wings start looking straight, and not spread out when walking on the comb. My bees wings lay back nearly on the body and numbers start going up up up.

I'd wait till the end of the month while it's still warm and there's a nectar flow going but once the flow is over I'd do a recap on them and decide then. Although that first one looks really bad off and I would really consider combineding it with one of the other two smaller ones sooner rather then later.

@allenferry1268

4 жыл бұрын

I like your thought process. It may be better to combine the 2 weakest nuks to provide better brood coverage.

@seangere9698

4 жыл бұрын

@@allenferry1268 My thoughts exactly.

Hi Jason, I always look forward to your bee videos and watch them all.....also watch the cattle videos but as I do not have room for cows.... BUT I would try feeding the nucleus colonies and try to get them built up for winter...and would not yet consider combining weaker colonies....Just my thoughts....Rick in Pa.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Sharon riley I appreciate you watching all my videos. And so you know you don't have to own the land the cattle are on. We our farm land. But if you think beekeeping is addicting you better stay away from cattle. Seems I can't get enough of either. lol

Queen passed the hive tools test. Good thing.

@Digger927

4 жыл бұрын

Lol, I admit I was cringing at that part. I was like "Finger Jason...use your finger not that damn hive tool!"

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Brent I am good with my tool! No worries. lol

@Digger927

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees Haha, I don't know which is more disturbing Jason, the fact that you're good with your tool or the thought that you've gotten enough experience pushing queens around with it to be that confident. ROFL.

Any colonies to borrow from? I often steal one frame of mostly or all capped to boost weakest nucs. Only from colonies who are on the edge of running out of space of course :) Keep up the good work!

Rabbits, cats, and fish oh my. Plus vegetable garden and flowers beds. I know my husband thinks I'm crazy too.

I have over wintered some really small nucs here but then I am in south Arkansas.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

Nice but like you pointed out the location makes the difference. I know we have some really cold days coming here in Ohio.

@chrispesklo5115

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees I am going to do my first over-winter nuc - in Minnesota... Last winter we had -40°, with two snow storms in April. I'll be sheltering them inside when it gets that crazy...

Thanks Jason. Most interesting information. When you winter nucs, what different methods or practices do you use that is different from what you would do with a full size hive? I live in PA and ended up with 2 more hives than I had woodenware, so they are in nucs. Since you reside in Ohio, I believe, the winters, I suspect, would be similar. I was going to combine the two nucs, but would like to maintain them through the winter. Anything different I need to know. Number of boxes and such? Thanks. I appreciate your videos very much. Thank you.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Richard Kuhn There isn't many differences at all. They need to have all 10 frames drawn and resources stores. It's also a go idea once it gets cold to slide them close together to another nuc setup or a big hive so they can share heat. I also have feeding shims made for nucs so I can feed dry sugar over winter, the shim provides the space for the sugar. Keep an eye open and I will share more about how I over winter them.

@richardkuhn8115

4 жыл бұрын

That You sir! @@JCsBees

@richardkuhn8115

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees Do You Occasionally check your email?

I see you added the sugar water on the lower box Wouldn't it be better to put the feeder on the top box so you don't have the take off the top box the add sugar water. Can I say syrup instead of sugar water or would that be incorrect?

Informative video. What is the harm of treating a hive for mites without testing for them? I understand if you have 100+ hives there is a cost in materials and labor, but I only have two hives so far. Why not simply treat?

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Joe Pacholik Great question! There is really no harm, the issues is you don't gain any knowledge on your bees genetics. For instance, you would not know if your bees are managing mites on their own which could be a great thing. Some genetics do not tolerate mites at all and will chew on them.....aka Purdue Ankle Biters is one of them. (Google them) So if your bees show any of these traits you'd have to do some kinda mite wash. You got me thinking this question would be a great video!

@joesoutdoorplaces

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees Great answer! Thank you. And I am looking forward to the video that addresses this.

Jason once you go black you never go back!! I can’t stand yellow plastic for that same reason.

Thanks for the video. I have used disc entrances for swarm traps but not like you have there. Any problem for the bees removing debris? How far up from the bottom do you have it? TIA

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

I've never noticed any issues with the disc. I really like them, they are handy as heck. I am not sure how far up from bottom they are as I bought the boxes from some Amish. I really like the finger joint on their boxes.

Jason when you added the third box to the last colony the construction of the box confused me as it looks like a solid bottom box from the front side. How is this box constructed?

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@David Lewis I own a sawmill and cut my own lumber when I can. The box you speak of is made of cherry. It's just a 4 sided box with no bottom or top. It does have an entrance on the end but it has tape over it. I prefer finger joints on my boxes but they are a pain to cut out so this box doesn't have them. Hope this helps.

Hi Jason, So you winter 5 framers with 2 boxes? Could you leave the 3rd if you didn't need it anywhere else I'm curious?

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, you could easily leave the 3rd box but would probably want to strap it down.

@jpthedelawarebeeman7887

4 жыл бұрын

@onelove JP doesn't mind , if he did I'm sure or he would have said something it was similar.

I added mite strip om July 27th and on Aug 27th I will remove them Was I too early on my treatment???

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Carolyn Qammaz Yes it would have been easier to fill the feeder if it were in the top box but the closer it is the quicker they will notice it. I will probably just slide the top box over enough I can fill the feeder without removing it. Yes you can call it syrup. You may have been a little early but that alright, your keeping the mite count low that way. You could do a oxalic acid dribble once Fall get here and they go brood-less. I have a video on the "dribble method" but you'd have to search for it. Good luck!

I can't imagine how much time it takes to make and edit a 28-minute video about not having time to make and edit 28-minute videos. Very busy trying to find stuff to do that is not too hard but makes me look good and busy.

I manage 130 colonies, manage 4 properties, run a construction company, and fix up our own home and garden...what time? Will you over winter the 4 frame nuc by itself? DO you have success with such small colonies surviving winter?

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@BeeFriendlyApiary Life keeps us busy for sure. I am gonna guess you skipped a lot of the video because I have way more than 4 to overwinter and I mentioned how I wanted them to build up. No biggie but kinda funny, people don't even have time to watch a video. lol No way would they survive being that small. I need them to fill a double nuc setup to live to spring.

I hope everyone here accomplishes there dreams! ⭐️ Mine is to become successful on KZread! 🔥

Jason I wonder if you can give me your opinion: Some beekeeper say that frame feeders does not make the queen to produce brood because the bee treat the sugar syrup in the frame feeder as spilled honey. Do you find any truth to that ? Some beekeepers only use open feeders. Thanks.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@markspc1 Never ever had a problem with frame feeders. Matter a fact they are my favorite feeder. I wouldn't take any advise from those beekeepers. lol

Hi Jason . I have a question. What is that inside your frame feeders ? Is that bubble wrap ? Just curious. Great video !! Thanks for posting

When is a good time to open the beehive? My girls are very agitated every time I go out there and don't even think about entering their area when it is hot outside. Unless you have a death wish. I've had my bees for about 2 months. I love watching them. I try not to disturb them but I have to add new sugar water into the front beehive container every day. That is it.

@larrytornetta9764

4 жыл бұрын

Carolyn Qammaz are they in full sun all day? I find shaded bees get mean,

Feed my bees to

Drinking takes up all my time!

JC, how come you didn't move the frame feeder up to the second nuc box?

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Steve Akers I guess because I like keeping it close to the cluster but it would be far easier to fill in the top box. Maybe once they get in the top box I will move it.

@wbrian

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees if you put it up top, it will encourage the bees to move up. plus put a frame of brood up top as well...

Will you also give them pollen patty?

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Barb Wellman Eventually I will. If they are added too soon they will just attract hive beetles. I will likely wait until I don't see pollen coming into the hives by bees.

What type of hive tool is that ? Haven't seen one like that before.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

Best one ever made, that's which one it is. lol It's linked below video in the description.

Jason what part of the country are you located in.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

Central Ohio

Always learn something watching your videos Jason, thank you. Peter Australia.

Boy just yesterday I was telling one of your nuc customers you seem on top of things then you post this video. He was blaming you for his mite infested problem

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Ryan Nims I thought my ears were burning yesterday, now I know why. lol Yeah, I fell behind and I am not happy with it but it can happen to anyone of us. Hopefully I can pull back ahead over the next couple weeks. Tell your customer his mite problem isn't all my fault but I'll take some of the blame. 🙂

@hootervillehoneybees8664

4 жыл бұрын

Your nuc customer not mine . He must be ohio way

@hootervillehoneybees8664

4 жыл бұрын

Was in FB group

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Ryan Nims Oh I see, I misread your first comment. I am not sure which customer you talked to but they haven't reach out to me to ask any advise. I wonder if this is their first year with bee now though and that's why they are struggling to stay ahead of mites. I also do mite counts on the nucs before they leave here. Depending on who this person was I could look at my paperwork and tell you where the mite level was. None were over 4 mites per hundred.

@hootervillehoneybees8664

4 жыл бұрын

He wrote ... Ryan Nims I read that first 3 days are most intense from the treatment, also I opted for the 21 Day treatment figuring I would expose more brood bees to treatment, I assume the mites came from Jason's apiary, (jc bees) he also said he treated the nuke just before I picked it up. My neighbor down the streets on his farm he try three packages this spring the they absconded or died so he gave up till next year after he build his farmhouse ( idle Farm) but that was before I got my bees, no other beekeepers around that I know of within 5 miles. And I'm sure Luke doesn't have mites.😉

can you pleas list the dimensions for that 5 frame deep nuc?

j where did you get that fancy plastic deep next to the nuc?

Y not feedem some patties

Jason, do,you ever over winter in single nucs?

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

No. I don't have the time to babysit all winter long and that's what it would need. I combine if they can't fill a second nuc box.

@rodbeckstedt8588

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees in your opinion, what would need to be done as far as babysitting them through the winter?

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

It would mean constantly checking them to make sure they have food. The down side is the repeated opening of the hive is going to work against the cluster trying to stay warm. One idea would be to buy a scale to set them on and go off the weight to rather they need fed. This would keep down the number of times you have to open the lid. Just keep a close eye on the weight.

@rodbeckstedt8588

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees. Thanks for the info. My wife and I was talking yesterday trying to figure out what a good weight for a nuc to go into winter should be. Do you have any suggestions on that weight?

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

Well......If a deep frame full of capped stores weighs around 9 pound, right? So, I'd like to see a double nuc have at LEAST 7 of these, 7x9= 63 pounds of food. So now to add the equipment to that weight to get your total. For a single deep nuc, figure half of that so 31.5 pounds stored food. I would add a candy board to that nuc right as we start to get cold to extend the food they have.

Instead of stacking nuc boxes why not put them in a double deep 10 frame hive? Less time worrying about them running out of room.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Larry Tornetta Great advise but I like overwintering in nucs. The inside of a nuc is closer to the size of tree cavities and mimic a natural hive size better. I have seen many 10 frame colonies avoid outside frames, this I believe is because bees would rather move up vs over.

@foundersprogeny1546

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees I was told to put a hole in middle top of frame so they can move horizontally better, as they saw bees starve clustered together for warmth with honey in the hive.

@JCsBees

4 жыл бұрын

@Natan Dee I've never heard this but it may help. I don''t see a hole doing any better than the slot they have between frames to move up though. This would take some experiment to know for sure though.

@foundersprogeny1546

4 жыл бұрын

@@JCsBees Al from ecobeebox told me that, it's my first year, certainly not his first rodeo. He specializes in designer 1/4 medium size langstrop micro hive systems that are in the realm of garden art and educational demonstration hives. They are great for pulling splits and Queen rearing. Small frames can fill faster and be turned around to share resources, he sells frames of bees most of the year locally. Your right about mimicking a tree trunk size. Less area to heat, vertical mobility. Al mentioned when adding a new expansion box, to add it to the bottom, so they are forced to go through the empty space while coming and going, bees like to build down. I appreciate your videos, thanks for sharing.

@larrytornetta9764

4 жыл бұрын

Jason Chrisman I keep 3 deep 10 frame boxes on my hives with the top one filled with 70 pounds of honey. I also put fondant on top of the top box across the frames starting in December ( on a warm day). They will not starve and I don’t have to worry about them. All of my hives came out strong from last winter. In the spring I reverse the boxes. 3 boxes in the spring gives them room to grow (no swarming), 3 boxes in the spring and summer lots of room to store nectar ( no swarming), 3 boxes in the fall winter lots of food stores. Could it be overkill sometimes maybe but I can sleep at night knowing I did everything I could.