Ask the Expert
Ask the Expert: Chlorine to Clean Hives
Add to Favorites Chris W. asks: Can I use chlorine bleach to clean hives? Rusty Burlew answers: Beekeepers find many uses for chlorine bleach in and around hives. In its …
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Ask the Expert: Black Hive Boxes and Comb
Add to Favorites Chris W. asks: My boxes look black, as do the combs that go in the boxes. Is this normal? Rusty Burlew replies: Within a winter hive, it …
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Do My Honey Bees Have Nosema?
Honeybee dysentery is often confused with Nosema disease, so when beekeepers see feces on or near a hive, they automatically think the worst.
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How Much Honey Per Hive?
When I have a colony overwinter — and they have no spring/summer issues such as a queen dying or an unexpected swarm — I generally get around 75-100 pounds of honey per hive in Colorado.
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How Do I Keep the Hive Ventilated in Winter?
In the past few years, the number of electronic devices for beekeepers has mushroomed. I’ve frequently been asked to test these new devices, so I have quite a bit of experience with them.
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Should My Supers Be Below the Inner Cover for Winter?
Having the inner cover in the way can block the bees’ pathway and funnel the heat to a small area instead of generally throughout the super. In addition, the retriever bees may have to travel further—first to the opening, then away from it to the food, and then back to the hole, and then back to the cluster.
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Ask the Expert: Is it Possible to Get the Brown Wax Color to be a More Yellow Color?
Add to Favorites Gene J. Lindner asks: I heated some beeswax at more than 170 degrees Fahrenheit and it turned a brown color. Is it possible to get the brown …
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Should You Feed Native Bees?
Should you feed native bees? Josh Vaisman explains the whys and why nots.
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Can I Make Mason Bee Homes out of Bamboo?
I want to make mason bee homes. I plan to try drilling a wood block, but also try bamboo. Since moisture is an issue with bamboo, has anyone tried drying the bamboo out in a low temp oven? Do they have suggestions about how long and at what temperature to dry the bamboo?
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How Many Frames of Capped Brood is Optimum in a Double Deep During Summer?
Tyler from Montana writes: How many frames of capped brood is the optimum in a double deep during summer?
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