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In this episode of Bee Talks:
00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:05:23 Bloom Calendar overview
00:14:20 Swarm signs to look for
00:19:00 Example of swarm cells
00:24:00 Prevent your colony from swarming - brood removal
00:25:50 Prevent swarming by removing queen cells
00:32:00 Why did my queen move?
00:35:40 Queen quality - should I wait for swarm cells?
00:42:00 Can you define a weak colony?
00:46:20 Backyard vs Professional beekeeping?
00:51:00 Oxalic Acid treatment - how should I be using it?
00:56:53 Where do I place capped frames?
00:58:33 Should I try to control drones in weak colonies?
01:02:00 Not seeing mites, is that good this time of year?
01:03:20 When should I do my Oxalic acid treatment?
01:05:30 Should I clip my queen's wings?
01:08:40 How many days should I wait to install a new package of bees?
01:12:00 Should I treat my colony for varroa, pre-installation?
01:20:30 What do I do with my drawn out drone frames?
Mentioned in this episode:
Helpful links
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Watch Bee School Replay
Register for upcoming Bee Talks
About Bee Talks:
Bee Talks are held the 2nd Thursday of each month. Each session includes an open question & answer period followed by a seasonally-appropriate topic discussion to help guide you through the beekeeping year. Open to every beekeeper regardless of experience or the type of equipment you use, these sessions will support your beekeeping practice and help you get the critical information you need to be successful.
Bee Talks are led by Bill Hesbach, Eastern Apicultural Society Certified Master Beekeeper and graduate of the University of Montana's Master Beekeeping Program. He teaches bee biology and beekeeping methods at events hosted by regional organizations, and appears as a guest speaker at national seminars. Bill is on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Apicultural Society, and is President of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. His articles appear in Bee Culture, Bee Craft, and The American Bee Journal.