Don't be dismayed we waited three years for a honey flow and we re-queened. Greg and I have both loved watching your videos and you are honest and tell it like it is. Hang in there if we can help reach out we are on the Mornington Peninsula. 🐝🐝

I just found your channel. I love it!! I'm sad that you are going away. You do have great content. For those of us that are learning, you are showing the ups and downs of beekeeping.

You have done well. I have felt really comfortable with your straight, honest videos of beekeeping’s ups and downs. Take care, look after yourself. Wishing you well and a year that brings you all you and yours need.

Never give up, Never surrender! It's as useful to me to know what doesn't work, as to know what does. Hope you keep uploading videos. It's all great content. Don't be downhearted.

2 years ago here in Texas, had a bad year, had a very bad dry spell and the bee numbers were down. There was no honey to harvest. I let the bees keep everything and then last year i had my best year ever. Hope they need a rest and wait for the next year. Keep up the great work and dont give up..

I hope your next season goes better. I am only in my second season & have learned so much from your channel. It sucks that you have had some bad luck this year, but all of us that have been watching through have seen what to do when things aren't right. I appreciate the time you put into your journey and videos

Saying Hi and G'day from a Cold and frosty Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ! (We had a hard year in 2023 Bee Season.) Hardly any Honey as the Season rained day after day after day ! 🙄 Tip : When Bees Struggle : Best thing to do is reduce the Colony Box size pronto ! If its a Brood and two Supers. Remove a Super. Use the remaining Super as Resources + additional Feed Space: If its a Brood : Reduce to a Double Nuc Box and add an Eck /Shim for placing good amounts of extra Fondant Feed. Until Yesterday, it was Mild for Midwinter about 5C to 7C. Bees Flying all over the place when they should be in a semi Cluster. Nice to see them Alive nonetheless. But as the Colonies were heavily reduced in Size (Capacity wise) in October our 'Autumn'. And a Regular x3 Treatment Dose of O/A Vape, over a x7 Day Episode, around Christmas (lowest Brood levels around this time.) Will keep the Varroa Mite down to almost Nil (!) Never nothing !? Result : This means the Hives can maintain their Cluster better and means less Wet or Cold Chill from damp Conditions. Same applies to Colonies low in Resources in Drought /Derth Situations. The latter will need more direct Heat Sheltering. (Maybe Add a Sheet of Corrugated Metal Roofing over x2 Hives.) And give good Top Box Ventilation. And a good source of 'Drinking Water' ! Add some Branches into a Bucket of Water, so Bees can crawl down to Drink, not Drown ! I hope you continue with your Bees. Maybe also reduce your Apiary Size down to fewer Hives. So their is more Resources for (fewer) Bees, so things will become "Good" again. 🤞 Keep some great Double Box Nucs: for your up and coming Autumn / Winter. And then expand up your operation again in your Spring 'Bee Season'. Until then . . . Best wishes. 😎 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2024. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

I just found your chanel!!!! I really appreciate how no mess, no fuss & gut level honest you are, and it's actually helping me keep going. I'm a beginner (still a beginner after 3 years 🤣), and have had 2 hives I've helped maintain with my cousin fail. They were our only 2 hives, so 100%fail rate. I thought it was me and wasn't willing to try again until I figured out what I was doing wrong. But you, along with a couple of local ameteur beekeepers in my area, encouraged me that even for an expert it's been a bugger of a few years, and we can only do what we can. But that it's worth it.

Been following you for over a year. Frustations come and go. Waiting for the next update. Thank you from Wisconsin.

I sure enjoyed all the content you’ve given us and sure would miss seeing you dearly my friend, God Bless you and keep you

I appreciate what you shared with us. I know that it helped me in learning step by step what to do since I got my 2 hives these last 2 years. I lost them in early January 2023, In April the same year I caught a swarm who just landed in my garden and started again from the scratch and I bought a new one (ordered a month before). This winter, the beehive captured did not make, what a disillusion! I did not call it a quite by this year, in early April I got a swarm right in my old beehive (three weeks after installing it in my apiary). Sh... happen, but better days will come... Keep going, don't let's dawn .. still waiting for next post . Thanks

We have had a bit of a change in the last week. up to new years the stores were low and they were eating the honey from my ideal stores (im glad i decided not to harvest any frames) but im starting to see an increase of nectar in the top of the brood frames even some capped over. I hope you have a turn around. Love the content mate been great watching your process when inspecting.

Hello from Colorado it happens lack of nectar. The Italians do eat a lot of nectar. Feed 2:1 or thicker so they can back fill some given as much as they want and probably they will also need pollen sub.

So sorry it’s been such a bad year for you again… we had a really bad year last year and then this year was our best ever!! Bob Binnie a very well YT beek here in the states always says that in every way possible you always have to be prepared for the beekeeping wave!!! He’s been doing bees for over 40years and says it’s always been that way and always will be when you’re dependent on mom nature! We so appreciate you guys over there doing bee videos so us over here that are chomping at the bit to get our girls started still have bee content to keep us going!! God Bless my friend and hope to see you again soon!!💕💕

Hi, We love your Australian down to earth videos, particularly the close ups. Please consider continuing with KZfaq, We have bees at Geelong, Woodend, Riddells Creek and Airport West with most doing quite well, it would be good for you to persevere, Regards Anton

I’ve had langs and a very long term top bar hive for 15 years. Currently have 2 layen hives but will likely go back to top bars. I saw a lot of dark old comb which carries way too many toxins. Either give your hives new frames to draw out fresh comb or consider top bars. When take honey from top bars for crush & strain they have to make fresh comb. I’m half Aussie and am a 76 year old retired veterinarian that enjoys bees, reptiles, birds and a 3 acre grove of avocado citrus fig and fruit trees (thus my bees pollinate my organic grove). I sincerely hope you regroup rest and come back! You have a lot of loyal followers that you have blessed!

Love your content mate! Sounds bloody frustrating at the moment. Keep it up.

Oh how I’ve wanted to use a similar title on my videos this year and one other. When the season is not going well, it’s so, so hard to make videos. It’s hard to go to the bee yard even without the camera some days, but content is content. So many people told me in person when meeting that the NAHBE that they appreciated seeing all aspects of the season, good and bad, and actually they appreciated the transparency. People sometimes want to know if we creators are genuine and that they’re not the only ones having issues. Take your leave and get a re-charge and we’ll see you again. The viewers are what kept me coming back. I wish mine looked this good going into winter…

Hi your doing great, the bees didn’t come through winter that strong but they are looking good now. Keep on going beekeeping if definitely full of ups and downs. I had a bad season last year. Thanks for your videos

I'll miss seeing how you and your bees are doing but take the time ya need to recharge.

Im in NSW Wallangra, I had just purchased 2 Nucs and thet were doing nothing in December as well, but January they exploded. I bet yours did too. Keep going love your content.

Fingers crossed for you for the rest of the season. Last year I took no honey. This year some hives are on their third super.

So sorry your having a hard year. I’m not that far across the state here in Casterton vic. I’ve had a bumper season Thankyou for letting me see the ups and downs you’ve had with the couple of queens I sent you. If your ever across my way please get in touch Hopefully you’ll be back to filming soon 🤗🤗🐝🐝

Hi mate I’ve actually really appreciated your content and approach to a very challenging season. I was about ready to give it away after the last 3 years of La Niña but your channel has actually made me feel not so bad or alone in struggling with these last few years. Was hoping that this season would be better with the El Niño but sadly here in east Gippsland still too much rain and cold for the bees to be at their full potential. I’ve gone from 7 hives down to 3 in the last couple of years because of having to merge weak or queenless hives. It’s meant I’ve been able to harvest a few kilos of honey but if I still had 7 the available nectar would have been spread too thin. Also had heaps of trouble with robbing in the autumn dearth last couple of years. So look, you’re not alone in having to support your hives through this bad weather and your content has really helped me feel less down about it. I will look forward to your return.

April 2024 I got a hive no bees yet but you shown me many thing Have a break and come back so I can start the journey You’re a great teacher Ty

Same here in South Gippsland, weather and season has made it hard, little to no flow and bees can’t get out, we have had weeks of easterly weather with rain/drizzle and flooding so when they do bring in some nectar they are consuming. When I do get the chance to get in to look at them I can only look at a few hives at a time as the robbing start, I’ve been feeding the smaller colonies to keep them going. Keep up the vlogs as is shows others that beekeeping has ups/downs and it’s not so easy. Cheers Marc

Great work, thanks for sharing, I hope you will reach the ideal seen soon.

I am from the US I was having problems with mites so I just let my bees bees for 3 years this spring will be the 4th year if I have any of that makes it I will start back up because what I have should be built up some resistance to the mites

Without prejudice- I consider that an 8 or 10 frame hive requires at least a frame of honey on each side for survival , also for harmony in the hive. My 4 frame Nuces MUST HAVE AT LEAST A FRAME OF HONEY in each. To rear a frame of brood, it takes a frame of honey plus pollen, otherwise the hive will go backwards or stagnate. I consider it is a waste of time and effort by putting undrawn comb/foundation in the brood Super, when there is no nectar or pollen coming in.

Get some 1:1 syrup feeders on there asap, or you're going to lose them, mate. Without food the queen won't lay as much. Jon up in Ohio, USA.

Conditions, conditions, conditions.=with great queens. =Great bees =honeyflow =smiling Beekeepers those hives are a Bit low on bees for a flow , feeding sugar to provide build up before a known honey flow ..costs money. .so therefore reading the environment is the key to successful build up and management of dearth conditions .future build up here . Weeds spring build up ,holding the strength for future known possible flows ..Trees and learning from past seasons eg new growth rainfall when where .ground covers how the plants look.give you confident planning for you future strength to bee strong for this timing .,hope this helps you stay positive .

I can sympathise. I'm still learning my way in beekeeping and the past year I've been trying to expand the number of colonies I have but I keep getting my arse kicked by ants and small hive beetles, it's so FRUSTRATING! I think you're doing alright and the decision to just let your bees be bees for a bit is a good one. I think you'll be feeling back in the groove before you know it. Keep up the good work.

I’m visiting from Alaska and I had my worst year there, our fire weed didn’t even bloom this year. It rained way too much. Here in Queensland they’ve sure had a lot of rain in the last month. so hopefully it will improve for you. The right amount of rain is helpful more flowers.

Just keep pumping it out

Thanks for the videos has been very informative .

All good Aussie bee, we’re having a slow season here near Redcliffe/Brisbane. Of course only one hive but still keeping us with a little honey. Love watching your content hope to see you when you’re back. TrickyTrev 👍🐝🍯

Well ol bud everyone has troubles some times so don't be a quite keep going . Robin Frazier liberty texas usa

Crazy mate, over here in Castlemaine im about to do another extraction, they are making heaps of honey, however mine are in township backyards so not relying on bush flows. Without sounding like a know all, my advice would be to only use full foundation frames, with perhaps 1 or 2 foundationless frames per box. I suspect your loosing nectar buildup because there using it all up for new wax. Just my opinion. Ive never had much succes of honey buildup when using excluders, i now refuse to use them. Good luck with the bees, dont give up mate

Just a suggestion:- Start a couple of 5 frame NUCs, each double stacked. Use those 2 NUCs as a resource for stores, bees and extra queens if/when you need them.

Not bad. But they dont need a second box, before the frammes in brood box are covered in bees. If you want the hive to grow,you only need 3 things. Food, food and food. The queen will stop, if there are to little with recorses.

Hmm. I have been bee keeping in Sussex England a while now, and as well as having my own bees, I help out at a bee group in the town. In the town group, the leader regularly treats with mites, and feeds winter sugar preparations, yet the colonies are weak and sometimes display unusual behaviour. 7 miles away at my bees, I have previously wild bees that i caught from an old manor house a few years ago, where they have lived without any human interaction for hundreds of years, and are strong and busy. So I thought, well, lets see how it goes if I dont treat them with anything and provide enough of their own honey to get them through the winter. The result has been very good. no winter die off, no big mite problem, and the bees know what they need and know how to do their thing without us intervening. I take less honey, but it is worth it because long term, the colonies will divide, and steadily increase. In short, I believe we over treat and interfere too much. I also have started to grow a flower meadow and make sure surrounding countryside isnt using pesticides. It is, i think that which is causing the problems with the bees. When you think about it, it makes sense. As well as too much frequency pollution that disorients and stresses them.

I am in NZ, we also have also suffered from the last few summers, being wet & miserable for both the bees & the harvest. Many colonies were lost nationwide last winter. This summer has been fantastic though, thanks to a summer which is comparatively drier than the last few. We of course, also have to battle against varroa. If i saw my colonies looking like yours, (no resources) i would instantly treat them & put syrup straight onto them, regardless of the time or temp. Even a half strip of varroa treatment just to get the vapour running through the colony without killing them (temp wise). I know that Aus is not yet fully affected by varroa, yet it is coming your way, sorry. Your colonies are actually doing well, they are obviously resource deficient though, esp with such a large amount of young bees coming through, they be hungry :) Get 4lt 2/1 syrup on them, help them draw out & put away some reserves, they will settle down once there stores are built. Like us, they panic when the family is stressed.

Hey mate it’s not just you am having same problems. Your video and the comments in it have shown me it’s not just me thankyou

My bees are struggling too. I'm in Melbourne's north. They are bringing in pollen, but after my last inspection, I put feeders on 3 of my hives. They had next to no nectar. I'm not in it for the honey, it's a hobby for me. But I the last 3 years have been bad here, and varroa is on its way. I think a lot of people will walk away from beekeeping. :(

Ps. Just Subscribed ! So do keep the Bee content coming. No matter how small. . . Do some 'Double Nucs' as a way out of the difficult Situation. 😉

Not sure if it’s possible for you but you need multiple sites beekeeping is just farming on a smaller scale and it’s either boom or bust if you have multiple sites there’s a good chance one or the other has a good flow

I feel for you and also know what you are going through although I only have 4 active hives, it's been a struggle up here just over the border in NSW too. I haven't had a good year since my first year in 2020 :(

It's not you mate it is just the season, with so much overcast and cloud for in my case the past three years, there is little to no nectar, I am hoping that the rain has brought on new blooming, I have one hive that I am scared to look at because it looks dismal. I have a theory that without direct sunlight flowers just don't produce nectar. I had to feed old honey back to my bees last year through the summer, because the boxes were just way too light. I look around me and there is heaps in flower but little honey. Fruit trees have little fruit because the bees could just not be bothered with the blossoms.

Maybe to many hives and to few flowers…. I dont look at my bees so often. Just Once pr 14 days… But I live in Denmark… Good luck…

I am very surprised at how little food they have in the hive. My hives contain at least 10 kg of honey and several frames of bee bread. Good lack.

Hi mate the problem is not you. Feed sugar water 2.1 feed, feed feed I live in Jervis bay and have been feeding my hives for 3 months and still feeding.

Thank you for sharing!! I'm sorry that your bees are struggling!! I hope that the weather and the flowers around you improve. :/ I wish you all the luck with your bees. Love you content and your videos.

Is it your queens are old??? I saw super seigier cells/cup and spotty brood

Noooooooooo!!!!!

Last year here in the states, I was feeding 50 pounds of sugar every two weeks to 12 hives from July through November. A lot of beekeepers near me lost hives during the summer because they never thought to feed. Should throw a lot of 1:1 at them and give us the video of how they look with a solid month of feed on them. Sounds to me like your honey season is a wrap and you definitely don’t have the population to really capitalize for a late flow either.

What area are your hives, mine are Patterson Lakes, VIC.

Brother I don't see any amount of pollin in any of your hives, idk what's causing that but if you aren't getting pollin and your trying to build up your hives then you'll need to add pollin substitute of some sort. I recommend ultra bee from manlake if you can get it where you live.

maybe its because I a'm really thousand of km away but , before quitting, think. It can simply be that you put too many bees in an area. Nectare resources are FINITE not infinite. I dont know why you choose that place or if there was something weird happening like excett rain or excess heat that prevent flow to bring a lot of nectar. Here in european montains you put 2/3 hive for 1SqKm maxand sometimes less

Looks like the bees need new wax frames

How did the swarm captured at home go? I'm assuming a more urban area did it fare any better?

You only lose when you give up. Don't be a loser, don't give up.

00:08:40 😂 somebody likes you

Umm its not illegal to open feed bees in Australia. Although there are regulations about feeding honey and open frames. Sugar syrup in feeder drums is a very common sight up here in QLD.

Give the bees a 2lb bag of sugar each hive

Your population doesn't seem to be very high in the hives.

You have to get the basics right all those hives need attention asap i would start with multiple 2 to 5 litre feeds every 4 days depending on strength you gotta build bees to make a crop totally beekeeper error

looks like your in a dearth, feed feed feed

Have you done a mite test yet

Just give it up mate, it’s not for you, some people have the touch, you don’t seem to, give you a good price for your equipment for quick sale

Hahahaha

Really, you should know your forage. It looks to me your area is poor foraging area. Last season I was envited to a spot. I went and drove around it. Not interested. Nothing but corn and soy. You should really go around and scout your forage.

Sorry but to I your attitude and persona is not 1 for a good Bee Keeper. To I, the hives that have plenty of brood, eggs and larva are thinking a flow will be coming in about 2 weeks. To I; you need to slow down, accept you are helping not harvesting a Bee Hive, only their extra stores when they have them. Furthermore to I understand not all Bee Colonies think the same, they are like your neighbors, they have there way of doing things different to YOU. Yes you had 2 or 3 hives doing not as well as the rest and 1 that might need a new Queen, so that is FARMING which is what Bee Keeping IS. BEES rather than Beef, sheep or pigs or grains (CROPS). Grains or Crops might be better for your type of expectations, to me.

I just found your channel. I love it!! I'm sad that you are going away. You do have great content. For those of us that are learning, you are showing the ups and downs of beekeeping.