Embrace the Natural Beekeeping Transition
Hey Bee Friends! 🌼✨ Let’s talk about making the shift to natural beekeeping—it’s like giving your buzzing buddies a path to paradise.
Simple Principles:
- Clean Equipment: Get those bees into sparkling clean homes.
- Natural Broodnest: Let them craft their broodnest naturally.
- Cell Size Mix: Consider mixing small and large cell size frames for a sweet spot.
- Keep It Clean: Ensure the broodnest stays squeaky clean.
Always:
- Make changes in baby steps.
- Think long term.
- Let the bees be your guide.
Using natural comb hives, like a top bar hive with an untouched broodnest, is the easiest way to roll with the natural comb flow:
- New and clean equipment is a breeze.
- Bees get to build their dream broodnest.
- Comb rotation? Easy peasy!
Transitioning Standard Equipment
Top bar hives are cool, but if you’ve got other gear, no worries. Standard frame-based equipment can groove to the natural comb vibe.
Clean Equipment
Bees demand a pristine broodnest. Toss out combs treated with miticides or those exposed to pesticides. Clean slate, happy hive.
Foundationless Frames
Opt for foundationless frames to let the bees strut their comb-building prowess. Sturdier comb makes handling a walk in the park.
Mix It Up: Large and Small Cell Sized Frames
Still into foundation? Try a mix of small and large cell frames. It’s like creating a broodnest symphony. I’ve rocked six frames that way—no issues.
Or keep it simple, get your bees on a small cell core. They’ll build it if you give them the green light.
Transition from Small Cell to Natural Comb
Small cell beekeeper? No sweat. Move effortlessly from small cell to natural comb. Toss in some large cell size frames to mimic a natural broodnest. Bees will take the lead.
Forget stressing over small cell nuances. You don’t need a PhD in regression techniques. Think natural comb with its size variety. Let the bees do their thing, and you’ll be golden.
Non-contaminating Mite Treatments
Going natural doesn’t mean losing your bees. Treat them with a non-contaminating method. It’s the bee-friendly way:
- Prevents mite overload hive loss.
- Lets bees work on that natural broodnest.
- Keeps bee equipment pristine.
Remember, dead bees don’t build sweet small cell comb or produce honey. Plus, they’re not the life of the party.
Get your bees on that clean, natural comb structure, then ease them off any treatments.
Changes
Small changes, smart choices. Plan for the long term. Let those changes marinate for a thorough evaluation. A natural beekeeper moves the hive towards better, not just different.
And that takes time. Rushing is so not the beekeeper’s vibe. Most things need at least a full season to brew. So, take it slow. Let the bees be your wise mentors.
-Keep buzzing, D 🐝🤠
