In this episode we continue Varroa Week by breaking down the most common mite treatment options on the market. We cover how they work, when they are used, key limitations, and how to think through building a treatment strategy that fits your own apiary. What’s Inside This Episode:• Colony 63 inspection report and a delayed queen now laying strong• Why population growth can surge once a package queen gets released• Oxalic acid treatments, timing, and why brood cycles matter• Formic Pro, temperature limits, and why it can be highly effective• Apivar, resistance concerns, and where it still may fit• Apiguard and HopGuard as additional treatment options• Why many beekeepers keep both a gentle and aggressive tool available• How colony size and hive configuration affect treatment costsWhy Listen to This Episode?Choosing the wrong treatment at the wrong time can cost you a colony. This episode gives you a practical overview so you can start building a smarter Varroa plan.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAdditional Resources:🔗 Bee Castle Products: https://www.beecastleltd.com/?ref=scfeyzjb🎥 Vented Entrance Reducer: https://youtu.be/SyIcnkIwKigAbout the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode we continue Varroa Week by getting practical with mite testing. We cover alcohol washes, dish soap washes, sticky boards, sugar shakes, and how to build a monthly testing routine that helps you stay ahead of trouble before colonies begin to fail. What’s Inside This Episode:• Colony 67 inspection report and giving a crowded four-frame nuc more space• Why expanding too early can risk brood chilling during cold nights• The real question is not if you have mites, but how many• How to do a proper alcohol wash using nurse bees for the best sample• Why dish soap washes can be a lower-cost alternative to alcohol• Sticky boards, what they can tell you, and where they fall short• Why sugar shakes are less accurate and no longer preferred• Building a monthly mite testing schedule and reacting to the numbersWhy Listen to This Episode?Testing is where many beekeepers fall behind. This episode helps you choose a method, use it correctly, and turn numbers into better management decisions.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAbout the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode we continue Varroa Week with a closer look at how mites reproduce inside capped brood cells and why drone brood can accelerate mite growth. We also kick things off with a real hive inspection report from Colony 61 and talk through expansion decisions happening in the apiary right now. What’s Inside This Episode:• Colony 61 inspection report from a three-week-old four-frame nuc• Why package colonies often seem to stall before new brood emerges• Aggressive behavior during inspections and what may be causing it• Why package bee workers may not reflect the queen’s long-term genetics• How Varroa mites reproduce inside capped brood cells• Why drone brood is preferred and how populations grow faster there• Using drone brood trapping and VSH queens as management tools• How mites spread through robbing, drifting drones, flowers, and water sourcesWhy Listen to This Episode?Understanding how mites reproduce and move between colonies helps you make smarter treatment and timing decisions. This episode also gives you a real-time look at spring colony management in a growing apiary.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAbout the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 700,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode we kick off Varroa Week and a new run of shorter spring episodes focused on helping you make better decisions in real time. We talk about why mite management needs to be part of every beekeeper’s plan, what is coming over the next five episodes, and how listeners can help shape what comes next. What’s Inside This Episode:• Launching a new week of shorter spring beekeeping episodes• Why Varroa mites must be part of every beekeeper’s plan• How many new beekeepers buy gear but skip mite strategy• This week’s roadmap: biology, testing, treatments, and Noroa• Why colonies can look healthy while mite damage is already spreading• Lessons learned from colonies lost before understanding Varroa• How listeners can help choose future episode topicsWhy Listen to This Episode?If you do not have a mite plan, this episode helps you start one now. It also sets up a full week of practical Varroa content timed for spring beekeeping decisions.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAbout the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 700,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode: the swarm trap finally paid off. I also discuss what I saw at the trap when the feral colony moved in, including a trophylaxis moment at the entrance that most people would miss. Then we dig into swarming itself, what's driving it, what to look for, and how to get ahead of it.What’s Inside This Episode:• Catching the feral swarm and what trophylaxis looks like at the trap entrance• Reframing swarming as colony success rather than beekeeper failure• What drives the swarm impulse: queen pheromone dilution, backfilling, nectar pressure, and no room to lay• Queen cups vs. queen cells, and how to tell them apart without panicking• Bee space vs. people space, and why a honey super on top often does nothing• The "synthetic swarm," my favorite preventive split, step by step• The mistake that wrecks colonies every year: tearing out every queen cell before checking whether the colony has already swarmed• A quick goodbye to Trader MoeWhy Listen to This Episode? Swarming catches a lot of beekeepers off guard in the spring, and the wrong response can cost you the colony. This episode gives you a clear read on what's driving the behavior, what to look for during inspections, and how to get ahead of it before you lose half your bees.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAbout the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 700,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode we continue breaking down your first 30 to 60 days of hive inspections and what you should be looking for. We walk through warning signs, growth expectations, and how to track what’s happening inside your hive without overcomplicating the process. This wraps up the inspection framework so you can go into every hive check with a clear plan. What’s Inside This Episode:• What it means if you do not see eggs early on and when it becomes a concern• Spotty brood patterns and what they can indicate about queen health or disease• What normal population growth should look like in the first 30 to 60 days• Signs of potential issues including lack of growth, poor food stores, or visible disease• How to track queen cups and queen cells during inspections• Simple ways to record inspection data without overcomplicating your workflow• What to capture in your notes including date, weather, brood, feeding, and hive conditionWhy Listen to This Episode?Knowing what to look for during inspections helps you catch problems early and stay ahead of issues. This episode gives you a clear and practical way to evaluate your hive every time you open it.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAdditional Resources:Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/Never Take Hive Notes Again: https://youtu.be/DWdKMG-Wl-wPackage Bees Install Video: https://youtu.be/wSAXt4kODz8About the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 700,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Most new beekeepers open their hives too much or not nearly enough, and both create real problems. In this episode we build a simple, repeatable inspection framework around five questions that will focus every hive visit and cut out the guesswork. We also cover what to expect in those first one to three weeks after install, how to read your brood frames, when to feed and when to back off, and why swarm pressure can build faster than most people realize. This is Part 1 of a two-part series on growing your new colony through spring.What's Inside This Episode:• The 5 questions to answer on every inspection and why they replace the need to pull every frame• How to locate the queen as a new beekeeper, including a frame trick that works even when you cannot spot her• Reading your brood pattern and what a good pattern actually looks like versus what deserves a closer look• Food and feeding decisions in the first few weeks and when it makes sense to taper off• How to spot space issues that quietly build swarm pressure before you ever see a queen cell• Swarm pressure indicators and what to actually do when things are getting tight• How often to inspect and why stretching to four to six weeks is a setup for serious problems• Walk-away splits explained for when you need to leave town and the hive is showing signs• New app launch: AI-powered, built around the Beekeeping for Newbees training library, dropping April 28th• Free pre-inspection checklist available now at beekeepingfornewbees.comPerfect For You If:You just installed a package or nuc and are not sure what to look for when you open the hive, or you have been pulling every frame on every visit and want a smarter, faster way to get it doneMore Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAdditional Resources:Never Take Hive Notes Again: https://youtu.be/DWdKMG-Wl-wPackage Bees Install Video: https://youtu.be/wSAXt4kODz8About the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 700,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode we pick up right where we left off and continue the install process, including a mistake I made and how to handle it if it happens to you. We also walk through what to do after installation, how to handle feeding, and what to expect in those first few days. This wraps up the install process and sets you up for your first inspections. What’s Inside This Episode:• What happens if you remove the wrong cork on a queen cage and how to fix it• Why leaving your bees alone after install is one of the most important steps• How and when to check queen release without disturbing the colony• Feeding strategies after install and when to start tapering off• Differences in feeding and management between packages and nucs• Common mistakes like over-inspecting and delaying installs too long• What to expect in the first week and how to prepare for early inspectionsWhy Listen to This Episode?Even small mistakes during install can have a big impact if you do not know how to handle them. This episode helps you recover from those moments and sets clear expectations for what comes next.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAdditional Resources:Vented Entrance Reducer: https://youtube.com/shorts/bd6cEeE_kSkSwarm Trap Prep and Bait Video: https://youtu.be/VOn8nv4ZqKEBuilding a Swarm Trap: https://youtu.be/uksabwBuzlEAbout the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 700,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode we walk through the process of installing package bees and what to expect on day one. We break down the differences between packages and nucs, how to prepare your hive, and the exact steps to get your bees settled in safely. This is part one of a two-part series, focusing on setup and install before moving into early follow-up and inspections. What’s Inside This Episode:• The key differences between package bees and nucs and how that affects your starting point• Why protective gear still matters even when bees are less defensive during install• How and when to feed new packages and why syrup setup matters immediately• Using a sprayer to calm bees and reduce unnecessary flying during install• Removing the can and queen cage safely without rushing the process• How to position and release the queen cage for the best acceptance• Getting frames back in place and closing up the hive without crushing beesWhy Listen to This Episode?Installing bees is one of the most important moments for a new beekeeper. This episode walks you through the process so you can avoid common mistakes and start your colony off strong.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAdditional Resources:Installing Packages: (links forthcoming)Checking Queens: (links forthcoming)Bucket Feeder: https://youtu.be/lTowIiSjTtgMixing 2:1 in a Bucket: https://youtube.com/shorts/sQqb_uuYzhQNever Take Hive Notes Again: https://youtu.be/DWdKMG-Wl-wAbout the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 700,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode we jump into a Bee Buzz and work through a series of listener questions from around the country. We cover a range of real-world scenarios including equipment cleanup, feeding decisions, splits, brood development, and adding space. This is a practical Q&A focused on what beekeepers are dealing with right now. What’s Inside This Episode:• How to clean used frames and what to watch out for when reusing old equipment• Feeding decisions during spring buildup and how syrup fits into comb production• How to set up new packages and when to expand from a single box• Timing splits and why drone availability matters for successful mating• Why bees may ignore pollen patties and how to use them safely• Uneven brood expansion between colonies and what is considered normal• When to add honey supers and how to avoid becoming honey boundWhy Listen to This Episode?These Bee Buzz episodes focus on real questions from real beekeepers. If you are working through spring decisions and want straightforward guidance, this episode gives you practical answers you can use right away.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesAbout the Podcast:Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 700,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy