Learn how to securely attach a metal clip using screws, including critical steps to avoid common installation pitfalls and ensure a reliable connection.
Learn the correct way to assemble beehive sides for structural integrity, weatherproofing, and proper bee space. Step-by-step guide for commercial apiaries.
Discover essential frame assembly components like support rods, starter guides, and specialized fasteners to enhance hive durability and colony management.
Learn the essential 7-10 day spring hive inspection schedule. Monitor brood patterns, food stores, and space to prevent swarming and ensure colony health.
Learn the critical post-relocation hive inspection checklist to confirm queen status, assess food stores, and identify stress signs for a thriving colony.
Learn to identify a honey flow with 4 key signs: rapid wax building, shimmering nectar, increased hive weight, and a distinctive sweet scent. Maximize your harvest.
Learn essential steps to maintain trapped pollen quality, including daily collection, proper drying or freezing, and hive health management for beekeepers.
Discover the key components of a basic beehive setup, from the brood box to hive covers, and learn how to build a foundation for a healthy, productive colony.
Learn the step-by-step process for pouring wax into molds to create flawless, professional-quality candles. Avoid common pitfalls like sinkholes and air bubbles.
Discover how beehive frames provide structure, enable inspections, and facilitate honey harvesting. Learn the difference between wood and plastic frames.
Discover the best tools for cutting wax foundation, including the standard roller knife and effective alternatives, to ensure a snug frame fit for your bees.
Discover when a specialized frame cleaning tool is a necessity for beekeepers to efficiently clean wax and propolis from frame grooves for reusing frames.
Learn why pre-season tool preparation is vital for colony health, beekeeper safety, and efficient hive management to ensure a successful beekeeping season.
Learn how hive type (Langstroth, Top Bar, Warre) dictates bottom board choice for optimal bee health, ventilation, insulation, and Varroa mite management.
Learn how temperature controls wax viscosity to determine sheet thickness. Hotter wax makes thinner sheets; cooler wax makes thicker, more durable sheets.
Learn essential beehive cooling strategies like shade, ventilation, and water sources to help your bees maintain a healthy 95°F brood nest temperature.
Learn the step-by-step crush and strain method for harvesting honey from a Top Bar Hive. No expensive equipment needed, perfect for backyard beekeepers.
Explore effective alternatives to traditional bee smokers, including sugar water sprays, liquid smoke, and water mists for safer, more convenient hive management.
Learn the step-by-step crush and strain method for harvesting honey from a top bar hive, including timing, comb selection, and maximizing your beeswax yield.
Learn the predictable layout of a top bar hive: honey is stored at the back for easy, low-stress harvesting. Understand bee logic for better hive management.
Learn why starting with a stable foundation, essential components, and a second hive is critical for new beekeepers to ensure colony survival and growth.
Discover how spreading insects reveals key features for identification, ensures scientific value, and creates professional displays for research and education.
Discover how honey bees recycle propolis by scraping, reworking, and moving it to maintain hive structure and hygiene, showcasing remarkable energy conservation.
Learn when and how to safely use sugar water for bees. Discover the correct 1:1 recipe, key pitfalls to avoid, and better long-term support strategies.
Compare solid vs. screened bottom boards for beehives. Learn the pros and cons for insulation, ventilation, and Varroa mite management to make the best choice.
Discover the key benefits of wooden hives, including natural insulation, breathability, and cost-effectiveness for healthier colonies and easier management.
Learn how selective breeding for low-propolis bees affects hive health. Understand the trade-offs between easier management and stronger colony immunity.
Learn the step-by-step procedure for collecting drone semen without air bubbles. Essential for commercial beekeepers and distributors ensuring high viability.
Learn the three pillars of high honey yields: strong colony health, optimal forage, and a timely harvest. Essential for commercial apiaries and distributors.
Discover the best manual uncapping methods for small-scale beekeepers, including hot knives, cold knives, and uncapping forks for efficient honey extraction.
Learn the 4 key Varroa mite monitoring methods: alcohol wash, sugar roll, CO2 injection, and sticky board. Compare accuracy and make informed treatment decisions.
Learn why only 15-20% of Varroa mites are visible in summer, and how the hidden 80-85% in brood cells dictates effective beekeeping treatment strategies.
Learn the key steps to safely remove candles from molds, including the critical cooling phase and gentle release techniques for perfect results every time.
Discover how a screened bottom board provides passive ventilation, aids in varroa mite control, and serves as a diagnostic tool for better hive management.
Discover how the Cypress Screened Bottom Board aids Varroa mite management, improves hive ventilation, and serves as a key tool for modern beekeeping IPM strategies.
Learn how solid bottom boards create a closed system for effective Varroa mite treatment, ensuring maximum chemical concentration and accurate mite counts.
Learn the key difference between a hive's brood chamber (structure) and honey supers (superstructure) for effective colony health and honey production.
Learn best practices for handling mucus during semen collection to prevent equipment clogging and ensure high-quality, viable samples for analysis or AI.
Discover why freezing is the best method for storing pollen to preserve its nutritional value, freshness, and sensitive compounds for beekeeping and feeding.
Learn to make a potent propolis tincture with high-proof alcohol. Our guide covers the ideal ratio, step-by-step process, and safety tips for a perfect extract.
Learn about the pre-trial preventative treatments of fumagillin and oxytetracycline used to create a controlled, disease-free baseline for honey bee research.
Explore the strategic choice between protein patties and dry pollen feeding for your apiary, focusing on nutritional control, disease prevention, and brood stimulation.
Learn the critical steps after marking a queen bee, from ensuring paint dries to gentle reintroduction, to prevent colony rejection and ensure hive health.
Discover advanced beeswax candle projects: hand-dipped tapers, container candles, and wax blends. Learn techniques, tools, and tips for professional results.
Learn how beekeepers use Cypress Screened Bottom Boards as a platform for external feeders, containing spills, and maintaining hive hygiene during feeding operations.
Discover the fully assembled Cypress Screened Bottom Board for Varroa mite monitoring and hive ventilation. No assembly required, ready for 8 & 10-frame hives.
Learn the weight differences between 8-frame and 10-frame beehive boxes (32-80 lbs) to make an informed choice for your apiary's efficiency and safety.
Learn how entrance reducers can trap heat and moisture on warm winter days, leading to mold, condensation, and colony loss. Essential beekeeping insights.
Discover the tools for beeswax embossing: rolls for commercial production, plates for small-scale, and stamps for crafts. Choose the right method for your needs.
Learn the ideal cooling time for beeswax in molds to create pliable, crack-free sheets. Key indicators include the two-minute guideline and the warm touch test.
Learn the definitive signs of a queenright hive, from fresh eggs to brood patterns. A quick guide for beekeepers to assess colony health without spotting the queen.
Learn the pros and cons of bottling honey immediately after extraction versus processing it for clarity and stability. Essential for commercial beekeepers.