Beekeeping For Newbees®

This week we jump into another Bee Buzz episode and answer a new round of listener questions from around the world. We talk through several early-spring scenarios including cleansing flights, brood removal, feeding decisions, swarm preparation, and signs of potential queen or mite problems. These practical questions highlight the kinds of things many beekeepers start noticing as colonies come out of winter and begin ramping up for spring.
What’s Inside This Episode:
• Brown streaks on the outside of a hive and how to tell the difference between normal cleansing flights and possible disease
• Why bees sometimes drag larvae out of the hive and how hygienic behavior helps keep colonies healthy
• Whether reversing brood boxes in spring is necessary or simply a management preference
• When to feed 1:1 syrup and why early feeding can sometimes cause problems if weather turns cold
• Signs of deformed wing virus and why it often points to a varroa mite issue
• What clustered bees near the entrance may actually be doing during warmer winter or early spring days
• When to begin thinking about swarm management and why preparation often starts earlier than many expect
Why Listen to This Episode?
Bee Buzz episodes focus on real questions from beekeepers dealing with real hive situations. If you are heading into spring inspections or trying to interpret what you are seeing inside your hive, this episode walks through several common scenarios and what they might mean.
More Info:
🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com
🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com
📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees
💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ
🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org
☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees
Additional Resources:
📺 Digitizing Hive Inspection Notes: https://youtu.be/DWdKMG-Wl-w
About 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/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Swarm trapping is one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to grow your apiary, and in this second part of the discussion we move from theory to real-world execution. In this episode we talk about where to place your traps, when they should go up in different regions, and what to do after you successfully catch a swarm. From planning your removal process to installing the bees into a hive, this episode walks through the practical steps that turn a swarm trap into a thriving new colony.
What’s Inside This Episode:
• Planning ahead for swarm trap removal and why thinking through the process before you catch bees makes everything easier
• Ideal swarm trap placement including edges of fields, road borders, and other transitional areas bees naturally travel
• Why densely wooded areas often perform worse for swarm traps due to predators and poor flight access
• Regional timing guidance for placing swarm traps across the southern United States, Mid-Atlantic, and northern states
• What to do once a swarm moves into your trap and why many beekeepers leave them undisturbed for several days
• How to safely close and remove a swarm trap at night and relocate it to your apiary
• Installing captured swarm frames into a full hive and helping the colony build quickly with feeding and comb drawing
• Techniques some beekeepers use to anchor a swarm to the hive including adding a frame of brood
Why Listen to This Episode?
Catching a swarm is only the first step. This episode explains how to move that swarm safely into a hive, avoid common mistakes, and give the new colony the best chance to establish quickly and grow into a productive hive.
More Info:
🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com
🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com
📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees
💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ
🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org
☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

Additional Resources:
Pill Bottle Swarm Trap: https://youtu.be/jtbc8OJpTs0
Swarm Trap Assembly: https://youtu.be/uksabwBuzlE
60 Second Swarm Trap Build: https://youtu.be/Wfy3ybL3PJM
Swarm Trap Plans: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/resources
Swarm Trap & Nuc Entrance Wheels: https://amzn.to/3FzSMAn
About the Podcast:
Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 650,000 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/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Swarm season is one of the most exciting times of the year for beekeepers. In this episode we begin a two-part discussion about swarm traps, what they are, why they work, and how you can use them to capture free bees during the spring swarm season. We walk through the biology of swarming, why scout bees search for new cavities, and how a simple swarm trap can turn that natural behavior into a powerful tool for growing your apiary.
What’s Inside This Episode:
• What swarming actually is and why honeybee colonies naturally divide during spring buildup
• Why swarm traps allow beekeepers to capture large colonies of free bees during swarm season
• The advantages and potential risks of bringing wild swarm genetics into your apiary
• The cavity size honeybees prefer when selecting a new home and how swarm traps mimic it
• Materials commonly used when building swarm traps and why durability matters outdoors
• Using drawn comb and lemongrass oil to attract scout bees searching for a new colony site
• Practical guidance on where to place swarm traps and how to do it safely
Why Listen to This Episode?
Swarm traps can give beekeepers access to strong local genetics and large colonies without buying packages or nucs. This episode explains how swarming works and how simple traps can dramatically increase your chances of catching a swarm during the busiest part of the season.
More Info:
🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com
🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com
📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees
💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ
🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org
☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees
Additional Resources:
Pill Bottle Swarm Trap: https://youtu.be/jtbc8OJpTs0
Swarm Trap Assembly: https://youtu.be/uksabwBuzlE
60 Second Swarm Trap Build: https://youtu.be/Wfy3ybL3PJM
Swarm Trap Plans: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/resources
Swarm Trap & Nuc Entrance Wheels: https://amzn.to/3FzSMAn
About 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.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Spring is getting closer, which means the questions from beekeepers are starting to pour in again. In this Bee Buzz episode, I work through a lightning round of listener questions covering late winter hive activity, feeding decisions, early inspections, and what normal colony behavior looks like as temperatures begin to warm. If you're seeing bees flying on warm days, noticing dead bees in front of the hive, or wondering if it's time to check food stores or add space, this episode walks through the most common questions beekeepers are asking right now.
What’s Inside This Episode:
• Why bees suddenly start flying during warm winter days and what cleansing flights actually mean
• What a pile of dead bees in front of the hive usually indicates during late winter cleanup
• When it makes sense to check food stores and how to do a quick cold weather hive check
• Why one hive may appear active while another seems quiet coming out of winter
• How to estimate food stores and determine if a colony may be running low without pulling frames
• Whether bees bringing in pollen means the queen has already started laying again
• When to perform your first full spring inspection and what to focus on early in the season
Why Listen to This Episode?
Late winter can be one of the most confusing times for beekeepers as colonies begin transitioning toward spring. This episode answers the questions many beekeepers are asking right now and helps you understand what normal behavior looks like as your bees begin ramping up for the season.
More Info:
🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com
🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com
📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees
💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ
🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org
☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees
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.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

March is one of the most critical transition points in the beekeeping year. Colonies are expanding, winter bees are aging off, brood production is ramping up, and nectar flows are just beginning. In this episode, I walk through the key management decisions that can determine whether your colonies thrive, swarm, or collapse in the weeks ahead.
What’s Inside This Episode:
Why March is the most dangerous transition period for overwintered colonies
The balance between declining winter bees and rising brood production
When to feed, how to feed, and what not to stimulate too early
Box management, reversing hive bodies, and when to add space
Why I do not equalize weak colonies at the expense of strong genetics
Early swarm pressure, queen cups, and how quickly things can escalate
Inspection timing and how missing one queen cell can cost you half a colony
Why Listen to This Episode?
If you want strong colonies heading into spring instead of surprise losses or swarms, this episode gives you a practical framework for managing the most volatile month of the year.
More Info:
🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com
🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com
📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees
💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ
🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org
☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees
About the Podcast:
Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 650,000 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/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy