Beekeeping For Newbees®

By Beekeeping For Newbees

Here we will discuss everything needed for new beekeepers to learn to keep honeybees including: Beekeeping tools, hive components, what to do and when, and every trick of the trade that we can thin

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FAQs about Beekeeping For Newbees®:

How many episodes does Beekeeping For Newbees® have?

The podcast currently has 210 episodes available.

Best of Beekeeping For Newbees®

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Episode 200 - The 5 Questions Every Hive Inspection Should Answer (Part 2 of 2) 🐝
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 condition Why 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/beekeepingfornewbees Additional Resources: Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/ Never Take Hive Notes Again: https://youtu.be/DWdKMG-Wl-w Package Bees Install Video: https://youtu.be/wSAXt4kODz8 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. Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
April 15, 202629min
Number 2: Episode 9 – Your First Hive Inspection: Expanding Space and Reading the Hive (Part 2) 🐝 🔍
This episode continues the first hive inspection series by shifting from observation into interpretation and action. I walk through how to read what the bees are telling you during inspections and how to respond when colonies hesitate to expand, begin producing queen cells, or show signs of crowding. The focus is on understanding colony behavior, manipulating space correctly, and making informed decisions that support growth instead of triggering problems.What’s Inside This Episode:Why bees sometimes fail to expand left, right, or upward even when space is availableHow nectar flow and feeding affect comb drawing and colony expansionPractical frame manipulation techniques to force comb drawWhen and how to move brood frames to encourage upward expansionDifferences between supersedure cells, swarm cells, and emergency cellsHow to recognize swarm pressure early and what actions are availableUsing splits as a management tool when swarm cells appearHow to identify queens, eggs, brood patterns, and colony healthTips for finding queens more easily during inspectionsCommon inspection mistakes that lead to missed queen cells Why Listen to This Episode?This episode helps you move beyond simply opening the hive and into understanding what you are seeing, so inspection decisions support colony growth, prevent swarms, and avoid unnecessary losses.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 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. Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
April 17, 202124min
Number 3: Episode 8 – Your First Hive Inspection: What to Look For (Part 1 of 2) 🐝 🔍
This episode walks through what your very first hive inspection should look like and how to approach it without rushing or second-guessing every move. I focus on inspection mindset, timing, weather considerations, and how to physically work through the hive so you are calm, deliberate, and effective. This is Part 1 of a two-part series and is centered on preparation, technique, and the early checks that tell you whether a new colony is on the right track.What’s Inside This Episode:How to mentally approach your first inspection and manage early nervesWhy smoke is essential and how it helps prevent inspections from going sidewaysWeather and temperature considerations that determine when not to inspectHow vibration, noise, and rushed movements affect colony behaviorWhy practicing inspections on empty equipment builds confidenceStep-by-step walkthrough of opening the hive and staging componentsWhat to look for in package bee colonies during the first inspectionWhat to look for in nucleus colonies and how expectations differHow to confirm queen release, egg laying, and early brood developmentWhen to close the hive back up and leave it alone Why Listen to This Episode?This episode helps new beekeepers perform their first inspection with purpose instead of anxiety, so early mistakes do not disrupt colony progress or confidence.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com 🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com 📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees 💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ 🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org ☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesLinks to gear:🛠️ Regular Hive Tool https://amzn.to/4iaACUf 🪝 J-Hook Style Hive Tool https://amzn.to/4kTqZL9 🧥 Beekeeping Pullover Top https://amzn.to/4hmzvzA 🕸️ Hat with Veil https://amzn.to/3FtrhZ2 🔥 Smoker https://amzn.to/3DyBSS9About 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. Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beekeeping-for-newbees/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
April 16, 202122min
Number 4: Episode 7 – Installing Your Bees: Packages, Nucs, and First Setup 🐝 🏡
In this episode, we move from preparation into action and walk through what it actually looks like to install bees into a hive for the first time. I cover hive placement considerations, gear readiness, and then step through both package bee and nucleus colony installations from start to finish. This episode focuses on real-world execution, including common problems, timing issues, and decisions that affect whether a new colony gets established cleanly in its first critical days.What’s Inside This Episode:Seasonal cues that signal it is time to prepare for installationHive placement fundamentals, including sun exposure, traffic patterns, and slopeFinal gear checks before bees arrive, including protective equipment and smoker prepStep-by-step package bee installation, from opening the cage to releasing the queenWhy feeding is critical for packages and how weather can cause early starvationFeeder options and when to use frame feeders, top feeders, or internal feedingNucleus colony installation options and how they differ from packagesWhy colony strength and configuration matter during the first weekWhen to perform your first inspection and what to expect next Why Listen to This Episode?This episode gives new beekeepers a clear, practical walkthrough of installing bees so the first days in the hive are calm, controlled, and productive instead of stressful or rushed.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com 🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com 📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees 💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ 🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org ☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesReferenced Articles:🔥 Smoker Lighting Tutorial https://youtu.be/5PsiWiQsWL0 🧰 Beekeeping Tool Belt https://amzn.to/45BaygJAbout 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. Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/ 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 18, 202134min
Number 5: Episode 6 – Hive Setup, Placement, and Early Season Planning (Part 2 of 2) 🐝 🧰
This episode continues the discussion from Part 1, moving into hands-on management topics that come into play once colonies are installed and growing. I’m joined briefly by my daughter Phoebe (the Phoebeekeeper) to share a younger beekeeper’s perspective, then we shift into frames, inspections, feeding methods, and the most common pests that affect colonies through the season. The focus is practical, experience-based guidance on what to watch for, how often to inspect, and how to keep small problems from becoming major setbacks.What’s Inside This Episode:A conversation with a young beekeeper on learning inspections and staying engagedFrame types and materials, including wax foundation versus plasticHow drawn comb can help or hurt depending on colony strengthInspection timing from spring through fall and when not to open hivesFeeding strategies, including frame feeders, top feeders, and bucket feedersCommon hive pests and threats, including wax moths, small hive beetles, Varroa mites, hornets, and bearsWhy strong colonies prevent most problems before they start Why Listen to This Episode?This episode helps you manage colonies after setup by understanding inspections, feeding, and pest pressure so issues are caught early and handled correctly.More Info:🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com 🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com 📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees 💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ 🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org ☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbeesReferenced Articles:🪣 Bucket Feeder Setup Video https://youtu.be/lTowIiSjTtgAbout 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. Pre-Inspection Checklist: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com/pre-inspection-checklist/ 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 01, 202134min