Beekeeping For Newbees®

In this episode, we talk about the right (and wrong) ways to move bees to a new location. Whether you’re relocating a hive two miles or two hundred, learn how to minimize stress, avoid major bee loss, and keep your colonies thriving. Plus, updates on swarm season and new traps at the property! 🐝

What’s Inside This Episode:

• How far honey bees can really travel.
• Best practices for relocating colonies safely.
• Real-world moving tips for new beekeepers.
• Funny stories from the field — including my cedar tree swarm!

Why Listen to This Episode:

Avoid costly mistakes when moving bees and learn practical techniques for success. Whether it’s a short shift across the yard or a major relocation, these tips will help you protect your bees and keep operations running smoothly. 🚚🌸

Listen now and make your next hive move a success! 🐝✨

Support the Show:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 2% globally, podcast with over 500,000 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 doesn’t in real-world beekeeping.

In this episode, we dive deep into how honey bee colonies are structured and why understanding bee behavior can make you a calmer, more effective beekeeper. We cover the different castes of bees, what drives their daily decisions, how pheromones regulate everything inside the hive, and tips to work with your bees, not against them.

What’s Inside This Episode: • The roles of workers, drones, and queens

• How pheromones control hive behavior and reactions

• Recognizing warning signs during inspections

• How your own energy influences bee behavior

• Tips for minimizing disruption during hive work

Why Listen to This Episode?

Understanding how and why bees behave the way they do is the foundation of calm, confident beekeeping. Whether you're brand new or refining your skills, learning to “read the bees” will change everything.

Support the Show:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is your trusted guide to practical, real-world beekeeping advice. We break down complex topics to help you build confidence, avoid common mistakes, and truly enjoy your beekeeping journey.

From pub patio swarms in England to rooftop hives in Chicago—and even yoga sessions with bees—this Bees in the News installment covers the weird, the wonderful, and the just plain “what?” in the world of bees.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• A 3,000-bee swarm descends on a British pub mid-pint
• Chicago hotel rooftop bees add sweetness to guest stays
• New research warns that urban wildflowers may be toxic to pollinators
• Harvard’s Robo-B project gets insect-inspired landing gear
• Bee yoga? The University of Nebraska wants you to ommmm with bees this summer

Why Listen to This Episode?

If you’re into honey bees, pollinator tech, or just enjoy hearing how bees are buzzing into headlines worldwide, this episode is for you. Equal parts educational and entertaining, Episode 146 reminds us how often bees find their way into our communities, cultures, and even wellness routines.

Support the Show:

Website: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com

Discord Room: https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

Blog & Gear Guides: https://bestbeekeepinggear.com

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping for Newbees is a top-ranked podcast that helps hobbyists and small-scale beekeepers build confidence, avoid common mistakes, and enjoy the craft of beekeeping. Each episode dives into practical tips, hive management strategies, and the occasional bee-related rant—all with a focus on helping you become a better beekeeper.

So… you open the hive and don’t see any eggs. Panic sets in. Did she die? Did they swarm? Did you crush her?! In this episode, we walk through how to tell whether your colony is actually queenless—and what to do if it is.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Real reasons your queen might be gone
• False alarms that trick new beekeepers into requeening too soon
• How to recognize normal brood breaks vs. true queenlessness
• The frame-of-eggs test and what it tells you
• What queenless hives sound and act like
• Why waiting a week might be the smartest move you can make

Why Listen to This Episode?

Being queenless doesn’t always mean disaster—but reacting too fast can make it worse. If you’re unsure whether to intervene, requeen, or just walk away and wait, this episode will give you the confidence to make the right call. And if your queen really is gone, you’ll have a clear next step without wasting time or money.

Support the Show:

Website: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com

Discord Room: Beekeeping For Newbees

Blog & Gear Guides: https://bestbeekeepinggear.com

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping for Newbees is a top-ranked podcast that helps hobbyists and small-scale beekeepers build confidence, avoid common mistakes, and enjoy the craft of beekeeping. Each episode dives into practical tips, hive management strategies, and the occasional bee-related rant—all with a focus on helping you become a better beekeeper.

Requeening a hive is one of the most important, and sometimes most confusing, tasks beekeepers face. Whether your queen is failing, gone, or just not cutting it, knowing how and when to step in can make or break your colony’s productivity.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• How to tell if your queen is gone (and why no eggs doesn’t always mean queenless)
• Natural vs. assisted requeening: pros, cons, and timing
• Understanding queen mating flights and drone congregating areas
• A walkthrough of different requeening methods:
• Letting the colony requeen
• Purchasing queen cells
• Installing a mated queen
• Requeening with a full nuc
• Why direct release can backfire (and when it’s okay)
• When colonies naturally supersede a queen — and why you shouldn’t always wait
• How often you should requeen (hint: not every year)

Why Listen to This Episode?

Whether you’re dealing with a defensive colony or planning ahead for spring splits, this episode gives you a complete framework for understanding your options, weighing the risks, and making the best decision for your apiary. From budget-conscious strategies to high-efficiency options, we cover it all with real-world insights from years of hands-on experience.

Support the Show:

Website: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com

Discord: https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

Blog + How-To Guides: https://bestbeekeepinggear.com

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 2% podcast with over 500,000 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 doesn’t in real-world beekeeping.

Ever hear beekeepers talk about the "Demaree split" and wonder what it actually is? Spoiler alert: it's not a real split. In this episode, we walk through the Demaree Method of Swarm Control, a smart hive reorganization technique that helps manage swarm urges without creating a new colony.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• What the Demaree Method is (and isn't)
• Step-by-step instructions for implementing it in a two-deep setup
• The biology behind why it works
• Pros and cons of this method for new and experienced beekeepers
• When to use it—and when not to
• Why “words matter” and why calling it a “split” drives me crazy 😅

Why Listen to This Episode? Whether you're trying to boost honey production, follow local hive count ordinances, or just don’t want to deal with another colony, the Demaree method offers a practical, no-split solution. Even if you’re not ready to try it this year, it’s a great tool to add to your beekeeping brain bank.

Support the Show:

• Website: https://beekeepingfornewbees.com
• Blog, reviews, and write-ups: https://bestbeekeepinggear.com
• Discord Room: https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping for Newbees is a top-ranked podcast that helps hobbyists and small-scale beekeepers build confidence, avoid common mistakes, and enjoy the craft of beekeeping.

Swarming is a natural part of honey bee biology—but that doesn’t mean it has to happen in your apiary. In this episode, we break down the triggers that lead to swarms and the proactive steps you can take to reduce the risk. From adding supers to splitting strong colonies, we’ll cover what works, what’s optional, and what to avoid.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Why bees swarm (and why it’s not personal)

• How swarming impacts honey production and colony survival

• Signs your colony is preparing to swarm

• Practical prevention strategies: supering, splitting, and managing brood space

• Why queen cells aren’t always bad—and how to handle them

• Common myths about reversing boxes and gadget-based “fixes”

Why Listen to This Episode?

Whether you're in your first year or your fifth, understanding how to prevent swarms will make your colonies more productive and less chaotic. This episode gives you the tools to keep your bees at home—and your season on track.

Support the Show:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is your go-to podcast for practical advice, real-world insights, and the tools you need to succeed as a beekeeper. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, we’re here to help every step of the way.

In this episode, we break down the fundamentals of hive inspections—from timing and tools to what to look for and what to leave alone. Whether you’re in your first season or your tenth, this guide will help you inspect your hives with confidence, purpose, and minimal disruption to your bees.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Why inspections are critical for every beekeeper

• What tools you really need (and what to skip)

• How to read frames without overhandling

• When to inspect, based on weather and colony stage

• Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Why Listen to This Episode?

If you’ve ever second-guessed yourself during an inspection—or avoided one altogether—this episode will give you the clarity and structure you need to get in, get answers, and get out while keeping your bees happy.

Support the Show:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is your go-to podcast for practical advice, real-world insights, and the tools you need to succeed as a beekeeper. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, we’re here to help every step of the way.

If you’re about to install bees — or just did — this episode walks you through what to expect during the first 30 days of a new colony. From queen acceptance to feeder strategies and early inspections, we’ll help you avoid common mistakes and start your beekeeping season strong.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Quick overview of packages vs. nucs
• Why queen acceptance is key to package success
• When to feed and when not to (nucs vs. packages)
• What to look for during early inspections
• When to add more space or super
• Warning signs to watch for during colony buildup
• Tips for new beekeepers on staying organized and healthy in the heat

Why Listen to This Episode?

The first 30 days are make-or-break for new colonies. Whether you're starting with a package or a nuc, this episode helps you know what to expect and how to avoid mistakes that set your bees back. Tune in for a calm, clear walkthrough of everything that matters during the first month.

Support the Show:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

💬 Join the Discord: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is your ultimate guide to getting started and thriving in the world of beekeeping. With real-world tips and calm, practical advice, this podcast helps you succeed through every season.

Over half a million downloads, a top 1.5% global ranking, and Feedspot’s Top 10 Beekeeping Podcast award — we’re celebrating some milestones and diving into an essential skill: keeping records. Whether you're a hobbyist or aspiring pro, your beekeeping notes matter. In this episode, we cover the importance of documentation, what to record for each hive and queen, tools and apps to consider (like Hive Tracks and Hive Bloom), how recordkeeping supports ELAP claims or inspections, and why a $9 mic has completely changed how we track inspections in the field.