We wrap up our three-part Bee Buzz Q&A series with a big one — covering everything from screen bottom boards and queen excluders to robbing behavior, swarm cells, spring mite counts, aggressive bees, and more. Plus, a quick family update from graduation weekend, a pickup mission to Kentucky, and the latest with Howard the cat (who now demands an intro shoutout). This is a packed episode with over 20 questions answered.

• When to do your first mite wash after installing packages
• Queen cells: how to tell the difference (and what to actually do)
• Is a loud hive a sign of danger?
• Should I be worried if one new package is way more active than another?
• Robbing, screen bottom boards, and entrance reducer strategy
• Late spring brood levels, swarm triggers, and inspection timing
• Best mite treatment strategies for early season
• And yes — why the queen excluder can go on anytime

This is the kind of episode you revisit every spring. Whether you're installing new bees, spotting queen cells, worried about brood patterns, or just trying to stay one step ahead of swarming season — this Q&A hits the key questions every new (and not-so-new) beekeeper runs into.

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 Also visit: bestbeekeepinggear.com

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

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.

We’re back with The Bee Buzz! In this episode, I recap a wild cross-country trip that ended in a busted transmission, a used car purchase, and the world's best Applebee’s salmon. Then we jump into your beekeeping questions.

• Weekly inspections vs bi-weekly: what you risk by skipping
• Reversing boxes vs adding space — what actually matters
• When and how to rotate or replace frames
• Signs your bees are running out of room
• Queen cells: when to panic, when to leave them alone
• How to time spring feeding, splits, and adding supers
• Swarm traps, package installs, brood patterns, and more

This Bee Buzz is packed with practical advice for spring management, swarm prevention, and making better colony decisions — especially if you're still figuring out when to step in and when to let bees do their thing. Whether you're managing two hives or twenty, there’s something in here for you.

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 Also visit: bestbeekeepinggear.com

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

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.

The Bee Buzz is back! After a long break, we’re reviving this listener-favorite format where we answer your questions directly. From feeding bees in spring, to how much honey is enough to get through winter, to deciding when to add a second brood box—we’re covering a huge range of practical Q&A topics in this special milestone episode.

• How to decide if your bees need feeding—or if you’re wasting sugar
• Why beekeeping advice is often contradictory (and what to trust)
• The best ways to assess colony strength after winter
• When and how to add a second box
• Cleaning deadouts safely and identifying disease risk
• Hive inspection timing and what to look for in early spring

This isn’t theory—it’s real-world beekeeping based on questions from our community. Whether you're confused by syrup ratios, struggling to tell if your bees are strong enough, or wondering if your queen made it through the winter, we’ve got answers. If you’ve ever said, “I’ve read 5 articles and they all say something different,” this episode is for you.

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 Also visit: bestbeekeepinggear.com

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

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.

Feeding bees is one of the most misunderstood topics in beekeeping. In this episode, we talk about when you should feed, what you should feed (syrup, patties, honey frames, and more), and how much is enough. Whether you're managing packages, nucs, or full colonies, this episode will help you feed with purpose, not just habit.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Feeding strategies for packages, nucs, and overwintered colonies
• Syrup ratios and why 2:1 might be your new go-to
• When pollen patties help — and when they don’t
• Common mistakes and how to avoid robbing, spoilage, or overfeeding
• Practical feeder options (frame, top, jar, and more)

Why Listen to This Episode:

If you’re new to beekeeping or even a few seasons in, this episode cuts through the confusion and gives you real-world context on feeding decisions. Learn when it’s essential, when it’s optional, and how to do it without attracting problems like hive beetles or yellow jackets. 🐝

Support the Show:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

🌐 Visit the website: bestbeekeepinggear.com

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

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.

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.