After an expedition into Tanzania in 2006, I took great interest into traditional African beekeeping. Mainly, how inefficient it is. They have log hives propped up in trees for animal protection. Plus they have to destroy the colony when they harvest.
So I got into beekeeping after that. Years later I have over 100 videos on YouTube explaining beekeeping and I have a dedicated site to beginning beekeeping and learning beekeeping.
I mainly make honey, but I’m now breeding feral survivor bees to help find an acclimated bee good for central Texas that can survive untreated for mites and disease.
In 2011, I finally wrote the definitive monograph on swarm traps and bait hives which will hopefully help other beekeepers learn to catch spring swarms.
9 replies on “Beekeeping”
[…] trying to catch some feral swarms via swarm trapping. I recommend Swarm Traps and Bait Hives by McCartney Taylor (http://learningbeekeeping.com/). It is a very basic book, and it will get you headed in the […]
Hello McCartney!
You met my husband and I two weeks ago at the bee meeting in Georgetown. We have a new top bar hive (painted yellow, red, and blue). We are experiencing some unseen before behavior of washboarding (per research) in addition to seeing white, almost fully formed larvae which have been taken out of their cells. It appears the bees are trying to remove them from the hive. Also, we found some small white worms across the bottom board. Do you know what’s going on? Do we need to do anything? Is this going to ruin our hive?
Any info or feedback you have would be great!
Thanks!
Sounds like they are removing some larvae for pathogenic or pest reasons.
Some larvae removal is normal, alot is not. Wait and see if it gets better.
Hi McCartney. I’ve been reading your book, Swarm Traps and Bait Hives, and I made a trap from the description in your book. 3 days ago, I caught my first swarm. I’m very excited! Thanks for the great information. I am really enjoying your book and watching your videos on Youtube.
Thanks again,
Doug Rogers
Milton, NY
Taylor – you helped my son get started with a top bar. I went to swap the feed bottles today and they are hidden underneath comb (and honey) that the bees have built around them.
We are relocating out of state and will be unable to keep the bees in a month or so and need to know what to do about the bees now, and where we would be able to donate the hive and bees. The hive is in Bertram.
I like your book but the trap size baffles me, and I’m seeing alot of five frame traps that are really deep. Any thoughts
As long as they are in the 40l size, it should be fine.
Hi Mccartney,
I happened to stumble upon your beekeeping videos on Youtube, after being so impressed by your knowledge on the subject and want to share that knowledge, I just wanted to write and say a large thank-you.
I’m helping promote your bee swarming book on my website.
Thanks
Steve
Thanks steve!