Valley Beekeeping Supplies

Guide to Walk Away Bee Splits

The provided text outlines a simplified beekeeping technique known as the walk-away split, which is used to expand colonies by dividing a single healthy hive into two. To succeed, a beekeeper must equally distribute resources such as brood, honey, and pollen while ensuring the queenless section contains young larvae or eggs to produce a new leader. The process emphasizes the…
Breck Demers
January 19, 2026
Valley Beekeeping Supplies

Guide to Bee Hydration Stations

The provided text outlines a proposal for an educational video designed to teach novice beekeepers how to properly supply hydration for their colonies. The source emphasizes the importance of placing water stations at a specific, optimal distance from the hives to ensure the health of the insects. It highlights the necessity of using pure water while strictly avoiding harmful additives…
Breck Demers
January 19, 2026
Valley Beekeeping Supplies

Indoor Bee Overwintering

This article explores the benefits of sheltering small bee colonies indoors during the winter to reduce high mortality rates. The author argues that hives containing fewer than seven frames of bees are significantly more likely to survive if kept in a temperature-controlled, dark environment rather than outside. While this method saves on feed costs, it requires careful management of light…
Breck Demers
January 19, 2026
Valley Beekeeping Supplies

Extended Release Oxalic Acid

This source provides a detailed tutorial on creating extended-release oxalic acid sponges to manage mite populations within honeybee colonies. Inspired by the research of Randy Oliver, the demonstration emphasizes the importance of precise measurements using a scale to mix equal parts of vegetable glycerin and oxalic acid. The guide highlights critical safety protocols, such as wearing protective gloves and maintaining…
Breck Demers
January 19, 2026
Valley Beekeeping Supplies

Small Hive Beetle Management Challenges

The provided text explores the invasive impact of the Small Hive Beetle on honey bee colonies within Ontario and the broader North American context. It highlights how European honey bees lack the natural defense mechanisms found in African subspecies, leading to hive damage and honey spoilage. Researchers investigated an Integrated Pest Management strategy by monitoring beetle life cycles and testing…
Breck Demers
January 19, 2026