Summary of "Базовый видеокурс пчеловодства Университета г.Гвелф для начинающих пчеловодов (Канада)"

Summary of “Базовый видеокурс пчеловодства Университета г.Гвелф для начинающих пчеловодов (Канада)”

This comprehensive video course by the University of Guelph, Canada, provides an extensive introduction to beekeeping for beginners. It covers practical knowledge, techniques, and equipment needed to start and maintain a healthy apiary, manage bees throughout the seasons, and harvest honey efficiently. The course is presented primarily by Dr. Ernesto Guzman and other beekeeping experts associated with the university’s scientific center.

Main Ideas and Lessons

1. Introduction to Beekeeping and Course Overview

The course consists of 32 videos covering various beekeeping topics.
Videos are freely accessible and complement the main beekeeping course.
Encouragement to support the university’s scientific center.

2. Basic Beekeeping Equipment and Apiary Setup

Hive stands: Elevate hives off the ground to prevent moisture and rot; materials vary (wood, concrete, metal).
Removable bottoms: Boards with three raised edges for hive bases; lattice bottoms help control varroa mites by trapping debris.
Hive bodies and frames: Minimum 10 frames per body for overwintering; different types of dividing grids (metal, wood, plastic).
Honey supers (stores): Placed above brood boxes for honey storage.
Roofs and covers: Wooden roofs with ventilation holes protect hives from weather; covers protect from moisture.
Entrance reducers (limiters): Used in fall/winter to protect against mice and reduce cold drafts.
Additional accessories: Bars for lattice bottoms to close holes during cold seasons.

3. Protective Clothing

Use cotton jumpsuits with multiple pockets and ventilated hats with metal mesh face protection.
Secure long hair and remove jewelry to prevent bee attraction and injury.
Tape sleeves and pant legs to prevent bee entry.
Gloves are used only for specific tasks like night transportation.
Advice on handling bees under the face mesh and dealing with bee stings calmly.

4. Bee Stings and Handling

Bee stings are a normal part of beekeeping; gradual exposure helps build tolerance.
Bees sting defensively; sudden movements and shiny objects attract stings.
Remove stings promptly by scraping to reduce pain and venom spread.
Smoke masks alarm pheromones but does not reduce pain.
Advice on how to calm bees and react if stung.

5. Using a Smoker

Smoker consists of a fire chamber and bellows to pump air.
Use natural materials like sawdust, dry manure, or newspaper for fuel; avoid chemicals.
Proper lighting technique involves layering fuel and controlling airflow.
Smoke calms bees by exhausting them and disrupting alarm pheromone communication.
Safety precautions emphasized when handling fire.

6. Apiary Location and Hive Arrangement

Ideal apiary location faces south for sunlight, protected from wind by surrounding plantings.
Group hives in pairs or clusters with flight holes facing inward to centralize bee traffic.
Paint hives different colors to help bees navigate.
Avoid placing hives near pools or areas where bees may collect contaminated water.
Consider local beekeeping laws regarding hive placement.
Apiary should be accessible for frequent equipment transport.

7. Opening and Inspecting Hives

Best time to inspect is early spring when colonies are smaller.
Use smoke to calm bees before opening.
Remove frames carefully and vertically to avoid crushing bees and queen.
Locate queen by looking for her distinctive large abdomen, usually in the center frames.
Check brood pattern, honey stores, and signs of disease.
Return frames gently and close hive properly after inspection.

8. Installing New Bee Packages

Bee packages consist of frames with brood and bees, sometimes with caged queen.
Prefer free queen for easier integration.
Introduce packages in the evening to reduce bee flight confusion.
Gradually transfer frames from package to hive, maintaining frame order.
Provide feeding frames with honey or syrup to support colony establishment.

9. Honeycomb Construction and Management

Bees build wax comb stimulated by feeding syrup.
Proper frame arrangement promotes brood rearing and honey storage.
Wax color changes from white (new) to yellow (aged).
Feeding syrup encourages comb building in new hives.
Add supers for honey storage as colony grows.

10. Finding and Handling the Queen

Use minimal smoke to avoid hiding queen.
Search frames systematically, focusing on edges and shaded sides.
Handle queen carefully by holding her chest, not abdomen.
Use queen cages for protection during hive work.
Mark queens with color codes by year and clip wings to prevent swarming.

11. Adding Supers (Hive Bodies)

Add supers based on colony strength and available space.
Use dividing grids properly oriented to avoid frame displacement.
Ensure frames are evenly spaced and vertical.
Monitor colony growth to time super additions correctly.

12. Swarm Prevention and Control

Overcrowding triggers swarming; prevent by adding space early.
Clip queen wings to delay swarming.
Remove queen cells during inspections.
Monitor brood patterns and queen activity.
Repeat inspections and interventions if queen cells reappear.

13. Transporting Hives

Transport at night or dusk when bees are inside.
Use screened bottom boards and ventilation.
Secure hive bodies with belts and ropes using special knots (California knot).
Use smoke during loading/unloading to calm bees.
Use red lights during night handling to avoid bee aggression.

14. Rope Tying Techniques for Securing Hives

Detailed instructions on tying strong, easy-to-untie knots (California knot).
Use hooks on transport vehicles for securing.
Proper rope winding and storage to avoid tangling.
Cross-tying to prevent load shifting during transport.

15. Honey Harvesting Methods

Three main methods: brushing bees off frames, bee removers, and modified leaf blowers.
Use bee removers placed under honey supers to encourage bees to leave honey frames.
Seal cracks to prevent robbing during honey removal.
Harvest timing based on honey maturity and weather.

16. Honey Extraction Process

Uncap honeycomb cells by scraping or heated knives.
Use centrifugal honey extractors to spin honey out of frames.
Honey flows into settling tanks where wax is separated.
Clean frames and prepare for storage or return to hive.
Extracted honey stored in warm rooms for processing.

17. Feeding Bees

Feed bees mainly in fall and spring with sugar syrup.
Different feeders: frame feeders, bucket feeders under hive roof, top feeders, and large barrels.
Feeding syrup concentration and volume adapted to season and colony size.
Large-scale feeding can prevent robbing and support colony health.

18. Winter Preparation and Management

Reduce hive entrances with limiters to protect against mice and cold drafts.
Use lattice bottoms with back bars to control ventilation.
Provide upper entrances for ventilation to prevent condensation.
Avoid insulating hives with moisture-absorbing materials.
Use winter wraps and plastic insulation for hive protection.
Indoor wintering in temperature-controlled rooms (~5°C) with ventilation systems.
Monitor hive temperature, humidity, and ventilation to ensure bee survival.
Remove brood before winter indoors; bees consume less honey indoors.

Methodologies / Instructions (Selected Examples)

Using the Smoker

Prepare fuel such as newspaper and sawdust.
Light newspaper and gradually add sawdust.
Pump bellows to maintain steady smoke.
Use smoke to calm bees and disrupt alarm pheromones.
Extinguish carefully after use.

Finding the Queen

Use minimal smoke to avoid hiding the queen.
Inspect frames systematically, focusing on shaded sides.
Look for the queen’s large abdomen and distinctive behavior.
Handle queen gently by her chest, not abdomen.
Cage queen if needed during hive work.
Mark and clip queen wings for identification and swarm control.

Tying Knots for Transport

Use the California knot (double half hitch with “rabbit ears”).
Secure ropes on hooks attached to transport vehicles.
Cross-tie to prevent load shifting.
Properly wind and store ropes to avoid tangling.

Honey Extraction

Uncap honeycomb cells by scraping or using heated knives.
Load frames into centrifugal extractor.
Spin honey out of frames.
Collect honey in settling tanks to separate wax.
Store honey and clean frames for reuse.

Feeding Bees

Use frame feeders, bucket feeders, or large barrels.
Fill feeders with sugar syrup (typically 2:1 sugar to water ratio).
Protect feeders from rain and robbing by other bees.
Monitor syrup consumption and refill as needed.

Speakers / Sources Featured

Dr. Ernesto Guzman – Lead instructor and beekeeper at University of Guelph.
Other unnamed beekeeping experts and technicians associated with the University of Guelph’s scientific center.
Occasional references to beekeepers from Alberta (Peace River) and North America for specific techniques.

Overall, the course offers a thorough, practical guide to beekeeping, covering everything from equipment and protective gear to hive management, queen handling, honey harvesting, feeding, wintering, and transportation, with a strong emphasis on safety, bee health, and efficiency.