Backyard Beekeeping Questions Answered #75 No Mouse Guards

Welcome to backyard beekeeping questions and answers! *** Please post if you think these Q&A videos are 1) too long, 2) too short, or 3) Just right!*** My plan is to always answer at least 10 submitted questions. Post your own questions in the comments section. Or, visit: http://www.fredsfinefowl.com/thewaytobee.html and fill out the form. Feel free to respond to questions posted by others is you have expertise in that area. Subjects discussed in this video are as follows (with some links to products): 1) With your feeder shim, why do you also include the inner cover? What happens with or without that? Here is my Feeder Shim Video: https://youtu.be/MXab9s_KduE Here is a link to the Rapid Round Feeder (out of stock until September): https://amzn.to/32G2hXq 2) If I leave some honey on for the bees in winter, and I use Oxalic Acid to treat the bees for varroa, can I use that honey in spring? Or, could I pull the super off and immediately put it back on after treatement? Here is my Oxalic Acid Vaporization Video: https://youtu.be/LBtyeXf6fjc 3) I have a valuable Queen in my hive ($250), the bees are making swarm preparations. Is it too late to do a split? I do not want to lose my Purdue Ankle Biter/Mite Mauler Queen. 4) My bees are not building any honey for winter. What can I do? Ultra-Bee Dry Pollen Substitute: https://amzn.to/2EAY8fm (scientifically proven to work) Pro-Sweet: read the label: https://www.mannlakeltd.com/mm5/graphics/pdfs/cn-075-label.pdf 5) Is there a downside to wintering your hives insulated over non-insulated? This is the most insulated hive I know of: (I have not personally tested this hive) Apimaye Ergo Plus 10: https://amzn.to/2QySXin IF I do get one for evaluation, the Apimaye Ergo Plus 10 will be the one. 6) I heard that wax moths can digest plastic. Bacteria can ingest plastics, check out Morgan Vague: https://youtu.be/nbW4XWkJC6w 7) Can I have an observation hive with a 6-meter entrance tube? ** I share about entrances, and how you can get by without using a mouse guard on your hive this winter. 8) Have you tried adding supers under the brood box so the bees will move down? 9) I have had 100% survival through two winters. Vented or non-vented, that is the question... 10) Would holes in the middle of drawn comb allow the bees to move the cluster horizontally through the hive? Thank you for watching and I hope you've learned at least one new thing about keeping honey bees. For those of us in the northern part of the globe, winter is moving in and it's crunch-time. Have supers ready to go for those colonies that may just explode in numbers and become very productive during that final nectar flow. Reduce entrances - this time of year the bees will soon turn to robbing out weaker colonies if they get the chance. Have swarm boxes ready-to-go just in case you find some bees on a branch that just may still be salvageable. Their chances without being hived are slim to none. Have emergency feed (syrup) and pollen substitute on hot-standby just in case terrible weather shuts down production after you've taken off your honey for the year. Test your electric fence strength if you reside in bear country! Making sure a bear never succeeds at your location is key in predator protection. Once they gain access to your bees, your problems are exponentially increased.