Below are very helpful video resources to learn beekeeping.
HINT: You can adjust the playback speed. Set the speed to the fastest level you can absorb - whether that means slowing the speed or increasing the speed.
- AUBURN UNIVERSITY: Free online seminars. You can catch them LIVE and ask questions, or you can view recordings later.
- UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BEE SQUAD: Is also holding LIVE seminars where you can ask questions, or view later.
- GUELPH UNIVERSITY: Offers free bee keeping videos on a variety of topics.
- OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: Like Guelph, offers many free videos.
- MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY: Variety of classes
- PENN STATE: (small fee for entire course)
and LAWRENCE COUNTY ALABAMA EXTENSION OFFICE
Are hosting LIVE speaker events on several Thursdays, at 7:30 pm Eastern Time. To view the events, try this Zoom link: https://auburn.zoom.us/j/904522838 OR go to this Lawrence County FACEBOOK PAGE
- April 16: Learning from Pandemics, Dr. J. TSURUDA (U. of Tennessee)
- April 30: Queen Management Essentials, Dr. J. RANGEL (Texas A&M)
- May 14: Bee and Parasite Biogeography, Dr. K. DELAPLANE (U. of Georgia)
- May 28: What's Killing Honey bees, Dr. J. ELLIS (U. of Florida)
- CLICK HERE to see the BEE SQUAD's schedule of very useful presentations. and to REGISTER to see them (free). The Bee Squad also records some of their presentations.
- CLICK HERE to see their April 9th "Wax Moth" lecture by Allen Hayes. (Recordings may only be kept for a short time, so click soon)
- CLICK HERE to sign-up for free email notifications announcing upcoming events!
If you can watch these live, you'll be able to ask questions. If you miss the presentation, look for the recordings listed in the right column of Bee Squad's class schedule page (click here).
- April 15 - Varroa Mites
- April 22 - Where to find online bee resources
Getting Started with bees
Working with Bees
Working with Queens
Colony Management
- Supering Hives
- Swarm Control
- Splitting Hives
- Moving Hives
- Feeding Bees and Overwintering
- Dealing with Deadouts (Part 1)
- Dealing with Deadouts (Part 2)
- Managing Towards Gentle Behaviour
Abnormal Colony Conditions
- Abnormal Conditions Part 1 – Failed Queens and Chalk Brood
- Abnormal Conditions Part 2 – Wax Moth, Monitoring Mites, and Antibiotics
- Abnormal Conditions Part 3 – Laying Workers and Sacbrood
- Laying Worker
Pest Management
Double Nucleus Colonies
- Making Double Nucleus Colonies Part 1
- Making Double Nucleus Colonies Part 2
- Fixing Problem Double Nucleus Colonies
- Transferring Double Nucleus Colonies
Queen Rearing
- Grafting
- Cell Building – Part 1
- Cell Building – Part 2
- Making Mini Nucleus Colonies
- 4-Way Mating Nucleus Colonies
- Handling Queen Cells
Honey Harvesting and Processing
Miscellaneous Videos
- UoG’s Honey Bee Research Centre
- Buckfast Queen Mating Station on Thorah Island
- Bee Beards
- Our Beekeeping Equipment
- Bear Fence
- Beekeeper’s Knot
- Indoor Overwintering
OHIO STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
- Assembling Hive Equipment (6:20)
- Frame Assembly (8:13)
- Branding Wooden Equipment (3:39)
- Lighting a Smoker (2:26)
- Spring Bee Flight (2:19)
- Spring Management Part 1 (5:35)
- Spring Management Part 2 (6:52)
- Spring Management Part 3 (5:35)
- Spring Management Part 4 (7:26) (Feeding Bee Hives)
- Correcting a Cross-Comb Colony (9:16)
- Refurbishing Hive Equipment (5:40)
- Evaluating a Queen’s Performance Part 1 (5:11) (Determining the need for a new queen)
- Evaluating a Queen’s Performance Part 2 (5:53) (Stabilizing the weakened colony until a queen can be purchased.)
- Evaluating a Queen’s Performance Part 3 (7:44) (Installing the new queen)
- Evaluating A Queen’s Performance Part 4 (5:45) (Checking the new queen release procedure)
- Package Bees Part 1 (5:14) (Preparing the hive and the queen)
- Package Bees Part 2 (3:07) (Releasing the bees)
- Hiving a Swarm (7:45) (From beneath the screen bottom board)
- Hiving Three Swarms (5:45) (Three swarms found in three different situations)
- Laying Workers Part 1 (7:58) (How to combine it with another colony)
- Laying Workers Part 2 (6:03) (Combining a laying worker colony with a queen-right nucleus colony)
- A Quick View of a Propolis Forager (2:16)
- Water Foragers (3:24)
- Moving Two Bee Colonies (8:16)
- An Introduction to Wintering Biology (3:10)
- Basic Hive Equipment (7:08)
- Feeders Part 1 (8:00)
- Feeders Part 2 (6:09)
- Hive Supers (6:35)
- Preparing Colonies for Winter (3:53)
- Protective Equipment (5:32)
- Specialty Beehive Equipment (5:04)
- Transferring Bees Part 1 (8:34)
- Transferring Bees Part 2 (5:30)
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Click Here for MSU's YouTube Channel with lots of classes. Links to some of their classes are below.
- Established Colonies: Preparing for Swarm Season
- Established Colonies: Early Season Management
- First Year Colonies: Getting Ready for Bees
- First Year Colonies: What to Do When the Bees Arrive
- Making A Plan for the Varroa Mite
- Understanding Varroa Risk
- Why Did My Honey Bees Die?
- Beginning Beekeeping: Installing a Nuc
- Beginning Beekeeping: Installing a Package
- Beginning Beekeeping: Purchasing Bees
NOT FREE, BUT FREQUENT DISCOUNTS:
"BEEKEEPING 101" - Watch these recorded lessons when it is convenient to you. Normally, Penn State charges. If you register before April 30, you can watch for free. CLICK HERE TO ENROLL
- SKILL LEVEL: Beginner, Intermediate
- LENGTH OF ACCESS: 60 days
- SECTIONS:10
- LENGTH: 9 hours
Learning Outcomes - As you complete this course, you will:
- understand the science of honeybees
- implement the best practices of experienced beekeepers
- understand bee biology and behavior
- use typical beekeeping clothing and equipment
- manage a hive throughout the year
- identify and treat common bee pests and diseases
- outline various bee products you and your bees can make
- understand pollination and the role bees play
If you finish the course and quizzes, you will receive a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.