Ok. I fully agree with the philosophy and have intended from the beginning to be fully treatment free with my colonies. I get my first bees this spring. Unlike those of you in the south, cutouts and swarms are fewer and farther between up here (I think). I'm more and more nervous that my bees are not going to do well, and that the dreaded varroa are going to be the end for me. I'm not sure I can afford to buy bees every year until some live...
Is powdered sugar an option for the first couple years? Is that a treatment? Does anybody intentionally setup brood breaks or freeze frames of drones to reduce mites? These seem like treatments to me.
To clarify, my viewpoint is not one of reducing "chemicals" in my hives, but one of growing stronger more independent bees....
Someone please talk me down.
Is powdered sugar an option for the first couple years? Is that a treatment? Does anybody intentionally setup brood breaks or freeze frames of drones to reduce mites? These seem like treatments to me.
To clarify, my viewpoint is not one of reducing "chemicals" in my hives, but one of growing stronger more independent bees....
Someone please talk me down.