In addition to avoiding chemicals and medicines, strict treatment-free beekeeping may exclude, among other things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Removing drone brood;<\/li>
- Replacing the queen, routinely;<\/li>
- Creating artificial brood breaks and splits;<\/li>
- Feeding sugar or pollen supplements; and,<\/li>
- Taking steps to prevent swarming.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Treatment-free beekeepers strive to build bee colonies genetically disposed toward higher survival rates with less dependence on treatments that may create more problems than they solve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treatment-free beekeeping is somewhat controversial with proponents and detractors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we\u2019ll provide information about treatment-free beekeeping to help you decide if it\u2019s for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhy Do Treatment-Free Beekeeping?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Beekeepers may opt for treatment-free practices for a variety of reasons, many of which are interrelated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Improve the genetics of the bees through \u201csurvival of the fittest\u201d;<\/li>
- Avoid exposure to chemicals that may:
- Harm the bees or the beekeeper;<\/li><\/ul>
- Negatively impact the natural state of the hive environment;<\/li><\/ul>
- Contaminate wax and honey; or,<\/li><\/ul>
- Inadvertently strengthen parasites and diseases that are resistant to treatment.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Desire to let the bees control their environment as much as possible in a beekeeping arrangement (i.e., let the bees do what they would do in a natural setting without human manipulation).<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Improving Honey Bee Genetics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
“Survival of the fittest” is probably the primary objective of treatment-free beekeepers. Letting bees fend for themselves in dealing with a host of challenges, as they do in the wild, beekeepers strive to have only those bees genetically disposed to thrive in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colonies that die off are weak. Intervening to help them survive is bound to be futile at worst and results in underperforming queens and colonies at best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without the negative impact of various treatments, the bees that survive will produce genetically superior offspring that will thrive in their environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No Chemical Treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the spectrum of things avoided by treatment-free beekeepers, the use of chemicals (including medicines) is universal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Varroa mites, generally considered the greatest single threat to your colonies’ mortality, are among the primary reason that beekeepers use various synthetic or organic chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See our article Varroa Mites: A Complete Treatment Guide<\/strong><\/a> for detailed information about various chemical and non-chemical ways to deal with varroa mites.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Among antibiotics, Terramycin and Tylan are used to prevent American Foulbrood, a fatal bacterial disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nChemicals assist bees in handling specific threats to their survival. However, they have potentially negative consequences<\/strong> for the bees, also such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Higher bee mortality rates (which can vary by chemical)[1]<\/a>;<\/li>
- Impacts on bee behavior, including decreased nectar collection and honey production[2]<\/a> [3]<\/a>;<\/li>
- Retention of chemicals in wax and honey;<\/li>
- Disruption of pheromone communication from essential oils; and,<\/li>
- Impacts on bees\u2019 gut microbes which aid digestion and absorption of nutrients[4]<\/a>, among others.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Chemicals can also be harmful to humans, particularly in the concentrations used to treat bees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even organic chemicals, which are generally safe as found naturally, can be harmful to beekeepers. For example, inhaling oxalic acid vapors can cause “severe irritation and burns of nose, throat, and respiratory tract.” [5]<\/a> When using these chemicals, it is essential to follow all the manufacturers’ safety precautions and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have used three different organic Varroa mite treatments: Mite Away QuickStrips\u2122 (formic acid), vaporized oxalic acid, and HopGuard\u00ae II (potassium salts of hop beta acids). (Rotation of treatments is recommended to mitigate mite resistance.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most noticeable impact of these treatments came from formic acid. Hive activity dropped significantly for several days after incorporating the strips. As the formic acid gradually dissipated, activity increased. By the end of one week, things seemed back to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Letting Bees Control Their Environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\nEven without the use of chemicals, beekeepers often manipulate their hives to help bees survive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- A screened bottom board lets varroa mites and small hive beetles drop out of reach of the bees:<\/li>
- Bees coated with powdered sugar can remove mites while cleaning each other;<\/li>
- Removing drone brood takes out the best breeding cells for varroa mites;<\/li>
- Artificial brood breaks and splits also reduce the number of drone cells for varroa;<\/li>
- Feeding bees artificially supports colonies that have not collected and stored adequate resources on their own; and<\/li>
- Frequent queen replacement and swarm prevention disrupt the normal changes in a colony\u2019s life cycle.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Limiting human interference in the colony’s activities is intended to let only the strongest and most adaptable bees survive, thereby improving genetics over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Besides, these hive manipulations may have little impact on the varroa mite population anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Disagreements Among Treatment- Free Beekeepers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even among ardent treatment-free beekeepers, there is disagreement on these hive manipulation questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, Michael Bush, a well-known treatment-free beekeeper, avoids feeding bees unless he feels it is needed to prevent starvation.[6]<\/a> Solomon Parker, another popular treatment-free beekeeper, considered feeding to be a \u201ctreatment against starvation.\u201d[7]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Bush proposes foundationless beekeeping. Letting the bees build wax from scratch avoids chemical contaminants found in the commercially available foundation. Also, bees will build “natural-sized” cells, which may limit varroa mites.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Foundationless](\"https:\/\/www.beekeepingfornewbies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Frames.jpg\")
Foundationless frame and frame with plastic foundation<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n On the other hand, Mr. Parker calls the foundation part of the hive equipment and considers \u201cfoundationless methods\u2026technically unnatural as they happen in a man-made hive.\u201d7 I think you could argue that everything<\/em> about putting bees in your private box is “unnatural.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can see, once you get beyond the use of chemicals, what constitutes \u201ctreatment-free\u201d beekeeping becomes a matter of personal preference based on your experiences and view of beekeeping.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/div>Michael Bush on Treatment-Free Beekeeping - HoneyLove<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/5DFKqgWuCBA\/0.jpg\")
- Impacts on bee behavior, including decreased nectar collection and honey production[2]<\/a> [3]<\/a>;<\/li>
- Higher bee mortality rates (which can vary by chemical)[1]<\/a>;<\/li>
- Contaminate wax and honey; or,<\/li><\/ul>
- Negatively impact the natural state of the hive environment;<\/li><\/ul>
- Harm the bees or the beekeeper;<\/li><\/ul>