I love watching Dirt Rooster and his family. Some of the most genuinely nice people I have ever seen. It's like you were all born with a smile on your face.
LOVE the idea, love that you're collecting data regardless of expectations. Hope you're consulting with USDA varroa folks to see if your data can help them too. Love the 'frame it complete with bees' technique. Looked very peaceful. :)
Read your video description and can't agree more. Varroa is serious, but nuking a hive with treatments while lacking general honeybee husbandry skills is a surefire way to kill bees. Great content as always!
GREAT video Randy!! Nice clear, crisp, close up shots. Just gotta LOVE those comfortable mid-60 degree afternoons!! I LOVE watching you work with family!! Keep 'em coming brother!! ✌️🐝🐝🐝
Rooster. Yes! You mite be right. Folks mite want to understand the basics of beekeeping and mite want to get a handle on taking care of their bees before they mite be concerned about varroa mites........Mite you agree? As always. Thanks for the video. Always helpful God bless
Love it when you two work together!! Glad you are looking at varoa in feral colonies. It seems the feral colonies are on the rise again in the Ozarks. Some thing good is happening.
I was just watching another video about the mite and mushrooms and I was wandering what you did, when your video popped up..lol I do not use any chemicals in any of my hives as well. I also hang up swarm traps and get "free bees". Currently looking to switch over to a few Lazutin hives and see how they work out. Glad and grateful your keeping track of this keep up the good work!
Anybody looking at the "2 hour 107 degree F heat treatment" treatment? A guy in South Carolina is in production of a commercial unit to treat mites? He says 85-90% mite kill and claims that it kills tracheal mites and Small Hive Beatles at no additional cost.
UA-cam recommended your channel the same week hundreds of commerical bee boxes were delivered at the orchards around my house last month. It was probably because I Googled "bee repellent". I live and work on a poultry farm and bees love the feed as much as the birds do. I get stung pretty often from accidentally smashing bees that I didn't realize landed on me. I bought a few of the camo veils from Amazon for when working around feed. I figured if they're good enough for you they're good enough for me. Thanks for the great content! Subscribed and watching past videos.
OMG! A slant glass Monte Carlo SS! I often thought that about feral bees! No one treats them or manages them and they survive and often thrive as you show in your removals.
You'll have to watch out that the old fellow who pulled up in the chair and watched. He may start a bee removal crew of his own. I've watched you and Mr. Ed take out a bunch of bees and even though have no idea of ever having them I enjoy watching you guys and the bees as they work to build their combs and collect the stuff to fill them up. Seeing some of the stings takes me back to when us kids went bare footed and got stung a time or two. Keep it up guys, Greg.
OOh OOh , for standing on ladders comfortably and safely . Cut out a foot-size shadow form using your shoe L and R as template . Just a tiny bit oversize to cut holes or strap apertures . Add rope or straps as appropriate and a heel to stop any slides . Might look funky but hey comfort over panache everytime !!
I agree with you on the Mite issue..though up here in the Pacific Northwest the mites are Definitely a problem. I have gone from the traditional hard chemicals to organic methods, which seems to work extremely well. That being said...I agree with learning how to properly manage your bees first, and not to get so caught up in the hipe.
Hey Randy, long term subscriber and I'm actually doing a PhD on honeybee genetics. I'm looking into Varroa resistant colonies surviving in the wild. It's my belief that wild bees are allowed to develop resistance to the mite because they are not helped by treatments and so have to fight off the mites on their own, but I have to prove this. I'd be really interested in working with you and discussing your findings! I do know that Europe has a more dangerous type of DWV which is transmitted to the bee by varroa mites. Hopefully this type of the virus does not reach America.
That's going to be a hell of an interesting study. Whatever your results, you should seriously consider publishing. There's no such thing as too much data.
In the 50's old doctor prescribed honey w/comb for me I had BAD allergies. Almost DIED. He prescribe 2 to 4 teaspoon's of local honey not homogenized. Cured allergies only problem I have today is pollution. And I am 63 today.
You should check the bees in the vac vs the bees that were not vacuumed. The vacuum has a screen that the mites could fall through and the bees cant. If there is a contestant difference you could get rid of mites by vacuuming all the bees in a colony. The mite lava would still be there but the adults would be reduced.
Thank you for this video. I always wondered about the mite load on the bees from these removal. It will be interesting to know your long at the end of the season, if you do the check on all of your removal. Thanks again.
Long time viewer of your videos. There is always something to learn. Had a brain fart while sitting here watching this one... You could auction off these feral colonies that you pull from these places. Might be kinda fun for a viewer to get one from you.
Hey DirtRooster. That was one bullseye of a point you made about feral colonies and mites. I'm betting your theory is right. Meanwhile it's fun to watch you and your brother working together. Thank you for sharing and see you soon.
The mite-bomb mantra is heavy among any new-beek classes or honey producer publications I've run across. Sure, it's a short term gain to treat for mites, but in my opinion a long term loss. I'm interested to know what you find! (6yr hobby keep with dead treated and untreated bees and live hygienic bees for what it's worth)
As someone on the edge of Bee Keeping(been around it, don’t do it) I think you are right, I know ones who treat with lots of chemicals and ones who use little. It will be very interesting to see what you find out in the feral hives
628DirtRooster Bees true. And a small load of pest is like being exposed to germs, without the exposure there isn’t any resistance, so I would think a small load would help keep the hive healthy since it would increase the resistance, just need to find the balance
Son Rise Apiaries but if there isn’t a small load of pest then resistant isn’t being developed. Look at cotton and the boll w. Thru decades of poison, resistance was bread out, they are just now getting the cotton back to the levels of the ‘20s
Wow, its a rare find when the Rooster posts a video framing up brood with bees still on it. That's a JP move. I usually catch Ya suckin' Em' all up Mr. Ed style;) Yeah, I know... time is of the essence. Curio though. What's it mean when those girls squeeze their hind legs together & twirl their tails in the air? Anybody figure that out LOL.
Self-grooming, or “autogrooming,” enables bees to remove ectoparasites, dust, and pollen from their own bodies and helps disperse pheromones (Boecking & Spivak, 1999). ✌️🐝🐝🐝
While the mites ARE a legitimate concern, there are a 101 other worries to have BEFORE the first new hive hits your yard. The mite issue is just ONE problem on the list. To make it the BEE all end all, ;) is a bit silly. Keeping track like you seem to be doing this year is a good idea. Good luck!
Mites ARE the mayor concern and mite ARE the ones that are causing at least 41 more concerns in bee keeping. Control mites and you have a very good chance to keep your bees.
You were in good company with Tommy! He probably has the love for bacon like you do but maybe a slightly smaller quantity, maybe. GOOD DEAL on the mite hunting. My old picking buddy was always talking about them and how much it was costing to treat for them. He had over 200 hives and if he hit them all it'd be a nice chunk of change. You did good about the class comment too. Keep after it, Pal! Mr. Ed needs more technical data for his classes, HA!
Hey Randy, I also use "natural" methods to treat due to my concern with the unknown impacts of chemical treatment on hive ecology (and have been chided for it), so I was really curious about the data you gathered and any conclusions or at least ideas that came from this study you are doing. Any updates on this? Thanks
Fantastic Idea. Shouldn't the sample of bees be taken from a section of brood? Still I say just do it the way you did it, fascinating to see the results!
I find it fascinating that you’re doing this study. There aren’t many that are out seeing bees as often as you so you are the perfect person. I’m curious though what your opinions are about the mysterious “colony collapse disorder”. Is it something you’ve seen in your hives?
Reg Whelan I’ve thought the same which is why I put it in quotes like that and said the mysterious. I guess I didn’t make my sarcasm clear enough. The dangers of the written word.
Oh my lord, that man done sat out his lawn chair to watch you fellas work. Ain’t too different than my boss - plopped down chatting to me while I’m bustin’ tail up a ladder!
My first experience was having a beekeeper out to collect bees, I did the same thing. I told him up front that I was interested but would stay out of his way. The next experience I had, I told the 'keeper that I would stay out of the way and let them work. If they needed me, I'd be willing to help. The handed me a suit and got me in the thick of a cutout from a tree. I was hooked after that and a few weeks later, they helped me trap a swarm and got me set up. Most people are curious to a point and don't want to be in the way. So kicking back in a lawn chair is okay in my book.
@@Pinion512 You should name them to give them credit for: (A) being excellent human beings and (B) educating and adding a new bee keeper to this MOST COOL Hobby/Business. That helps the bees (in general) and all of us beekeepers to be specific!
You have to try some northern beekeeping 15 below yesterday morning, this morning 20 above and this is mild weather up here. We are just hoping to be able to open up our hives at the end of March.
Need some long arms for those back combs. That’s a cool alcohol washer. I mite have to get one of those. 🤪 Nice still shots...........looser! 😂 Didn’t see any Canon cripple hammers after the Fuji. That’s a good thing.
Nice vid as always..wish it was in the 60's here in Minnesota...i suppose a guy(me)should already know but i dont have a clue.. where do bees go in the winter when its cold??..thanks love your channel
The do not go anywhere. They cluster. That is they get in to a ball shape in the hive to share heat. As the bees on the out side get cold they move to the middle and get warm and the heat generated from the cluster keeps the inside of the hive a lot warmer then the outside temp. A large enough cluster will keep the inside of the hive above freezing in ‐40 degree temps. Hope this helps you understand
I want to see the lay-out of the oxalic acid vaporizer he was making. They say they are relatively easy to make with an ole glow plug and I need to make one, always looking for better ideais
Ive been doing that for years. Most dont have a mite in there. wonder why? ....People drugging bees to keep weak bees alive. ..let the weak die. Carry on STRONG genetics
You have bees that can beat Varroa without Swarming or Absconding to leave the problem behind and I'm all in,I've had wild bees,mite Maulers,Ankle biters etc. Etc..etc... and haven't found a bee that can beat em yet . and if you only breed Survivor stock ALWAYS,then you don't breed for anything else such as Production....
@@badassbees3680 there are numerous survival bee folks out there that have not treated for decades and hives thrive. It doesnt come easy...long road. ..Its all in the testing and eliminating the weak. It takes many years but with 100% certainty if you are diligent in the process you will succeed. . When folks say you have to treat or all your bees will die is just not truth. Its easier for folks to follow the commercial treatment route and drink the koolaid that says you must keep treating weak bees to keep them alive. It also sells product. --
@@natserog It's kind of like the CDC! First it was the bird flu, then the pig flu, now it's coronavirus. EVERY time they say we need to get flu shots, or we WILL DIE! I've never gotten a flu shot since I left the U.S. Army in '96, & I've not been killed by any of these so called super flu bugs/epidemics!
How long have folks been on earth? You know any mosquito resistant people? How about flea resistant dogs? There's no mite resistant bees either. Mites are parasites, so are fleas and mosquitos and leeches, etc. When a host comes along, they'll latch on. What keeps them off or drives them away? Flea powder, DEET and for mites......oxalic acid, thymol, formic acid, apivar, etc. If you don't treat your bees, they'll die from infestation. Ol' Rover will get mange from the fleas and people contract malaria from skeeters. Funny thing about folks that keep bees and own a dog. They'll buy a $65 flea collar for the mutt but won't treat they bees. Go figure.
Great video. I did not know about mites on bees. I have dealt with them while I was into raising snakes. Is there a way to control them when you get a Farrell colony of bees? Also did you ever find the queen?? Lol
In the seven or so years I have been keeping bees "up Noth" I've lost at least 50% of my hives annually due to mite damage. Mite counts seem to explode August-September. As for feral bee colonies they are like unicorns. They do not exist. Now, hive beetles, just a relatively small problem for us. Can't help but wonder if the differences in climate or foraging time has something to do with it.
Wow! What a coincidence. My Mom had the same book she found at a rummage sale. The Dr.'s daughter published her fathers book after he passed away. He was a Dr. in the middle to late 1800's & wrote the book about old folk medicines he was studying. It even had one about drinking apple cider vinegar w/cold water & honey. Everybody thinks it's the new age stuff lmao! If they only knew it was that old lol. I'm 66 now & have been using honey & honey comb for my allergies since I was a kid & some of the other remedies in his book. Is there any chance at all you could make a copy of it for me? My step Dad & brother lost Mom's stuff after she passed away at the young age mid 50's. I'd give anything for a copy of that book. Please let me know if you would.
Randy, have you ever been to Leakesville, MS? Just wondering, my brother lived there for a long time. I went there many times and to Hattiesburg too. Neat trick with the mites.
@@628DirtRooster Figured you might have been. My brother (he was the np/pa) lived next door to the clinic in Leakesville. One time when I visited they warned me not to go to the back parking area as they had a bee colony. My brother laughed, he knew that bees don't bother me. LOL Hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets oh yes. However, for some reason, bees flew around me.
@@628DirtRooster yep. I grew up way north of you in Alcorn County, but I was in your area for a lot of years. I was working for the city when Gulfport annexed Orange Grove in 93 I guess, maybe 94. Lived in Ocean Springs for a while. Then I was in New Orleans for a while. Ive been on the worst coast going on 25 years now and thats part of the reason I'm so glad i found your channel. Not only is it interesting as hell, but it connects me back to home. I can smell the loblolly and the beach. I appreciate your effort.
Got my first removal of 2020 lined up for this month. Roof/soffit of ground level bay window. Another colony was removed from this spot over a year ago... “they’re back...” how cold is too cold? It will be low 70s this weekend and I want to frame up the brood.
"My filter was broken that day" - happens to me all he time. I for one would like to hear your thoughts on the mite issue and general hive health. I tend to be a skeptic on a lot of this sort of hype. People just naturally love to play up the drama, and things are almost never as bad as you'll hear they are. Add to that the marketing hype generated by the purveyors of mite killer chemicals and gadgets, and you'd think all the bees are gonna die tomorrow if you don't get a whiz-bang mite destructor machine (with lots of refill packs) right now! In any case, you're collecting some valuable real world information on the state of wild bees (in your area, but i"d bet it's a pretty good indicator of the nation wide situation). That information will help us amateurs make more informed decisions. (probably to the disappointment of mite killer marketers) For me, a total newbie, I'm going to be collecting local swarms come spring here in NY, I plan on testing once the hives are established, and have a bottle of OA and cheap vaporizer on hand in case I need to treat. I'm well aware that until I learn the ropes, I'm more dangerous to the bees than the mites. I'll be paying close attention to your data and thoughts on the subject.
I'm a hard sell when it comes to anything hyped as much as mite treatment. I hate to cost anyone sales of their precious magic mite machines but it might happen. If all the hype was true (CCD, Africanized, Varroa, Tracheal mites and so on) we would have all been dead years ago or at the very least be struggling to feed our country.
19-teens or 20's "doctor": So yeah autopsy's done, died of `bad blood` and lack of ether, if only we got to them in time to bleed their leg, oh well - gonna go deliver a baby in the next room over, oh hey, buddy, you should eat the comb too, it's good for you! I think there's some running water over in building C if you wanna wash the stickyness off your hands.
I love watching Dirt Rooster and his family. Some of the most genuinely nice people I have ever seen. It's like you were all born with a smile on your face.
This is a really neat undertaking. I'm interested to see what kind of data you come up with this year!
You don't even know what all I'm tracking Willie.
@@628DirtRooster the coronavirus in Wuhan?
I'd be willing to bet the feral hives will show less mite counts than commercial beekeepers.
@@628DirtRooster Oh, "ode to the haters".
@@bdanza Get your Flu on in Wuhan!!....Woo-hoo!
There must be some truth to the orange shirt. I watched the whole video while wearing a orange shirt and didn't get a single sting.
And knowing some of your bees that was a real possibility. lol
LOVE the idea, love that you're collecting data regardless of expectations. Hope you're consulting with USDA varroa folks to see if your data can help them too.
Love the 'frame it complete with bees' technique. Looked very peaceful. :)
Read your video description and can't agree more. Varroa is serious, but nuking a hive with treatments while lacking general honeybee husbandry skills is a surefire way to kill bees.
Great content as always!
That was probably one of the easiest removals I've seen y'all do yet. Thanks for sharing.
GREAT video Randy!! Nice clear, crisp, close up shots. Just gotta LOVE those comfortable mid-60 degree afternoons!! I LOVE watching you work with family!! Keep 'em coming brother!! ✌️🐝🐝🐝
If it could only stay this temp year round. Thanks for the nice comment Tim.
Rooster. Yes! You mite be right. Folks mite want to understand the basics of beekeeping and mite want to get a handle on taking care of their bees before they mite be concerned about varroa mites........Mite you agree? As always. Thanks for the video. Always helpful God bless
Up north you have to take care of mites or you have no bees.
Love it when you two work together!!
Glad you are looking at varoa in feral colonies. It seems the feral colonies are on the rise again in the Ozarks. Some thing good is happening.
Likely thoose bees are evolving resistance to varroa.
This was a good video with so much info. Loved the music with the stills too. Good job editing.
Gonna bee interesting to see the mite counts in these cutouts as the year progresses.
I love watching and listening to you and your brother work. Have a great week!
"I SPIT HOT FIYA!"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
You never cease to amaze me (or entertain me), Randy.
I was just watching another video about the mite and mushrooms and I was wandering what you did, when your video popped up..lol I do not use any chemicals in any of my hives as well. I also hang up swarm traps and get "free bees". Currently looking to switch over to a few Lazutin hives and see how they work out. Glad and grateful your keeping track of this keep up the good work!
Anybody looking at the "2 hour 107 degree F heat treatment" treatment? A guy in South Carolina is in production of a commercial unit to treat mites? He says 85-90% mite kill and claims that it kills tracheal mites and Small Hive Beatles at no additional cost.
You can use water and dish soap instead of alcohol in your mite wash. That's what the Bee Lab in Baton Rouge uses.
UA-cam recommended your channel the same week hundreds of commerical bee boxes were delivered at the orchards around my house last month. It was probably because I Googled "bee repellent". I live and work on a poultry farm and bees love the feed as much as the birds do. I get stung pretty often from accidentally smashing bees that I didn't realize landed on me. I bought a few of the camo veils from Amazon for when working around feed. I figured if they're good enough for you they're good enough for me. Thanks for the great content! Subscribed and watching past videos.
"....where hobby bee-keeping is a way of life....."
...I haven’t broke a sweat yet....that’s because you got someone else to going up and down the ladder. I love watching your videos.
OMG! A slant glass Monte Carlo SS! I often thought that about feral bees! No one treats them or manages them and they survive and often thrive as you show in your removals.
You'll have to watch out that the old fellow who pulled up in the chair and watched. He may start a bee removal crew of his own. I've watched you and Mr. Ed take out a bunch of bees and even though have no idea of ever having them I enjoy watching you guys and the bees as they work to build their combs and collect the stuff to fill them up. Seeing some of the stings takes me back to when us kids went bare footed and got stung a time or two. Keep it up guys, Greg.
OOh OOh , for standing on ladders comfortably and safely . Cut out a foot-size shadow form using your shoe L and R as template . Just a tiny bit oversize to cut holes or strap apertures . Add rope or straps as appropriate and a heel to stop any slides . Might look funky but hey comfort over panache everytime !!
I think this is a great idea. There's nothing like gathering the data yourself.
Great work! Thank your for your TLC 💕💕💕🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks rooster for the fun video you always crack me up with your wit...
Great video and I can’t wait to get ours later this year! Hopefully we have great luck with what we have learned from watching these videos!
I agree with you on the Mite issue..though up here in the Pacific Northwest the mites are Definitely a problem. I have gone from the traditional hard chemicals to organic methods, which seems to work extremely well.
That being said...I agree with learning how to properly manage your bees first, and not to get so caught up in the hipe.
They’re always after me Lucky Charms😂🤣
Hey Randy, long term subscriber and I'm actually doing a PhD on honeybee genetics. I'm looking into Varroa resistant colonies surviving in the wild. It's my belief that wild bees are allowed to develop resistance to the mite because they are not helped by treatments and so have to fight off the mites on their own, but I have to prove this.
I'd be really interested in working with you and discussing your findings!
I do know that Europe has a more dangerous type of DWV which is transmitted to the bee by varroa mites. Hopefully this type of the virus does not reach America.
That's going to be a hell of an interesting study. Whatever your results, you should seriously consider publishing. There's no such thing as too much data.
Seeing the green pollen reminds me of when I was at Perk, there was a little old lady who’s bees produced purple honey.
They do in very small quantities in the spring.
You got that one right..... when all else fails, read the instructions.
Keep smiling.
You can most certainly tell you guys are brothers. Great video
That’s the way I am if I’m outside and it’s warmish I’ll be sweating if not something is wrong great video Rooster 🐓 and your brother to GOD BLESS
thank you for the very great to watch clips once again
In the 50's old doctor prescribed honey w/comb for me I had BAD allergies. Almost DIED. He prescribe 2 to 4 teaspoon's of local honey not homogenized. Cured allergies only problem I have today is pollution. And I am 63 today.
You should check the bees in the vac vs the bees that were not vacuumed. The vacuum has a screen that the mites could fall through and the bees cant. If there is a contestant difference you could get rid of mites by vacuuming all the bees in a colony. The mite lava would still be there but the adults would be reduced.
Thank you for this video. I always wondered about the mite load on the bees from these removal. It will be interesting to know your long at the end of the season, if you do the check on all of your removal. Thanks again.
If you got 12 mites per 300 bees you're looking at about 4% mite load, up here where we get winter that hive wouldn't make it.
That. Is what I was thinking too. I wonder if his comment was that as it being a wild hive as apposed to it being a managed hive 12 mites was not bad.
@@stevewelches1955 Maybe because they don't get 30 below temps that is not a lethal mite load.
Long time viewer of your videos. There is always something to learn. Had a brain fart while sitting here watching this one... You could auction off these feral colonies that you pull from these places. Might be kinda fun for a viewer to get one from you.
Hey DirtRooster. That was one bullseye of a point you made about feral colonies and mites. I'm betting your theory is right. Meanwhile it's fun to watch you and your brother working together. Thank you for sharing and see you soon.
I'm looking forward to seeing the results over the year.
@@628DirtRooster Me too.
The mite-bomb mantra is heavy among any new-beek classes or honey producer publications I've run across. Sure, it's a short term gain to treat for mites, but in my opinion a long term loss. I'm interested to know what you find! (6yr hobby keep with dead treated and untreated bees and live hygienic bees for what it's worth)
As someone on the edge of Bee Keeping(been around it, don’t do it) I think you are right, I know ones who treat with lots of chemicals and ones who use little. It will be very interesting to see what you find out in the feral hives
Kind of makes you question when treatment free beats treating many times.
628DirtRooster Bees true. And a small load of pest is like being exposed to germs, without the exposure there isn’t any resistance, so I would think a small load would help keep the hive healthy since it would increase the resistance, just need to find the balance
Mary-Ruth Flores treatment free is the only way to bee keep. If you want sustainable bees.
Son Rise Apiaries but if there isn’t a small load of pest then resistant isn’t being developed. Look at cotton and the boll w. Thru decades of poison, resistance was bread out, they are just now getting the cotton back to the levels of the ‘20s
Mary-Ruth Flores your saying there are no pests in treatment free hives?
good on you for doing the mite checks. Mr. Ed, you getting this?
Wow, its a rare find when the Rooster posts a video framing up brood with bees still on it. That's a JP move. I usually catch Ya suckin' Em' all up Mr. Ed style;) Yeah, I know... time is of the essence. Curio though. What's it mean when those girls squeeze their hind legs together & twirl their tails in the air? Anybody figure that out LOL.
Self-grooming, or “autogrooming,” enables bees to remove ectoparasites, dust, and pollen from their own bodies and helps disperse pheromones (Boecking & Spivak, 1999).
✌️🐝🐝🐝
Oh. You were talking about THOSE girls. Not the ones at the mall.
Hate I missed this one I would of made the trip to Hattiesburg!!! Lol love you videos keep em coming
Great description.
Sounded real edumacated didn't it?
While the mites ARE a legitimate concern, there are a 101 other worries to have BEFORE the first new hive hits your yard. The mite issue is just ONE problem on the list. To make it the BEE all end all, ;) is a bit silly. Keeping track like you seem to be doing this year is a good idea. Good luck!
Mites ARE the mayor concern and mite ARE the ones that are causing at least 41 more concerns in bee keeping.
Control mites and you have a very good chance to keep your bees.
Great video thanks 👌🤙🏿🐝🐝🍯
You were in good company with Tommy! He probably has the love for bacon like you do but maybe a slightly smaller quantity, maybe. GOOD DEAL on the mite hunting. My old picking buddy was always talking about them and how much it was costing to treat for them. He had over 200 hives and if he hit them all it'd be a nice chunk of change. You did good about the class comment too. Keep after it, Pal! Mr. Ed needs more technical data for his classes, HA!
Hey Randy, I also use "natural" methods to treat due to my concern with the unknown impacts of chemical treatment on hive ecology (and have been chided for it), so I was really curious about the data you gathered and any conclusions or at least ideas that came from this study you are doing. Any updates on this? Thanks
Great job again like always
I have cousins that lived in Hattiesburg and in Purvis. Their last name was Dudly.
They may know Tommy
I know nothing about mites or diff but I like watching the videos
Thanks for the views George.
Fantastic Idea. Shouldn't the sample of bees be taken from a section of brood? Still I say just do it the way you did it, fascinating to see the results!
Starting @10:08 - is that a small hive beetle on the back of his neck? Thanks for sharing!
Hey man. You missed your traditional intro! "... Where beekeeping is a waaay of life". Cheers from down south.
Hey Marco. I'll have to do it up extra next time. lol
I find it fascinating that you’re doing this study. There aren’t many that are out seeing bees as often as you so you are the perfect person. I’m curious though what your opinions are about the mysterious “colony collapse disorder”. Is it something you’ve seen in your hives?
Sounds like a name used when the real reason isn't known
Reg Whelan I’ve thought the same which is why I put it in quotes like that and said the mysterious. I guess I didn’t make my sarcasm clear enough. The dangers of the written word.
Oh my lord, that man done sat out his lawn chair to watch you fellas work. Ain’t too different than my boss - plopped down chatting to me while I’m bustin’ tail up a ladder!
I did it with a swarm catch in my neighborhood last spring. I told him he'd need a ladder and he didn't listen this lost the swarm when it absconded.
My first experience was having a beekeeper out to collect bees, I did the same thing. I told him up front that I was interested but would stay out of his way.
The next experience I had, I told the 'keeper that I would stay out of the way and let them work. If they needed me, I'd be willing to help. The handed me a suit and got me in the thick of a cutout from a tree. I was hooked after that and a few weeks later, they helped me trap a swarm and got me set up.
Most people are curious to a point and don't want to be in the way. So kicking back in a lawn chair is okay in my book.
@@Pinion512 You should name them to give them credit for: (A) being excellent human beings and (B) educating and adding a new bee keeper to this MOST COOL Hobby/Business. That helps the bees (in general) and all of us beekeepers to be specific!
you both done a great job...
You have to try some northern beekeeping 15 below yesterday morning, this morning 20 above and this is mild weather up here. We are just hoping to be able to open up our hives at the end of March.
I bet I'd have to wear a wind breaker.
@@628DirtRooster Not really, I go barefoot in this nice weather.
@@danschneider9219 LOL
How about a video on that DIY vaporizer? Or at least a few more details on what you are using.
I'll see what he's got done next time I'm up there.
Yeah I want to see that also
I can't believe that guy set up a chair to talk you through it.
Doesn't that gentleman know YOU'RE HANDLING BEES
what veil is that your wearing while doing the mite check?
Yall made it look easy
1st colony of the year.
translation: "Mr. Ed is already ahead in this year swarm catch"
:P
He's ahead on cut outs but I don't think he has a swarm yet.
He's ahead on cut outs but I don't think he has a swarm yet.
You seem to have such a nice familly :)
Need some long arms for those back combs. That’s a cool alcohol washer. I mite have to get one of those. 🤪 Nice still shots...........looser! 😂 Didn’t see any Canon cripple hammers after the Fuji. That’s a good thing.
Sony help me. I need a micro four sixths and a baby pineapple. Darn you with your ten bit recording with the blurry background!
What is Brood Comb vs other types of combs you are talking about?
Wing King is awesome, we have one down here, and I think Pineapple Habanero is the best dipping sauce
Will the mite count(s) be included in every future video until you've concluded the sampling period?
Probably not
Does this count for a cut-out against Mr Ed if you aren’t on the ladder? I love seeing this work.
Nice vid as always..wish it was in the 60's here in Minnesota...i suppose a guy(me)should already know but i dont have a clue.. where do bees go in the winter when its cold??..thanks love your channel
The do not go anywhere. They cluster. That is they get in to a ball shape in the hive to share heat. As the bees on the out side get cold they move to the middle and get warm and the heat generated from the cluster keeps the inside of the hive a lot warmer then the outside temp. A large enough cluster will keep the inside of the hive above freezing in ‐40 degree temps.
Hope this helps you understand
I want to see the lay-out of the oxalic acid vaporizer he was making. They say they are relatively easy to make with an ole glow plug and I need to make one, always looking for better ideais
Loved the colony removal. Great idea to check for mites. What brand of mite testing container are you using? I'd love to get one of those.
Easycheck from Mann Lake
Randy what does 628 Dirt rooster stand for? love your videos keep them coming and i think 12 mites in a wash is high hopefully you treated them.
It was a dirt bike. That was what his channel was originally going to be about.
@@GrimKeeper9011 Thanks always wondered
Greeeen pollen!
I wasn't game to ask about that one?
Ive been doing that for years. Most dont have a mite in there. wonder why? ....People drugging bees to keep weak bees alive. ..let the weak die. Carry on STRONG genetics
You have bees that can beat Varroa without Swarming or Absconding to leave the problem behind and I'm all in,I've had wild bees,mite Maulers,Ankle biters etc. Etc..etc... and haven't found a bee that can beat em yet . and if you only breed Survivor stock ALWAYS,then you don't breed for anything else such as Production....
@@badassbees3680 there are numerous survival bee folks out there that have not treated for decades and hives thrive. It doesnt come easy...long road. ..Its all in the testing and eliminating the weak. It takes many years but with 100% certainty if you are diligent in the process you will succeed. . When folks say you have to treat or all your bees will die is just not truth. Its easier for folks to follow the commercial treatment route and drink the koolaid that says you must keep treating weak bees to keep them alive. It also sells product. --
@@natserog It's kind of like the CDC! First it was the bird flu, then the pig flu, now it's coronavirus. EVERY time they say we need to get flu shots, or we WILL DIE! I've never gotten a flu shot since I left the U.S. Army in '96, & I've not been killed by any of these so called super flu bugs/epidemics!
@@natserog yeah the problem with that is if you move them bees are different viruses and then they're not resistant once again
How long have folks been on earth? You know any mosquito resistant people? How about flea resistant dogs? There's no mite resistant bees either. Mites are parasites, so are fleas and mosquitos and leeches, etc. When a host comes along, they'll latch on. What keeps them off or drives them away? Flea powder, DEET and for mites......oxalic acid, thymol, formic acid, apivar, etc. If you don't treat your bees, they'll die from infestation. Ol' Rover will get mange from the fleas and people contract malaria from skeeters. Funny thing about folks that keep bees and own a dog. They'll buy a $65 flea collar for the mutt but won't treat they bees. Go figure.
As always you and your people are very entertaining
That oldtimer was not impressed with the honey, lol. Two licks and he gave it back .. heh
Awesome experiment your going to do. Will you treat hives with high more loads immediately
I want to track how they do through the year with noting but drone trapping and brood breaks.
Great video. I did not know about mites on bees. I have dealt with them while I was into raising snakes. Is there a way to control them when you get a Farrell colony of bees? Also did you ever find the queen?? Lol
In the seven or so years I have been keeping bees "up Noth" I've lost at least 50% of my hives annually due to mite damage. Mite counts seem to explode August-September. As for feral bee colonies they are like unicorns. They do not exist. Now, hive beetles, just a relatively small problem for us.
Can't help but wonder if the differences in climate or foraging time has something to do with it.
Now hold on just a minute. Are you telling me you don't believe in unicorns?
628DirtRooster Bees I hope they don’t exist, they have really big stingers!
@@richbooth8948 I've been using unicorn teeth in my swarm traps for years. I hope the guy I'm buying them from hasn't been pulling a fast one on me.
Hi
Your brother said he was stung 5 times, do you guys carry epi pens?
Do you know the stats are on bee guys and girls becoming elergic?
We don't and the stats are like getting struck by lightning twice.
Y'all do good work!
Wow! What a coincidence. My Mom had the same book she found at a rummage sale. The Dr.'s daughter published her fathers book after he passed away. He was a Dr. in the middle to late 1800's & wrote the book about old folk medicines he was studying.
It even had one about drinking apple cider vinegar w/cold water & honey. Everybody thinks it's the new age stuff lmao! If they only knew it was that old lol.
I'm 66 now & have been using honey & honey comb for my allergies since I was a kid & some of the other remedies in his book.
Is there any chance at all you could make a copy of it for me? My step Dad & brother lost Mom's stuff after she passed away at the young age mid 50's. I'd give anything for a copy of that book.
Please let me know if you would.
Enjoy exchanges between you and mr ed. What do you think of horizontal hives?
There seems to be some sort of a problem in areas that ice over. The queen seems to get trapped in a small number of workers and they seem to die.
Blue windshield wash works in the mite check😎😎😎
Liked that music at the end
did yall kill the queen in this hive from the mite check? In the future checks, maybe you can scoop at the beginning, instead of at the end.
Good stuff.
3 amazing rarities in one video.....
Film camera
Man reading instructions
Dirt rooster with a veil
You’ve set the bar my friend!!
Not sure I can top that.
Randy, have you ever been to Leakesville, MS? Just wondering, my brother lived there for a long time. I went there many times and to Hattiesburg too. Neat trick with the mites.
Been there many times.
@@628DirtRooster Figured you might have been. My brother (he was the np/pa) lived next door to the clinic in Leakesville. One time when I visited they warned me not to go to the back parking area as they had a bee colony. My brother laughed, he knew that bees don't bother me. LOL Hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets oh yes. However, for some reason, bees flew around me.
awesome!..thanks for posting ... >>>> i enjoy them!
12 mites that' horrible, you gotta treat them girls they got the dose
Homey copped him a ringside seat. Bless it.
You must be from the south.
@@628DirtRooster yep. I grew up way north of you in Alcorn County, but I was in your area for a lot of years. I was working for the city when Gulfport annexed Orange Grove in 93 I guess, maybe 94. Lived in Ocean Springs for a while. Then I was in New Orleans for a while. Ive been on the worst coast going on 25 years now and thats part of the reason I'm so glad i found your channel. Not only is it interesting as hell, but it connects me back to home. I can smell the loblolly and the beach. I appreciate your effort.
Got my first removal of 2020 lined up for this month. Roof/soffit of ground level bay window. Another colony was removed from this spot over a year ago... “they’re back...” how cold is too cold? It will be low 70s this weekend and I want to frame up the brood.
That's plenty warm enough.
628DirtRooster Bees sweet! Wife gave me a Flir for Christmas so I’m going to try it out this evening to pinpoint where the bees are clustered.
628DirtRooster Bees by the way, great job with ground support :-) Bees seem to be easier to deal with with both feet on the ground for some reason.
@@willmegehee Sweet! Just remember heat rises and a sun warmed building can hide a hive. I'm better help on the ground.
628DirtRooster Bees it’s fairly overcast today and the window is on fire north side of the house so I’m hoping to get some accurate Flir pics today 😎
It'll be interesting to see the seasons results. Are you doing your own colonies as well?
Mine and other people's
@@628DirtRooster I've always wondered about feral colonies; how long they survived or, maybe if they possibly built up an immunity.
You and your brother are having wayyyyyy to much fun Bro..... LOL
We'll have to take you to Wing King one day.
@@628DirtRooster :)
"My filter was broken that day" - happens to me all he time.
I for one would like to hear your thoughts on the mite issue and general hive health. I tend to be a skeptic on a lot of this sort of hype. People just naturally love to play up the drama, and things are almost never as bad as you'll hear they are. Add to that the marketing hype generated by the purveyors of mite killer chemicals and gadgets, and you'd think all the bees are gonna die tomorrow if you don't get a whiz-bang mite destructor machine (with lots of refill packs) right now!
In any case, you're collecting some valuable real world information on the state of wild bees (in your area, but i"d bet it's a pretty good indicator of the nation wide situation). That information will help us amateurs make more informed decisions. (probably to the disappointment of mite killer marketers)
For me, a total newbie, I'm going to be collecting local swarms come spring here in NY, I plan on testing once the hives are established, and have a bottle of OA and cheap vaporizer on hand in case I need to treat. I'm well aware that until I learn the ropes, I'm more dangerous to the bees than the mites. I'll be paying close attention to your data and thoughts on the subject.
I'm a hard sell when it comes to anything hyped as much as mite treatment. I hate to cost anyone sales of their precious magic mite machines but it might happen. If all the hype was true (CCD, Africanized, Varroa, Tracheal mites and so on) we would have all been dead years ago or at the very least be struggling to feed our country.
19-teens or 20's "doctor": So yeah autopsy's done, died of `bad blood` and lack of ether, if only we got to them in time to bleed their leg, oh well - gonna go deliver a baby in the next room over, oh hey, buddy, you should eat the comb too, it's good for you! I think there's some running water over in building C if you wanna wash the stickyness off your hands.